Peaches, Popsicles & Tamales: Farmer's Market Finds at 3 Horse Farm Hotspots

Being a Lafayette Farmer's Market regular I often find myself visiting the same vendors and buying the same local fare:

WesMar Farms for milk and cheese.

Bread & Circus for curry ketchup or belly bacon.

Inglewood Farms for okra and peppers.

This past week I challenged myself to stretch my boundaries and discover three vendors that I hadn't visited before. I hoped to find some hidden gems and I was not disappointed.


Ruston Peaches and Produce:
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Sure, it may not seem like a new discovery, and technically you're right. I have eaten Ruston peaches all my life as have most people in the area. The underlying joy of the Farmer's Market is the interaction the buyer has with the farmer. The middleman is cut out, allowing for a better understanding of the growing process and the love that is put into harvesting something that is otherwise taken for granted. The folks at RPP are no rookies. They have been peddling Prunus persica in Lafayette for over 16 years now along with other seasonal produce as available. Peaches are all the rage this time of year and we used our batch to attempt to duplicate the peach butter mentioned in my post about La Petite Grocery.
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While it was no match for theirs, we don't assign blame to the peaches. They were perfect! Pick some up this weekend because the season will be ending soon.

Fruit Popsicles by Cindy:
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It was really hot last Saturday. It is hot most days around here. Nothing cools you off better than an ice cold popsicle. If you are like us and have a toddler, you know the power of influence that any frozen treat has on their little brains. The second our youngest saw Fruit Popsicles by Cindy, he had his heart set on Strawberry.
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Since all of Cindy's popsicles are made with seasonal fruit, fresh herbs and small amounts of simple syrup or local honey, we were happy to oblige.
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I was only offered one taste and the popsicle was gone in no time flat. Visit Fruit Popsicles by Cindy on Facebook for contact information and specialty flavors.

Tamales Emilia:
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A few of my Eat This Lafayette Facebook friends recommended we try Tamales Emilia. Emilia offers authentic homemade pork, chicken, cheese, beef or bean tamales and homemade salsa Verde. We made it just before she sold out. The chicken tamale was huge!
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The salsa Verde was pretty spicy, but luckily I had some Wes Mar Farms goat milk to tame the heat. At Tamales Emilia you can purchase ready to eat tamales or get them frozen to stock your freezer for a quick dinner or late night snack.

The Lafayette Farmer's Market is an incredible resource and we need to be sure that we take advantage of having something of its kind in our backyard. Buying local is good for your pocketbook and good for our community. If you haven't visited it yet, take a chance and do something different. Break out of your "norm" and visit the Market each and every Saturday, rain or shine.

Visit the official Facebook page for the Lafayette Farmers and Artisans Market at the Horse Farm.

Visit the official website for list of vendors, events and more.

Lafayette Farmers and Artisans Market at the Horse Farm
2913 Johnston Stret
Lafayette, LA 70503