One of the most heavily-traveled roads leading to the Mississippi Gulf Coast from Jackson, is US Hwy. 49 South. Yesterday, my husband had to go to Mendenhall, Mississippi, which is about 35 miles south of Jackson on 49, and I hitched a ride with him to a couple of my favorite flea markets, which you pass on the way to Mendenhall.
We had a few minutes to kill before the flea markets opened, so we stopped at a large produce stand called Donna's #6 Produce.
Open year-round, Donna's sells the freshest bounty of each season, harvested by local and regional growers.
I had my camera with me (to take pictures at the flea markets), but when I walked into Donna's and saw bin after bin filled with glorious fruit and vegetables (in January, no less!), I knew there were pictures there just waiting to be captured.
Donna wasn't there yesterday, but we visited with her sister Graná, who told us a little about the history of the business. It seems that Donna's and Graná's parents, C.T. and Carolyn Morgan, had been in the produce business most of their lives before moving their shop from Raleigh, Mississippi, to its new home in Florence, Mississippi, in 1976. They named the new store Donna's #6 Produce after their daughter, six-year-old Donna, the youngest of six children.
The new location was perfect for showcasing the Morgans' incomparable selection of regionally-grown fruits, vegetables, nuts, jams, and jellies, and the store quickly became one of the most chronicled businesses in central Mississippi.
After over thirty years in business, Donna's #6 Produce is more of a home than a store. Each of the six children have contributed to its thriving history.
Graná gave me permission to take as many pictures as I wanted, and here are just a few of the many things that caught my eye:
Rutabagas and turnips ...
Beautiful peppers ...
And oranges the size of grapefruits ...
I loved the way everything was displayed so neatly ...
Along with the vegetables and fruit, they also have a large selection of syrup and molasses, and all kinds of pickles ...
Nuts, anyone? I think they had just about any kind of nut a person could want ...
I liked this basket of green gourds, and thought they would make a pretty winter centerpiece.
If you click on the next picture, you can read this humorous sign which gives you an idea of the ongoing struggles and frustrations of being a farmer.
I will try to remember that the next time I whine about the prices of produce.
I love these colorful vegetable baskets, and can just imagine them pictured in the pages of Country Living magazine holding plants or flowers.
I believe these greens are "collard greens" ...
I have never seen "baby Vidalia onions," and I'm sorry we didn't get some of these little beauties ...
The rocking chairs out front were beckoning us to come "sit a spell," but the flea markets were also beckoning me, so guess who won!
And speaking of winning — see that LSU banner next to the rocker? The Tigers defeated the Texas A&M Aggies in the Cotton Bowl last night, much to our delight.
If you are ever in the Jackson area, I urge you to take the time to visit Donna's #6, especially if it's summertime. I understand their homemade ice cream is outstanding, and the produce is truly outstanding during the summer months. And did I mention that they are really nice folks?
