Today I'd like to take you to one of my favorite places in West Tennessee -- the Farmers' Market in Jackson. Currently a shiny abstract sculpture points the way from Lafayette Street.
We'll talk more about the artwork another time, but it's part of a rotating juried exhibition/competition from which one piece per year is purchased for permanent public display.
I like the fact that only Tennessee-grown produce is permitted in the main shed during the growing season.
This was on Saturday morning. Obviously a LOT of people thought this was the place to be!
One gadget found its way in, but it does appear to be a USEFUL gadget. However, when corn is this fresh (especially if it's "peaches 'n cream") I don't bother to cut it off the cob. I like to microwave it in the shuck for two minutes, then cut off the ends and quickly remove the shuck and silks (they practically fall off). Then I add just a bit of butter -- real butter please and practically inhale that buttery, juicy sweetness!
The tomatoes are in full swing now ... and worth the wait! The ones from Ripley, TN are famous -- they even have a Tomato Festival to celebrate how tasty they are.
It's a great place for strolling and "people watching."
Do you think this little guy is old enough to be driving?
Flippin's peaches are reputed to be the best in the area. Their fried pies are to die for (it ain't health food ... but oh well ....). Read about the orchard, restaurant, etc. here.
This family brings homemade jams and preserves. Their dairy products are extremely popular. People love their homemade ice cream, and their buttermilk is reputed to taste far better than what's available in supermarkets.
I'll have to try all the ice cream flavors and report my findings in an upcoming post!
Flowers don't get any fresher unless you pick them from your own garden!
Corn and sausage? Two of my favorite things!
Squeezing the merchandise is permitted. Close examination is expected.
This lady's selling wonderful looking sunflowers. Isn't the little girl adorable?
The Farmers Market is a great place to run into friends and neighbors.
This young lady must have a special date this evening. Remember when pink rollers in public were all the rage?
Something interesting must be happening "off stage."
Maybe she's looking over at the thrift market. That's another favorite place of mine --- and it's right across from the Farmers Market!!!
Hope you enjoyed. Tell me where you like to buy fresh veggies, or do you grow your own?
Bye for now,
Bill
Posts
What a fun day at the farmer's market! The corn sure does look good. I never tried cooking it in the microwave, but I am going to now. Thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteIn the summer, we usually have a small vegetable garden. It's always a battle with the woodchucks and wild turkeys. I think next year, we'll try a raised bed with netting.
Jane
This produce looks fabulous!! I cook my corn in the microwave too and love it. But I never cooked it in the shucks, I will be trying that!
ReplyDeleteWe have a small farmers market here where I buy my produce. I love this season of the year!
Thanks for sharing!!
Lou Cinda :)
Oh how fun to go shopping at a farmer's market. I wish we had something like that in this area. Thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sandra
What a great trip.. Thanks for thinking of us and taking us along.Oh man that's some nice looking veggies y'all got up there. Love the fact that they have a "Just for TN Veggies" section. I didn't do a garden this year..Ga has been under sucha horrid drought the last few years and a watering ban.. that I decided not to do one this time around.. it's so heartbreaking watching a garden suffer and die from drought. My best friend however did plant and she's been supplying me with everything.
ReplyDeleteI hope you grabbed up a couple of baskets of those huge green tomatoes I saw pictured and made some fried green tomatoes!
Thanks for makin my mouth water.. I'm gonna have to change my supper menu for tonight.. I'm craving fried green tomatoes.
Hugs,
Debbie
I would be lost in both places for all the beautiful things to take with me. I love fresh vegetable all year long and flowers, well who doesn't love them? I would go straight for the apples & peaches for pies. Cukes just for eating straight up and the rest for stews and such. And, across the street, Oh my I'd be in trouble.... big time.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great farmers market you have! Ours is on Thursdays and only half that big. Thanks for the corn tip.....I am going to try that next time in the microwave. I really liked the corn gadget:) I just love summer for all the fresh fruit and veggies.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great market, Bill! I'd love to visit. I'll have to do a mapquest! I always say that, everytime I see something neat from TN. I love TN.
ReplyDeleteWe visited the market in Nashville and brought home lovely veggies.
Thanks for taking us along. That fresh produce looks so good. My daughter lives in that area and buys milk from the Amish (hormone free), and her family prefers it over whats in the super market. Reminds me - I need to make a trip to the Farmers' Market this week. The young lady in blue with her head turned is more than likely Amish and they will turn their heads if they see your camera as they don't want to be photographed.
ReplyDeleteHave a great evening.
Glenda
Glenda
Hi Bill! Being a southern gal from Alabama, I can attest to southern grown veggies! Oh, what a wonderful market! Your photos are fantastic! I love fresh home grown corn! Oh, I've never tried it in the microwave like you said! I will have to try that. And peaches! Oh, we can't get a decent peach in Texas! Shoot! We really don't have a farmer's market around us, but Texas does grow some fantastic watermelons and cantelope!
ReplyDeleteBill, you're so sweet and nice! Thanks for your visit to my tiny kitchen! I shouldn't complain because I know I'm very blessed. Just had to vent a bit! :)
You be a sweetie, now,
Shelia :)
Oooh! That looks like lots of fun! I'm dying for some corn and a good tomato sandwich now! I make my corn the same way you do! Very very good that way!
ReplyDeleteBill, I loved going to the market with you! That was fun! And are those people Mennonite or Amish? Or maybe German Baptist?
ReplyDeleteThose peaches looked divine at your market. I usually buy organic at the grocery store, and I wish, wish, WISH that we could get Lady Peas in Florida. They simply cannot be found here. They grow them in Alabama and Mississippi, but apparently, not here. :-( I have tried and tried to find them to no avail, and they will try to get you to buy some sort of field pea which isn't anything like Lady Peas... they are the most delicate pea I've ever eaten. Do you grow them in Tennessee? If so, enjoy some for me! LOL!
XO,
Sheila :-)
This market looks to be full of great produce and other goods!
ReplyDeleteBill, I came by earlier and left a comment, but I just wanted to add... Happy Outdoor Wed!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Sheila :-)
What a great farmer's market, Bill! I wish we had one just like it. It is so similar to the one we visited in Nice....Christine
ReplyDeleteWhat a great market. I would need a truck to take all I wanted home. lol We grow fresh veggies, but since we're in the desert, our is always a winter garden. Summers at 115 or higher and nothing grows. But the winter is wonderful for all kinds of lettuce, squash, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers,beans and lots of different kinds of garlic. I enjoy the fresh taste so much. Hate to have to buy the stuff at the grocery store. So glad you have a great market near you. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteBill, I love outdoor markets too! Flea, farmers, whatever! :)
ReplyDeleteI love farmer's markets! In NYC we have special days and areas where upstate farmers can bring fresh produce and honey and baked goods to sell.
ReplyDeleteI have a small vegetable patch in my backyard...everything grows in pots!
I'd love to rummage around that second hand store.
Happy Outdoor Wednesday!
Oh Gosh Bill!
ReplyDeleteI would have to take about 3 pounds of those tomatoes, some of that lucious looking corn, some of that yellow squash. Oh my gosh, how I wish I could go home and raid Daddy's garden. I never had to buy fresh vegetables until I moved out here to phoenix. There are some things I really miss. Stop by and say hi. Country Hugs, Sherry
lol Bill, I loved people watching with you :-) and your farmers market is huge and the produce looks so delicious. I loved the FM's in the UK and here in Benicia but they are nowhere near as big and plentiful as yours looks. We are growing tomatoes, beets and peppers here for the first time, the cherry tomatoes are so sweet, the peppers are slow going and I cannot wait for the beets, we also have lots of herbs, it's so much fun and thanks to this gorgeous climate it is so easy. happy outdoor Wednesday, this was the perfect post :-). Kathy.
ReplyDeleteI love farmer's markets. My husband's family heritage is in the York, PA Market. We loved to go there and see his family when we lived there.
ReplyDeleteNow, I stop at roadside stands.
Becky K.
Hospitality Lane
Bill.. great post. You dated yourself a little bit with that "curlers" comment though... LOL
ReplyDeleteWe don't go to the farmers market dawlin'... we ARE the farmers market! but if I still lived in West Tennessee, i'd love to visit this one...those fresh dairy products are callin' me!
hugs from Texas!
Thanks for your visit and comments! This looks like a great place to get produce. We had our annual Tomato Festival here last weekend - and I had a plate full of fried green tomatoes. YUM! We think one of the best things about Summer are the fresh veggies!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun pictures! I hear we have a farmers market near by but I have never gone. We grow lots of stuff right in our own backyard.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun day at the market. Looks like it's the place to be for fun, beauty and something good to eat.. I haven't tried micro waving the corn first..thanks for the info will definetly try it. I've seen the corn shucker (for lack of a better word) before from our Meonites around here. Always love your posts. The only thing missing is getting together at the end of the day and sharing a great meal and nice glass of wine..lol...wondering if you scurried across the street and found any treasures??? hugs ~lynne~
ReplyDeleteO HONEY !! This all looks so so great. I love fresh veggies and love to buy them from local farmers. Your photos are just perfect! Thanks for taking me along on this fabulous trip and I am now wanting to go over to that thrift store!!
ReplyDeleteO, and that is exactly how we cook our corn. Just had some last night, but afraid we used Brommel and Brown instead of the butter i would have LIKED to use. :(
xo bj
Hi Bill, your pictures are amazing....love your perpective on some of them! I love farmers markets....earthy and real, aren't they? Can we say 'summer?' Happy Outdoor Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteBarb
Well Bill, my sad tale is that here in my area of Florida we have the worst, I mean the worst produce ever! Except for an occasional find, I've had to resort to frozen for most things.
ReplyDeleteI miss the farmer's markets in California. They also only featured growers from within the state and there was one within driving distance everyday of the week. The selection was unbelievable.
My favorite place to find produce now is when I visit the family farm in South Georgia, my cousin always sends me home loaded down with fresh veggies!
What a wonderful tour of your farmer's market. Your pictures are amazing.
ReplyDeleteWhat great photos of the Farmer's Market! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Lisa
Thank you for taking us to the market in Tennessee. Really nice pictures.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice outdoor wednesday, Annemieke
Loved your farmers market pictures. I think it really speaks of the town. I live in So. Cal. in Orange County and when I was growing up, the OC's fields were full of tomatoes, bell peppers, artichokes, beans, strawberries, avocados and the wonderful smelling orange trees. Now we have shopping malls, housing developments and high rises. The fields are gone and it is sad.
ReplyDeleteBill, my mouth is watering over the tomatoes. I swear you can't get a decent tomato anywhere anymore. We would eat them every day if we could only find decent ones.
ReplyDeleteI have planted 6 different heirloom varieties this year in a desperate attempt taste the flavour I remember them having when I was a kid. Not the cardboard ones they sell now.
It is great that only the local produce is allowed. I don't like finding imported stuff at a farmers market. I mean what is the point then? I might as well shop at the grocery store.
Fantastic. I like farmers market.
ReplyDeleteHappy outdoor.
Regina
I thought we were here for the food, but the people watching was almost as much fun! :-)
ReplyDeleteThat was great! We have Farm stands, but no big Farmer's Market like that!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could see the prices. Corn here is 5.00 a dozen...
I try to grow some veggies, but it is hard to compete with the deer.
Oh, you absolutely made my stomach growl as I was reading about that corn! We also do ours in the microwave but I'll have to try it with the shucks on - especially if the silks come off more easily! And the peaches...oh, I'm a sucker for anything with peaches!
ReplyDeleteHappy Outdoor Wednesday!
Robin@Miscellaneous Thoughts