Month: June 2012

eat.drink.Mississippi

Small Town America Meets American Idol: Beatty Street Grocery Doles out Burger, Fries, and a Little Taste of Fame

eat. drink. MISSISSIPPI
June / July 2012
Article and photos

Beatty Street Grocery has been known by long-time Jackson natives as place for burgers and fries.  The unimposing white building on the corner of Beatty and South West Streets has been in the same location since West Street dead-ended at East Rankin Street and the city limits of Jackson only extended as far as Highway 80.  It’s a time most Jacksonians don’t remember.  But where modern burger joints, restaurants, and large commercial franchises move in and then fizzle out, Beatty Street Grocery – like an old friend – has seen the city of Jackson through good times and bad.

Beatty Street Grocery didn’t begin as a restaurant.  When Carolyn Massey’s father bought the establishment in 1940, the surrounding area was lined with family homes and every neighborhood had its own corner grocery store.  Where long wooden dining tables and bar stools now stand used to sit store aisles selling canned goods and produce.  Patrons purchased their meat where diners now place drink orders.  The original deed – handwritten on a piece of tablet paper – hangs prominently in a display case near the back entrance.  Massey’s father paid $250.

“Back then you didn’t have a lawyer draw up the paperwork,” Massey recalls.  “All you needed was a signature and a gentleman’s handshake.”

For a short time, Massey’s mother ran the store while her father continued his job as a bread deliveryman.  However, the stress of running a store and caring for a toddler (Massey was only a year old at the time), proved to be too much.  Massey’s father eventually gave up his delivery job and took over running the store full-time.  In 1947, the store was enlarged to include its modern day location.

The grocery store began selling sandwiches almost immediately.  Several local industries were within walking distance; however many of the employees had nowhere to eat for lunch.  Seeing a need, the store began offering homemade sandwiches wrapped in butcher paper for 10 cents apiece.

Original Beatty Street deed from 1940
Beatty Burger with cheese
Beatty Street Grocery in 1940
Beatty Street Grocery today

Hamburgers wouldn’t make an appearance for another 17 years.  By then Massey was a new bride still helping out at her father’s store.  Not surprisingly, Massey’s mother had grown tired of sandwiches and Massey thought she had just the solution – a brand new electric skillet she and her husband Malcolm had received as a wedding gift.  Massey brought the skillet to work and began frying up hamburger patties when a customer asked if he could buy one.  By 1960, Beatty Street was selling more hamburgers than another up-and-coming restaurant franchise that had just moved into the area – McDonald’s.

The arrival of the first supermarket in Jackson marked the beginning of the end for the local mom-and-pop neighborhood grocery stores.  While many stores began shutting their doors for good, Beatty Street had its restaurant to fall back on.  It still maintains a convenience store, selling sodas, chips, and gigantic jars of dill pickles, but the former grocery store is now known more for their $5 combo meal –which includes an 8 oz. Beatty burger still wrapped in butcher paper, an order of fries, and a 32 oz. drink.  The menu has grown exponentially since they sold their first hamburger to include other popular items such as poboys and salads.  It is currently one of the few places in Jackson where you can still order a fried bologna sandwich.

Over the last 70 years, the neighborhood surrounding Beatty Street Grocery has changed.  The little white brick building has watched as families moved out and businesses moved in.  While many locals who grew up eating Beatty burgers still stop in for lunch, the little mom-and-pop eatery pretty much fell off the radar for much of the younger generation.  That is, until recently.

Beatty Street lunch counter
Beatty Street menu
Vote for Skylar Laine on “American Idol”
Carolyn Massey and Beatty Street Grocery

Earlier this year, Beatty Street Grocery became associated with something quiet unlikely – the popular Fox television show American Idol.  The Massey’s eighteen-year-old granddaughter, Skylar, auditioned for the show in Houston, Texas, during Season 11’s national talent search.  She is the second contestant from Mississippi to appear on the show and the first to make it all the way to the top five.  Suddenly the Massey’s family restaurant has been cast into the limelight as Skylar fans – known as Skoutlaws – have taken an interest in the restaurant where Skylar and older sister Blair both worked after school and mom Mary Harden is the manager.

Beatty Street has taken their new found fame in stride.  There are a few handmade posters of Skylar taped to the walls and the restaurant has seen their share of newcomers.  But other than that, it’s business as usual.  Blue collar workers still bump elbows with men in shirts and ties as they enjoy their sandwiches and fries.  The girls behind the lunch counter still hustle to keep up with the lunch crowd.    Mrs. Massey still sits quietly at the cash register, handing back change and taking the time to talk to a regular.  Occasionally someone will comment about her granddaughter’s success on American Idol.  Massey nods her head and points out that she’s just as proud of her other granddaughter Blair, who is at the top of her class in law school at Ole Miss.

“Every once in a while someone will come in and say, ‘I never knew you were here!’” adds Massey.  “I just have to laugh.  We’ve been right here for over 70 years.”

Beatty Street Grocery
101 Beatty Street
Jackson, MS 39201
(601) 355-0514

Hours:
Monday – Friday 6 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Saturday 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

eat.drink.Mississippi

To Market, To Market

eat. drink. MISSISSIPPI
June / July 2012

The popularity of local farmers’ markets has seen a healthy increase in popularity over the last 15 years, more so since 2008 as more people become conscious of their health and what they are eating. According to the USDA, the number of farmers’ markets across the U.S. increased 17% in 2011, from 6,000 to over 7,000 markets.

There are numerous advantages to buying locally grown produce. First, you are directly supporting the local economy. By purchasing an item from someone who lives in your own community, county, or state – instead of a major grocery chain – they are able to turn around and put that money back right back into the economy.

Second is freshness. Commercially grown produce is often picked before it’s ripe, usually several days before it ends up on store shelves, and then refrigerated so the produce is able to withstand the arduous travel to its final destination. You have no idea how long ago your shiny red tomato was picked and because it was not allowed to ripen on the vine, it often does not develop its full flavor. Local produce is often picked within the last 24 hours. The fresher is it, the better it tastes.

Third is nutrition. Time, temperature changes, exposure to air and artificial light can all rob fruits and vegetables of their nutrients. Similarly, produce that has been picked early does not have as many nutrients as ripe produce. In order to survive the shipping process, some commercial farmers will even treat their fruits and vegetables with preservatives and chemicals to prevent bacterial growth. However, when a harvest’s final destination is just a short distance away, local farmers have the advantage of picking at just the right time and don’t have to take extra measures to ensure their crop can survive traveling across the country.

Finally, there is cost. Buying a pint of strawberries when they are in season is cheaper than buying them in the winter. While larger chain grocery stores may have the advantage of a lower price, farm stand produce typically lasts longer because it was picked recently, leading to less waste.

Mississippi has nearly 60 farmers’ markets registered with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce (MDAC), many of which are certified. The Mississippi Certified Farmers Market program is a voluntary distinction awarded to a market used by two or more Mississippi growers on a frequent basis for the direct sale of their own produce or food products to consumers. The certification also requires at least 50% of the agricultural products offered for sale are grown within the state. Whether you are health conscious or looking to save money, there is sure to be a farmers’ market in your area.

Hernando Farmers Market
A city of 15,000 people, Hernando is a small community that maintains its 1800’s charm while still just a short distance away from the Memphis-metro area. The city already has a well-established foodie community and in 2008, area development officials decided to launch a farmers’ market to encourage its citizens to buy local and attract more young professionals to the community.

“On any given Saturday and even all week during the growing season, you’ll find roadside markets sprinkled on street corners or in parking lots throughout the county,” said Leigh Wills, manager of the Hernando Farmers’ Market. “Truly, the folks in DeSoto County love their markets, their farm fresh produce, and their homemade artisan products.”

The market began with three vendors who set up tables under the big oaks that shade the town square. By the end of the growing season, the market had grown to 15 vendors. Four years later, the market boasts between 65-70 full-time to seasonal vendors selling everything from fresh milk in glass bottles, local honey, fruits and vegetables, baked goods, and fresh flowers. The popularity and growth of the market has not gone without notice. For two years in a row, it has been named Mississippi’s Favorite Farmers Market by the American Farmland Trust and ranked 7th nationally among markets with more than 56 vendors. It has also been featured in Mississippi Magazine as one of six favorite markets statewide.

“This has turned into more than a farmers’ market, it has become an experience,” says Shelly Johnston, director of community development for the City of Hernando. “People will come out, walk their dogs, buy their produce, and sit and talk. The market has really brought the community together like nothing else.”

Hernando Farmers’ Market
2535 Highway 51 South (historic Hernando Court Square)
Hernando, MS
Open every Saturday, May-October, 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Indianola Open Air Market
Located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, Indianola is known for blues and B.B. King. However, like most communities in the Delta, Indianola also has large agricultural roots. Approximately six years ago, members of the Bill Richardson Civic Alliance Group and Indianola Main Street decided to join forces and establish a community farmers’ market.

Set against the backdrop of the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, the market has grown from four vendors to nearly 16 during peak growing season. Consumers can not only experience the rich culture that is the Mississippi Delta, but also enjoy live music while shopping for handmade crafts, garden plants, baked goods and, of course, home grown produce. Food and drinks are also available for purchase.

Maggie Barnes, an Indianola resident, helped found the market. “We really try to make sure the market stays community-oriented. We always take into account the different ethnics group in the area and make sure we have something for everyone. The market has become a gathering place for the community.”

Indianola Open Air Market
200 Second Street – B.B. King Museum
Indianola, MS
Open every Thursday, May – July as produce allows, 4-7 p.m.

Neshoba County Farmers Market
There is no question that Neshoba County and the surrounding areas are an agricultural community. Neshoba County is home to one of the state’s largest county fairs, whose humble roots began as a two-day meeting for local farmers. Nearly three decades ago, the local chapter of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation established the Neshoba County Farmers Market as a way to bring together small farmers and consumers looking to purchase fresh produce. Today, the market is currently the only market in Mississippi sponsored by a local Farm Bureau chapter.

The market boasts around 10 vendors selling everything from fresh squash, potatoes, onions, beans, cabbage, okra, tomatoes peas and cucumbers. All items are harvested from Neshoba County and the surrounding area. This year, the market plans to enhance the Saturday market by offering baked goods.

Harvin Hudson, county director of the Neshoba County Cooperative Extension Service, hopes to continue growing the market’s popularity. “We are always looking for new producers and welcome them to be a part of our market.”

Neshoba County Farmers Market
Highway 16 East – Behind Farm Bureau Office
Philadelphia, MS
Open every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; June – September; 6 a.m. – 9 a.m.

The Mississippi Farmers’ Market
The Mississippi Farmers’ Market has the distinction of being one of the oldest and largest markets in the state. The market can trace its roots back to the early 1950’s. In 2005, it relocated to an 18,000 square-foot facility in downtown Jackson near the fairgrounds. During peak growing season, customers have more than 60 vendors to choose from.

The market really stresses being a “grower’s market,” meaning that vendors have to produce what they sell. Farmers are required to undergo an annual inspection to ensure that their goods are actually being grown on their farm. Even arts and crafts vendors must source much of the raw materials used in producing their goods from within the state.

“Our customers have been really supportive of our movement,” says Will Scarborough, manager of the Mississippi Farmers’ Market. “Many of our vendors are specialty farmers, meaning they specialize in growing specific produce. We get a lot of visitors from out-of-town, but locals are the people who benefit the most.”

In addition to fresh produce, craftsmen and artisans, the market also offers cooking demonstrations from culinary schools and chefs from area restaurants, live entertainment, senior citizen and children activities, and seasonal events and promotions. Visitors can also grab a bite to eat at the Farmers Market Grille, a permanent eatery that serves breakfast and lunch.

The Mississippi Farmers’ Market
929 High Street
Jackson, MS
Open every Saturday; last weekend in January until a week before Christmas; 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Open Tuesday, Thursday; mid-May to August; 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Ocean Springs Fresh Market
Just a few miles away from the glitz and glamour of Biloxi, Ocean Springs has the appeal of a quiet beachfront community. The warmer climates found along the Mississippi Gulf Coast afford farmers in the area almost a year-round growing season. The Ocean Springs Fresh Market began in 2004. After closing down briefly in 2005 because of Hurricane Katrina, the market reopened a year later. During peak growing season, the market has around 25 vendors selling everything from fresh fruits and vegetables, freshly baked artisanal breads, fresh pasta, eggs, and fresh flowers.

The Ocean Springs Fresh Market also prides itself on being a producer only market. Diane Claughton, founder of the market, personally visits each vendor to verify that they produce what they sell.

“Many people think that all markets calling themselves ‘farmers markets’ have farmers,” Claughton said. “Unfortunately, a great number of these are in reality ‘resellers markets’ in which most or all of the produce is purchased from a wholesaler and trucked in from hundreds or thousands of miles away. Ocean Springs Fresh Market is a producer only market, meaning that all of the vendors either grow or produce their products in the Gulf Coast region and the producer or an employee is at the market to answer any questions.”

Claughton explains that many of her farmers either pick their produce late the day before market, or early the day of. She recommends visitors get to the market early when the best selection is available and to bring cash. Claughton encourages consumers to talk to the vendors and ask questions about how their produce was grown and what tips they have for keeping their produce fresh.

“Mississippi is a state with a long, rich history in agriculture,” Claughton adds. “Many of our customers shop in our market in part because they want to help Mississippi grow more farmers.”

Ocean Springs Farmers Market
1000 Washington Avenue
Ocean Springs, MS
Open every Saturday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Year round

Mississippi Magazine

If You Build It, They Will Come: Livingston Farmer’s Market

Mississippi Magazine
May / June 2012

Once upon a time, before central air conditioning and television sets brought us in from our front porches, people took the time to get to know their neighbors.  There were no early morning meetings to rush off to, no cell phones to distract us, and no rush hour traffic to put us behind schedule.  Good fences did not make good neighbors, but rather good neighbors made good friends.

Five years ago, developer David Landrum set out to bring back those good old days.  His inspiration came from a long-forgotten Mississippi town that last saw its heyday when the horse and buggy were a preferred mode of transportation.  The town of Livingston was established as Madison County’s first town and served as the original county seat from 1828-1833.  Located at the crossroads of Highway 463 and 22, Livingston was once considered a thriving center of business that would meet its demise some thirty years later after being bypassed by the Mississippi Central Railroad.

The first time Landrum visited the site, the only evidence left to suggest that Livingston had even existed were a few overgrown roadbeds.  It was enough to convince him that the site had potential.  Six months later Landrum and several investors purchased the land and set out to restore the town to its former glory.

The goal – create a community that not only highlights Mississippi’s historic roots, but also celebrates the best of what Mississippi has to offer through food, music, literature and art.  That vision includes focusing on the farm-to-table movement, which seeks to take locally produced food and deliver it straight to consumers.   As momentum began to build, Landrum, his wife Jill, and Creative Director Leisha Pickering felt they needed to create something that would tie the entire community together.  Thus, the idea of the Livingston Farmers Market was born.

“We want our town to have an organic, earthy feeling that is supportive of local farmers, artists, and craftsman while celebrating our state’s natural resources,” Pickering said.  “We felt like establishing our own farmer’s market would encourage people to come out and be a part of our town and help lay the groundwork for what we are trying to accomplish.”

The group brought in Richard Butler, former director of the Mississippi Farmer’s Market, to head up the operation as Farmer’s Market Project Manager.  Butler worked with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce every step of the way to ensure the market met every guideline needed to become a certified farmer’s market.  On June 2 of last year, the market opened with 18 vendors.

“Honestly, that first market we were all nervous,” said Landrum.  “The closer it got to four o’clock when we were supposed to open the more we wondered if anyone would show up.”

Jill Landrum adds, “When we first told people about our plans, their first reaction was usually, ‘You are going to build a town where?’  We wondered if we built this, would people really come?”

The Landrum’s fears were unfounded because in the end, people did come.  They came not only to purchase fresh produce and handmade crafts from farmers and artisans all across the state, but to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and spend a moment relaxing and reconnecting with their community.  By the time the market closed in the fall, the market was realizing almost 1,000 visitors a week and the number of vendors grew to nearly 30.

“We thought once the summer months started getting hotter that people would probably come, get their groceries, and leave,” David Landrum admits.  “But we noticed that people would stay and hang out.”

Jill Landrum agrees, “People came back week after week.  I think they really longed for that connection and sense of community.  They would sit, visit, and listen to music. The atmosphere was really special.”

So what can a first time visitor expect when they make a trip to the Livingston Farmer’s Market?  Right off the bat, they are met by rows and rows of tents shaded by a canopy of trees on the site of the old Livingston town square.  Guests have their pick of fresh, seasonal produce – much of it grown in Mississippi – including tomatoes, onions, garlic, herbs, watermelons, and berries.  They can also pick up something special – such as a jar of homemade jam, goat’s milk soap, a loaf of homemade bread, and other handmade gifts.  Before heading home with a bag full of goodies, they can enjoy a cup of freshly squeezed lemonade or a glass of wine from the wine bar and take a moment to enjoy some live music.  The market also has children’s activities to ensure even the youngest visitor has a good time.

“People who make the trip for the first time come away with something that goes way beyond a traditional farmer’s market,” Butler said.  “Everything is carefully planned and executed so that you leave with a totally different experience.”

This year’s farmer’s market kicks off on May 17 and will continue every Thursday from 4-8 p.m. through October.  The number of participating vendors is expected grow another fifty percent and include farmers from as far away as Greenwood and Simpson and Smith counties.   Several area restaurants will be returning this year to give cooking demonstrations on how to prepare locally grown food.

Just as the Town of Livingston will soon begin to grow and evolve, plans are in the works to keep the farmer’s market new and exciting.  Livingston’s first building – a permanent pavilion to house the market – is expected to be completed later in the year.  Viking Range has plans to construct an outdoor kitchen for cooking demonstrations.  In keeping with the organic, farm-to-table focus, a working farm will produce fresh eggs, cut flowers, and vegetables in addition to a greenhouse for varieties not found locally.

“Our goal is to build one of the best farmer’s markets in the country,” David Landrum reveals.  “Not only are we supporting local farmers, but encouraging growth in the local economy.”