Now back to our regular programming… From Nashville we went to Memphis Tennessee for a few days on our way to New Orleans.

You can taste the freshness when you buy organic produce directly from the farmer who grew it!
We had been to Memphis many years prior to this visit. In fact, it was a fun stop in our first RV back in 2006, when we stayed at the Graceland RV Park. This time our home base was at the Memphis Agricenter International.

A Rainbow of Mums

I don’t think I have ever seen such a variety of mums or pumpkins as I did at the Agricenter International in Memphis Tennessee
The fun thing about the Agricenter was that it was before Christmas and a lot of events were happening while we were there. There was a huge Christmas Show and Shopping Event, a daily Farmers Market and a fabulous Nursery with plants and pumpkins for sale.

A horde of tall orange pumpkins marching at the Agricenter nursery in Memphis.
We walked through the farmers market to get a feel for what they had to offer. But our first actual stop was at that amazing nursery. Everywhere you looked there were pumpkins and signs of autumn. The chrysanthemum plants were outrageously colorful in full bloom. There were vivid purples, rusts, yellows, red and bright whites. They even had an autumn scene composed of bales of hay, different varieties of pumpkins and corn stalks that created the perfect setting for photos.

A unique use of pumpkins!

Who knew there were so many colors, shapes and sizes of pumpkins? Certainly not me!
After taking our share of pictures at this fantastic outdoor venue, we walked back to the farmers market to do some actually shopping for dinner that night.
We went to the farmers market hoping to pick up some fresh fish and maybe some game meats along with a seasonal variety of produce. I found it quite sad that all of the “fresh” fish and game meats were frozen. You read that correctly. Frozen solid blocks of icy fish and meat that were virtually unrecognizable. It was a good thing I had shrimp in my own freezer that would defrost in time for dinner.

The Traveling Locavores enjoying the sights and sounds of Beale Street in Memphis

Beale Street Memphis Tennessee
The peaches, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers however were fresh off the farm and picked that morning at their peak of ripeness and flavor. The peaches were so juicy that the liquid flavor dripped down my chin and arm as I took my first bite. The tomatoes were so tomatoey that I wanted to eat them like a piece of, well, fruit. Which, of course, they actually are.

BB King’s Blues Club on Beale Street in Memphis Tennessee

BB King’s Company Store
But I think it was the sweet peppers that intrigued me the most. They too, were so delicious that I almost devoured all of them before they made it to the table. Sorry Steve.

Guitar Homage to Johnny Cash on Beale Street

Schwab’s on Beale is still a great place for a milkshake!
After our shopping excursion right on the grounds of our RV park, we took a drive to downtown Memphis Tennessee. It was a glorious day and Beale Street was pretty crowded. We were lucky to find a great parking spot and took a leisurely stroll down Beale Street.

Memphis: Home of the Blues
This street is a music lovers dream. There were lots of places with outdoor seating to have a drink and listen to some great musicians. Which is exactly what we did!

A typical Mississippi River Boat