If you hail from West Tennessee, as I do, you’ve heard of Elvis, and you’ve eaten Ripley tomatoes.
Around the first of July, many of you will have set out driving up Highway 51 looking for a sign on the side of the road advertising Ripley tomatoes. They’re beefsteak tomatoes, so some people may assume they’re nothing special. But, they’d be wrong. Folks will actually drive across county lines, and even state lines to buy a peck of Ripley tomatoes.
Hubs grew up mostly in Arkansas. There’s not much he loves more than fresh tomatoes. Except maybe me. And I wouldn’t be foolhardy enough to stand between him, a fresh-grilled hamburger, and a Ripley tomato!
Ripley is about an hour west of Memphis. The Fourth of July is when Ripley tomatoes usually come into season. My nephew is getting married June 22 just outside of Jackson, Tennessee. I sincerely hope we’re lucky enough to snag some fresh Ripley tomatoes along the highway from somebody’s truck patch. Tomatoes in the U.P. come in much later in the season since summer starts so late for us. Some of our produce here is very tasty. But our ‘maters are sadly midlin at best.
Share your favorite summer veggies with us in the comments.
Chicks on the Case 
I’m a fan of grilled asparagus. Add some olive oil and seasonings and you have perfection!
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Asparagus is also a fave of mine, J.C.!
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Vickie, your post made me smile. Thank you for sharing. Those tomatoes are so beautiful.
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I love grilled asparagus, too! I knew you and I were destined to be pals.
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I like bell peppers. Not sure if they are a summer veggie or not.
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I believe they are, Mark. Happy eating!
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Those tomatoes look delicious! Wait a minute, aren’t tomatoes fruit? If so, my fave summer fruit is watermelon!
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Watermelon is a delicious summer choice!
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Ha! Love your quick wit, Jennifer. LOL!
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These sound delicious. I grew up in NY hearing that NJ tomatoes were exceptional. I’d love to have a tomato that was really exceptional from any state.
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I’ve never heard about New Jersey tomatoes as a winner, El!
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I can attest to the NJ tomatoes! South Jersey has beautiful farmland.
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Fresh tomatoes! Yum! Ever since I read Harriet the Spy as a kid, I’ve been a fan of tomato sandwiches. On white bread. With mayo (in my case, Miracle Whip, ha). Harriet upset her mom because she ate them every day for 5 years. I’m not sure I was that bad (they’re super messy), mostly because my mom made me buy hot lunch from the cafeteria. Ugh. Another summer fave of mine: Butter-and-sugar corn on the cob. With butter.
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Oh, Lisa Q, buttered corn on the cob is heaven!
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Lisa, butter and corn on the cob. Yum! My mouth is watering.
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Not much compares to a home-grown tomato, all right! I also love fresh peaches, and skinny French beans just off the vine! I just planted my summer garden, though, so I doubt I’ll have anything to pick before July….
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Leslie, I love tomatoes on corn bread, too!
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Yum!
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Leslie, I love French beans. For me, they’re right up there with coffee beans.
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Lol, Patricia–me too!
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LOL!
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Jealous that you have a summer garden, Leslie!
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Oh, I love Bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches! Yum! Lately, however, I prefer oven-fried green tomatoes in my BLTs.
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Tomatoes are good, but I like green beans fresh off the stem.
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