Lala Belle’s Produce

by Jazz Clark

Sissy Stevens opened Lala Belle’s fruit stand on Friday, March 23 at the former location of Sonny’s Produce.

Stevens, bass player for her family’s touring bluegrass band, loves produce and knows that there was a market to fill for quality fruits and vegetables in the community.

“People didn’t have any place to buy produce after Sonny left, and it’s a prime location,” said Stevens. “People know we’re not going to have bad stuff for sale.”

Most of the goods come from Florida now, but she hopes to make the switch to some Amish produce from Shippensburg, Pa. soon enough.

Amish produce is grown organically without the use of chemical sprays, but not all the fruits and vegetables there will be “organic.”

“We have a lot of new products set for the future,” Stevens said. “We’re putting in a new greenhouse to keep the produce even fresher, adding corn and watermelon, potting soil and even a snowball machine.”

Stevens first started selling produce four years at a fruit stand called Merill’s further up U.S. 522, until that closed a few years ago.

Lala Belle’s is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The business can be reached at 304-258-4228.