Idalou Harvest Company grower details peaches, veggies, more

Idalou may be known for cotton farming, but it offers much more than the cash crop West Texas is known for. It is also home to a 44-acre farm with an orchard, a vineyard, two greenhouses, vegetables and a year-round farmers market.

Idalou Harvest Co., 12206 East Highway 62, is one of the Lubbock area's two year-round markets, and prides itself on all-local offerings, most of which come from the surrounding farm.

Lucinda Mann, grower and manager for Idalou Harvest, joined the business in 2022. Mann has been a farmer for 15 years, previously operating a mobile farmers market known as Juicy Lucy's Veggies.

Mann's experience, paired with the generational orchard knowledge from owners Dan and Connie Williams, allows the farm to grow a variety of items. That includes:

• Apples.

• Apricots.

• Cherries.

• Garlic.

• Grapes.

• Green beans.

• Onions.

• Peaches.

• Pears.

• Peppers.

• Plums.

• Purple hull peas.

• Squash.

• Tomatoes.

• Zucchini.

"We grow quite a bit out here," Mann said.

Most of what they grow goes directly to the market's shelves, though it can also be found in the LBK Grown subscription boxes and is a favorite among local chefs. During the school year, Idalou Harvest's produce is used in schools across the state.

More: Where can you find Lubbock area grown produce? Here's markets, subscription boxes, more

The other side of the business is the market, which recently expanded with a wine bar and an additional room for produce and freezers. Before Mann joined, the shop was only open seasonally. Now, it is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and hosts a farmers market with other vendors on Saturdays through October.

These markets offer opportunities for people to see where their food or wine is coming from, which is something Mann encourages people to do.

"Know your grower, and support them," Mann said.

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Along with Idalou Harvest's items, shoppers can find local meat, mushrooms, salsas, seasonings, sauces, baked goods, wine and jewelry.

People can keep up with Idalou Harvest Co./Juicy Lucy's Veggies on Facebook, or visit idalouharvest.com.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Idalou Harvest Company thrives on 44 acres with orchards, more