New potatoes! Snap Beans! Tomatoes!

If new potatoes are coming in, the snap beans aren’t far behind at Ed Lester Farms, Cabin Point Plantation, Coushatta.

That is the news from Ed and Lisa Lester.

I chatted with the two April 27 at the Plantation Ball.

They were there for the presentation of son Thomas L. Lester, an event that must have brought back many memories for the two were presented themselves at the 1979 ball. Son Jay Lester was also there.

Several years ago, I did a story on Ed Lester farms at the foot of the Red River Bridge for a Sunday Living section front. It is one of my all-time favorite stories. We love that stand.

Ed III worked on the ambience of the market over the years, even researching those famous farm stands in the Hamptons where the rich and famous buy fresh produce every morning. (Lester is pretty glittery himself. When he and his farm buddies head for the hunting fields, he takes a gourmet prime rib to sup upon.)

"We dress it up. I am a stickler for it being clean and neat," Lester told us at that time.

The family raises over 50 kinds of fruits and vegetables, according to their Web site: edlester farms.com.


Everything they sell is raised on the land.


Through the season — they close down Aug. 1 — they peddle Southern favorites, such as eggplant, tomatoes, collards, beets, peaches, white peaches and Armistead sweet onions.


There is also basil, Italian snaps, purple hull peas and figs.


"We will open in mid_may with new potatoes," said Lester.


And whatever else is ripe.

All grown close to home.