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Jo Ann Taylor of The Produce Stand located at 316 South Davis in Sulphur Springs moves some "candy" onions to the front of her display area. The stand is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and open Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Along with fresh vegetables, she also features canned goods from Granny Jo's Kitchen.
The recent hot June weather, coupled with climbing gas prices have made the produce business pretty trying.
But Jo Ann Taylor at The Produce Stand, is rolling with the punches and still providing quality food for local residents.
"Everybody always wants homegrown tomatoes and we have them. We also have a good selection of other vegetables," Taylor said.
Taylor, who lives in the Yantis/Lake Fork area, doesn't just sell the produce but tends to the crops and toils in the sun to make sure all the vegetation is properly cared for despite the hot conditions.
"We have 17,000 onion plants, 2,000 tomatoes and a lot of other things to get ready," Taylor said. "We sell what we have and other people are always bringing by local produce, we can't grow it all."
Tomatoes are big and bright red, going for $6 a basket.
Watermelons and cantaloupes have also been popular this summer.
Taylor said the increased expense for gasoline has caused prices to climb. Cantaloupes were $5 each and watermelon also high, some listed at $14.
"It takes time and expense," Taylor said, explaining that she irrigates her plants from a well and runs it 24/7 to keep up.
The Produce Stand is open at 316 S. Davis Street in Sulphur Springs. Her hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.