It’s time to savor summer’s fresh vine-ripened tomatoes or go green and enjoy the tartness and boast of flavor that only green tomatoes can bring to many summer dishes.

For those who are not fortunate enough to have a summer garden, an abundance of tomatoes can be found at farmers markets in the Teche Area.

Think it can’t get any better than a stack of green tomatoes hot-off-the-skillet, fried crisp and golden brown?

Try fried green tomatoes on a po-boy, topped with a Rémoulade sauce or ladle crawfish or shrimp etouffee over a stack of fried green tomatoes on a bed of lettuce.

“It’s hard to beat fried green tomatoes. It’s a favorite of my husband, Frank. We enjoy fried tomatoes on a sandwich or we just like to eat them like potato chips. It’s one of our summer favorites,” said Patricia Cobb, a vendor at the Teche Area Farmer’s Market who had set up a table with different relishes and preserves.

It’s easy to jazz up a bacon sandwich with a few slices of fried green tomatoes, lettuce and fresh avocado.

Add a gourmet touch to a summer salad by adding a handful of finely diced green tomatoes, sliced fresh strawberries and peaches to a combination of mixed salad greens for a crunchy citrus flavor. For added flavor top with crumbled blue or feta cheese and toasted almonds or pecans. A green tomato salsa or chow chow adds a burst of flavor to grilled chicken, pork or ham and provides an innovative use for green tomatoes. It pairs well with hot dogs and hamburgers or served as a side dish next to a platter of fried catfish.

Flo Landry was busy filling a bag with fresh vine-ripened tomatoes.

“I’m going to the beach in a few days so I am going to cook one of my family’s favorites, a tomato casserole, to bring along. I plan to bring plenty of fresh tomatoes for sandwiches and salads,” said Landry.

Darlene French, and her granddaughter Isabella LeBlanc, 9, were strolling though the market. With money in hand, Isabella was making her own purchases, listening carefully as her grandmother gave her a few pointers on to select a good tomato.

“We like fresh tomatoes in salads. There are such a variety of dishes that can be prepared with tomatoes,” said French. “Visiting the market is one of our favorite things to do.”

Lawrence “Bisshon” Huval and wife, Una, are regular vendors at the market and have an abundant crop of tomatoes each summer.

“We have a garden with about 250 plants. We’ve been coming to the market for almost 20 years,” said Una Huval.

When tomatoes are at its seasonal peak, Huval said she prepares batches of homemade tomato sauce and stocks it in the freezer.

“I never buy it in a can. Fresh tomatoes make the best sauce. It is worth the time spent cooking it,” she said.

Farmers markets in the Teche Area offer an assortment of homegrown fruits and vegetables, nuts, eggs, breads and preserves and jellies. Some have crafts and woodwork available. Operating hours of the markets are: