Summer may be winding down in Southwest Georgia, but summer’s fresh peas are still very much in demand at Rudy’s Happy Patch Market. Most customers prefer to purchase shelled peas, so on-site shelling has increased to record levels.

In an earlier post this summer, we told our readers about the introduction of a new stainless steel sheller at the market. This super-efficient machine has been a welcome addition to staff, but the high volume of shelling has led to the re-emergence of two barrel shellers from retirement. The two machines were updated by staff member Jackie Teasley and her father, Jack. With three machines at work, staff are able to keep up with customer demand.

Market manager Kelly Jansen shares, “We bought and shelled 1,163 bushels of peas and butterbeans this season. We have only sold 18 bushels of unshelled peas and butterbeans. I guess our customer base appreciates the cleanliness and delivery of our shelled products.”

Perry Wellness Center founder and CEO Stuart Perry is thinking ahead as he contemplates the high demand for peas and butterbeans at the market. “I guess we are going to adopt peas as a year-round product along with our tomatoes.”

Kelly Jansen is ready to jump on board, but right now his focus is on meeting customer demand during the waning summer. He cites the wide variety of peas currently available at the market: “We are proud to offer eleven varieties of peas to our customers.” They include pink eyes, crème 8s, crème 12s, crème 40s, lady fingers, sendia, butter peas, crowder peas, purple hulls, and zipper peas. Butter beans are also available.

In the photo above, staff member David Watt, left, presides over a barrel pea sheller as he chats with peer Willie Pryor.