Less than two weeks before citywide ferry service is expected to kick off in the Rockaways, local businesses are preparing for what the new service could mean for them.  NY1's Gene Apodaca filed the following report on how many of them are expecting a big boost to their bottom lines.

At Edgemere Farms in the Rockaways fresh vegetables aren't the only things growing. Expectations are growing, too.  

“We’re very excited because we open for the season on May 13th right after the ferry, and we’re hoping that we’ll get some fresh faces here at the farm stand,” said Melanie Reed, a grower at the farm.

With the new Rockaway ferry expected to be running within a few days, owners are hoping for a bountiful season.

The ferry landing located at Beach 108th Street and Beach Channel Drive is the first of a new citywide ferry system scheduled to open this year.  It will seat 149 people and run every hour. 

The ferry will also provide a free shuttle service up and down the Rockaway peninsula to accommodate those who live away from the landing. 

Edgemere Farms  averages about 125 sales a week they’re hoping with the new ferry  coming in they can double that especially with a shuttle stop just four blocks away.

A lot is riding on the success of the ferry, as many businesses are still recovering from Hurricane Sandy.

“Here at the farm, we’re also dependent on those businesses since we sell a lot of produce to restaurants in the area so if they have low number then they are looking to buy less of our produce,” said Reed.

The Rockaway Business Alliance which represents more than a 100 businesses, says there’s a bit of a wait to see the exact economic impact, however, it’s chairman remains optimistic.

“The idea we don’t know exactly how big the impact is going to be but I think it’s pretty unquestionable the impact is going to be large,” said Yarden Flatow, the Rockaway Business Alliance chairman.

And large, is what the owner of Station RBNY is hoping for, counting on his busy season to be even busier.

“I think this is going to open up Staten Island people coming out here and other parts of the boroughs, I don’t think this is just certain sections of Manhattan, I just think this is opening up a Spectrum for a lot of different crowds and neighborhoods,” said owner Andrew Dima.

Service on the Rockaway route begins May 1st.