Mayhew Tomato Farm shows appreciation with good country eatin

Tag : tomato

Mayhew Tomato Farm shows appreciation with good countryeatin’
By Jan Swoope
jswoope@cdispatch.com
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 11:52 AM CDT
September showers couldn’t wash away the tempting aromas orconvivial atmosphere at the Mayhew Tomato Farm “barn”Friday as friends of the Hitching Lot Farmers’ Marketgathered for a hearty lunch prepared by Frances and M.C. Ellis.

“We just wanted to show our appreciation to the ladies andpeople in the city who have supported the Farmers’Market,” said Frances. “It was just a country-foodlunch to say ‘thank you.’”

Mouth-watering butter beans, peas, fried okra, squash and onions,cornbread and strawberry cobbler prepared by Frances complementedtender pork chops cooked by M.C. Except for the meat dish,“everything came from our farm,” Frances said.

Guest Jennifer Brady offered a ringing endorsement. “Beingguests of the Ellis’ at the tomato farm is definitely atreat. Mrs. Ellis’ fried okra can’t be beat; I’dbe embarrassed to admit the number of times I returned for anotherhelping.”

As one of the many growers who use the Hitching Lot Farmers’Market to help sell their produce, the Ellis family appreciates thecommunity spirit and enthusiastic crowds that have energized theopen-air market for the past two seasons.
In 2007, a volunteer steering committee made up of Brady, AnneFreeze, Beth Imes and Jennifer Lehner began a community effort torevitalize the market located at Second Street and Second AvenueNorth. From late April through October, the Hitching Lot is nowopen Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., and from 7 a.m.to 10 a.m. on Saturdays.

Growers and consumers alike have benefited. With more vendors,local artisans, live entertainment, children’s art activitiesand even occasional cooking demonstrations, “familySaturdays” in particular have taken on the feel of acommunity fete.

Frank Goodman, who coordinates market vendors for the city, hasseen a marked increase. July daily rentals — those who showup to rent space for the day — reached 188, for example,compared to 127 last July. Thirty-seven vendors purchasedfull-season stall permits, up from 32 last year.

Family affair

What began as a hobby for M.C. and Frances in 1997 has blossomedinto a second career that keeps them busy from morning until sunsetduring growing season. Like several other growers who frequent theMarket, Mayhew Tomato Farm is a family effort. The Ellis’son, Mel, formerly a practicing attorney in Tupelo, joined theoperation several years ago.
“I came up farming in West Point,” said M.C., a retiredgolf pro with Bel Air Golf Course in Tupelo. “I learned howwhen I was just a kid.”

Frances taught school for 25 years in Tupelo and Columbus. “Ido all the canning, and they do the growing,” she said of theresponsibilities she shares with her husband and son on the farmwhere she was born. The couple explained they normally have 11people working during peak growing season.

In addition to the three leader (primary) crops — tomatoes,strawberries and purple hull peas — Mayhew Tomato Farm alsogrows a host of other produce. From April through September,Frances can usually be found at the barn (a renovated livestockloafing shed) canning and selling from 7 a.m. to near 6 p.m.

In addition to fresh-picked produce, a sampling of productsdrive-in and Farmers’ Market customers enjoy includes salsas,tomato juice, sweet pickles, red and green chow-chow, pickledbeets, pickled squash, okra, muscadine jelly, apple butter andpepper jelly. “After September, if people will just give us acall, I’ll be glad to go down there and meet them,” sheadded.

The growing season for most crops on the Ellis’ 40 acres maybe nearing an end, but the cycle renews. Strawberries will soon beplanted and watched closely all winter. Their appearance next Marchwill signal the beginning of another vibrant season, not only forMayhew Tomato Farm, but for the Farmers’ Market, busy growersand expectant consumers across the Golden Triangle.

“These ladies and many other people in the community havedone such a good job of creating interest in the Farmers’Market. It’s much more like a gathering now. You can comedown there and see everyone you want. It’s fun to go. We justwanted to let them know we appreciate it.”