For many mid-Hudson Valley residents, it may take just about an hour or more to get to their nearest Trader Joe's store .

Dedicated fans of the chain may make the trek to Yorktown or Danbury, Connecticut, but mid-Hudson Valley-area residents have long wondered when a Trader Joe's will come here.

Three new Trader Joe’s stores were set to open across the United States the week of Nov. 10, while three more opened earlier in November. There are 609 Trader Joe's locations across 42 states, including 24 in New York, but Dutchess, Ulster, Orange and Sullivan counties have still not made the cut.

We reached out to find out why it hasn't happened yet.

Here's what Trader Joe's says it looks for when choosing a new "neighborhood," and why local leaders believe the region would be a good fit.

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