The very first day of the Clayton Farmer's Market, many years ago, which to my memory was in the month of September and was totally local and organic,we stood surveying the busy scene with Julie Ridlon, the market master. A woman, unknown to all of us, stopped to speak to Joe. At a pause in the conversation, Julie asked, "So, how did you like it?"
"Not very much," said the woman. "I was looking for oranges and bananas and I couldn't find either one."
I thought of the story when I read the food section of the New Orleans Times-Picayune this week. The T-P, like so many papers, is being eviscerated, but the online edition will persist, thanks to their depleted staff. But one of the larger stories in the section involves bananas being cultivated in southern Louisiana. "Local and Tastier Bananas Are On the Way" read the headline. Sounds absolutely delicious. Give it a few years and some decent weather and another new and inviting (and healthy!) treat will be possible.