You go there for the veggies, right? Plump, pretty, newly picked produce. And it’s bountiful in Morgan County, Alabama. But so are the friendly farmers who do themselves proud with colorful pickin’s and Southern pride to boot!
It was one of those summer Saturdays when farmers from Eva, Priceville, Somerville, Cullman, Decatur, and even Huntsville gathered in downtown Decatur under a long row of tents and awnings to arrange nature’s bounty for all to see. Most farmers ‘fessed up to pickin’ on the Fourth just to get the freshest goods to market on Saturday, July 5th when we were there.
And there was plenty of it, too. Juicy red maters, purple hull peas, tender yellow squash, freestone peaches, and watermelons piled high ready for thumpin’ to see how ripe they are.
But what made this trip more fun (or is it funner?) than samplin’ them paper shell “pee-cans” was just jawin’ with the farmers. Like this guy who offered us a slice of a fresh peach until we told him we were Tennessee fans who had reservations ’bout buyin’ from someone wearing a Bama hat. He grinned ear-to-ear and said, “Aw, go on. This is good eatin’. You’ll like it.” Indeed we did.

Bama fan serving freestone peach samples to die-hard Tennessee fans — that would be us! And smiling, too!
Or how about these two early bird entrepreneurs — Jameson and Chandler Barber from Barbers Produce in Decatur? Proud as punch to be standing by their harvest. We even talked about being on Twitter, and I said I’d post their picture @rushasams and take a look at @BarbersProduce and their Facebook page too: facebook.com/barbersproduce. Farmers are high tech these days, don’t you know?!

Jameson and Chandler Barber standing by their just-picked produce. So happy to be a Decatur Farmers Market!
This lady from Gibson Farm & Greenery said she sells mostly to chefs who are into that farm-to-table thing, but when she has extra, she comes to the Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market with her chalkboard brimming with good eats.
It’s not just veggies., though. When this guy reached over for a jar of Strawberry Jalapeno Jelly and said it’d be good on cream cheese, he had us. We packed up a couple of jars to share at our next family gathering in Tennessee.

“It’s good on cream cheese,” he said. And he had us buying that Strawberry Jalapeno Jelly at that very moment!
My brother-in-law Jim Mouch even found a yellow and purple bouquet that a lady from Huntsville carefully wrapped in a sack with a little pool of water in the bottom. (Inventive folks, by golly!)
So, if you live near Decatur, come on down any Saturday ’til November 8, 2014. Better yet, plan to be there for these upcoming events. They’re sure to be big-time fun!
Corn Festival — Saturday, July 12, 2014
Tomato Sandwich Day — Saturday, July 26, 2014
Watermelon Festival — Saturday, August 16, 2014
Remember: People almost trump produce at the Decatur Farmers Market — personable, happy, and proud of what they’ve grown. And for good reason. Come see!
For more information:
Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market
211 First Avenue SE
Decatur, Alabama 35601
Website: http://www.decaturfarmersmarket.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DecaturMorgan-County-Farmers-Market/174610319238067
argentumvulgaris
Awesome market…
AV
Rusha Sams
Thanks! I love going to farmers markets — so much good food, so many friendly people!
Cynthia Moxley
Dang! Hate that I missed Tomato Sandwich Day! Great pics, Rusha!
Rusha Sams
Maybe we need to start our own Mater Samich Day!!! Thanks for stopping by the blog. Enjoy your takes on what’s happening in Knoxville — so much!
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freebutfun
The fruit and vegies look delicious! I love farmers markets.
Rusha Sams
I love farmers markets, too. We always buy too much, but it’s totally worth it. And fresh summer tomatoes are my favorite!!
LuAnn
We love farmers’ markets! Wish we were in the area. Great photos Rusha! 🙂
Rusha Sams
We have them in our area, so every Tuesday if I can get by, I go. I’m becoming friends with the regulars, and I look forward to whatever is plentiful that week. Thanks for commenting.
Amy
Love to see their smiles! Farmer’s market is good thing 🙂
Rusha Sams
You are so right. We love them! Fresh food and sometimes the tips for how to cook it come free! Thanks for taking a look at the veggies we posted.