Locally grown watermelons are starting to show up at the area farm stands and markets. Look for melons with yellow bellies and that produce a good hollow sound when thumped on. We used to grow melons by the truckload so I have had some experience with picking ripe melons. This has been a good year for growing large melons but for the sweetest melons you want a dry year.
Don't be afraid to drive down Hillcrest or Rosalia roads as both have been well graded since that major rainstorm we had a week ago. Our blackberries are nearly gone now as we are only getting a few lbs with each picking. Hillcrest farms is still producing a good supply of blueberries and they also have all kinds of homemade jams and jellies, vegetables, potted herbs and plants, as well as homemade ice cream.
Cassebaum's sweet corn is still coming in and they have cantelopes, tomatoes, squash, and other vegetables as well. Celebrate the fourth by making a nice big pot of boiled sweet corn or some gumbo with the fresh okra that can be found at many Baldwin County farm stands.