![[dan-truett-mcwhorter.jpg]](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_473nrD5vEv8/S5hAR2x0JVI/AAAAAAAACVo/caHZJMX-j9o/s400/dan-truett-mcwhorter.jpg)
Today's picture was taken in 1908, and it shows a street market in Richmond Virginia. Wow, this guy really has some produce, doesn't he. I believe I see watermelons, cantelope, corn, and maybe potatoes. I would be willing to bet the shopping experience was infinitely better than at Super Walmart. Those watermelons are huge. You have never had a real watermelon if you have not bought one from a farmer on the side of the road.
The best watermelons I ever had was Black Diamonds bought from a guy that would bring up a load of them from Texas and park off the road on an approach and sell them there. His truck load would only last a few days and then he was off to get some more.
ReplyDeleteBlack Diamond watermelon rinds made the best pickles. The rind was nice and think. Now you can't even find them up here in North Dakota. I surely miss those great Black Diamonds.
Looks like he might have tomatoes in that crate on the right side of his pile.
The ones I stole out of my future brother-in-law's melon patch were also very tasty. rwm
ReplyDeleteAnd you never had figs unless you bought them from the man who leads a donkey pulling a cart filled with figs through the streets, early in the morning while shouting "Sica, sica, sica".
ReplyDeleteEl
Agree with 7:24. The best melons of any kind are selected and eaten in the garden, early in the morning while they are still cool from the night air.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid, our neighborhood policeman bought the lot next to our house and put in a garden. At first people didn't like it (we were in town) but once he started distributing the best watermelons you ever ate, the sweetest corn and the snappiest peas everyone loved it. I was at my mother's house for a funeral last weekend and slept in my childhood room and really missed how I could open my window and see nothing but corn (now it's a house).
ReplyDeletePerhaps he is also a gentleman farmer? He has a good hat. IS a tractor a requirement?
ReplyDeleteDonna, You have those great memories to hang on to. When I was a little kid, maybe 6, my neighbor had a huge garden, sort of the PJM equivalent "Gentleman Farmer" from the Northeast. He had a horse, some chickens etc. For some reason I got the idea in my head that you have to pick the little yellow buds off the tomato plants to make the tomatos come out. I told the farmers daughter that and both of us went around picking off all the tomato buds. Oh my Lord, we were in some serious trouble after that. Not too funny at the time but whenever I think back now it just cracks me up. Have a nice weekend all.
ReplyDeleteFunny story, Dave, thanks.
ReplyDeleteI worry about all the odd hybrid watermelons, have not tasted one yet that didn't have an odd artificial taste to it - boy, I would love one of those melons in the picture!
ReplyDeleteThe street is paved! When did street paving start to become more common, at least in the larger cities? Anyone know?
ReplyDeleteJust found you through "Blogs of Note"...congrats!
these watermelons are good income to that farmer nice pic
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