Tired of dodging traffic and fighting for parking when you head out to shop for groceries? There are other options. One of them: Amazon announced last week that its AmazonFresh service is now available in Northern Virginia. Prime customers in eligible ZIP codes can use Amazon Fresh for a monthly fee of $14.99 as an Add-on to their Prime membership. Delivery is free on orders over $40.

Here's how it works: Customers can order from a wide range of items including everything from fresh groceries and prepared meals to beauty products and household goods. AmazonFresh offers same-day and next-day delivery to your doorstep, with the choice of attended and unattended two-hour delivery windows. If you place a grocery order by 5 p.m., you can have it that same evening, or if you order before going to bed, you can have items on your doorstep by breakfast. Customers can also shop AmazonFresh from anywhere they are using the Amazon Mobile Shopping app.

Amazon says they are offering low prices across its entire selection. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, seafood, baked goods and dairy, customers can also choose from a wide range of pet supplies, baby, health and beauty products, and more. AmazonFresh also offers selections from various Northern Virginia merchants through the Local Market program, including:

Compass Coffee

CakeLove

Capital Kombucha

Frontier Kitchen (a food incubator for Virginia's culinary entrepreneurs). All Local Market items are delivered as part of customers' AmazonFresh orders. AmazonFresh is delivering to areas such as Reston, Oakton, McLean, Fairfax, Arlington, Annandale, Alexandria, Burke, Springfield, Fort Washington, Woodbridge, Dale City, Suitland, and more.

To use AmazonFresh, Prime customers can go to www.amazon.com/amazonfresh and sign up for a free 30-day trial of the service. After the free trial, Prime customers can continue to shop AmazonFresh for a monthly fee of $14.99 as an Add-on to their Prime membership.