MALVERN, Ala. (WDHN)—Besides the unofficial start to the summer tourist season, the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend provides produce truck farmers a great time to sell their wares.

At Hendrix Produce in Malvern, Rhonda Hendrix says a late March freeze and cool nights have especially slowed this year’s tomato crop. It led to growers delaying their planting, but with adequate rain, Hendrix says 2023 should be a bumper crop for area farmers. She hopes the world-famous Slocomb tomatoes will be picked in about two weeks just before the Slocomb tomato festival.

Hendrix says the unusually cool nights may feel good, but tomatoes need warm evenings to fully develop.