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WE PROUDLY SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS

ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT The warm climate and fertile soil of the Gulf Coast are ideal not only for growing tomatoes, strawberries and sweet potatoes, but also for cultivating cabbage.

ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT Trey Harris of Harris Farms (located in Springfield, Louisiana, approximately seven miles west of Ponchatoula) dedicates acres of land to growing strawberries exclusively for Rouses Markets.

ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT Sessions Farm, a family-owned farm situated in Grand Bay, Alabama, has been passed down through second and third generations. Initially, the farm grew corn, soybeans and watermelons.

ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT Ben Becnel, Sr. and Ben Becnel, Jr. are a father-and-son duo who have been cultivating their family-owned farm for over 40 years, representing the fifth and sixth generations to do so. According to the Becnels, the key to their success lies in their fertile delta soil, which is located in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, along the Mississippi River. With 250 acres of fields and trees, their land is situated roughly 15 miles downriver from the Belle Chasse Tunnel, around Jesuit Bend, resulting in their satsumas, oranges, grapefruits and Meyer lemons having a distinctively rich and sweet flavor. The Becnels also supply Rouses with Creole tomatoes during the tomato season. Before hitting the shelves, their sweet potatoes must undergo a weeklong curing process to deepen their flavors and set their skins.

Now, the farm has diversified, harvesting a wide range of crops all year round.

ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT Florida produces more watermelon than any other

ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT The strawberry industry in the Florida parishes of Louisiana traces its roots back to the 1800s, when enterprising immigrants from Hungary and Italy began cultivating the fertile land, now recognized as Louisiana’s Berry Belt. Ponchatoula, Louisiana is known as the Strawberry Capital of the World, a title it holds with pride.

Southern state. With its long and hot summers, the Sunshine State offers the perfect climate for growing. While watermelon is available year-round, the sweetest and most succulent fruit can be found between the months of May and September. During this time, production peaks in top watermelon-growing states such as Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, California, Georgia, Florida and Texas. So, if you’re craving the juiciest and most flavorful watermelons, be sure to keep an eye out during these peak months.

ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT The fertile fields of St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes, located in the southeastern part of Louisiana, are where Creole tomatoes thrive. Thanks to the unique river soils and warm climate, these parishes produce tomatoes that are incredibly sweet and bursting with an intense, “tomatoey” flavor. While Creole tomatoes are the star of the show and even have their own festival, a range of tomato varieties are cultivated along the Gulf Coast. Tomatoes typically reach their peak during the hottest days of summer.

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