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MDAC’s Freshly Picked Podcast Releases Farm-to-Table Themed Episode Featuring Longtime, Local Farmer and Award-Winning Chef of Hinds County
JACKSON, Miss. – The latest episode of the popular new podcast series, Freshly Picked, delves into the farm-to-table process with special guests Hunter Evans, award-winning chef and owner of Elvie’s in Jackson, and Don Kazery Jr., owner of Kazery Farms in Jackson. This episode, “Seat at the Chef’s Table,” airs today, September 26, at 9:30 a.m. at www.msfreshlypicked.com and on all major podcast platforms.
Kazery grows Christmas trees, flowers and herbs on his farm in Hinds County. He described how he started cultivating herbs for local restaurants when he became aware of the demand and potential for these specialty crops. Beginning with the sale of his bumper crop blackberries at a local farmers market, Kazery now supplies his ag commodities to multiple, first-rate establishments. He went on to discuss the various edible flowers and herbs that he sells to restaurants specifically for spicing and complimenting dishes today.
One such restaurant that sources fresh herbs from Kazery Farms is Elvie’s, located in downtown Jackson. Evans has partnered with Kazery for direct access to local produce and herbs for approximately eight years. Following a stint at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, Evans returned to Mississippi to explore and create “his own voice” through food. He credits the inspiration behind Elvie’s to his grandmother, May Elvieretta Good, and his love of New Orleans style cuisine. Evans says he also tries to source special commodities that coincide with the season to incorporate in his dishes. This unique episode includes more conversations behind an inspiring farm-to-table partnership, as well as the resources available to growers and entrepreneurs concerning specialty crops.
The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) established the Freshly Picked podcast to promote specialty crops in Mississippi. The podcast series will feature 24 episodes and include specialty crop farmers, experts, entrepreneurs and/or chefs as they tell the stories behind their farms, businesses and the unique products they offer. Listeners can find new episodes every Thursday through February 2025 at www.msfreshlypicked.com, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or other major platforms.
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