Locally Grown Gardens

 Like many in the restaurant business, Culinary Institute of America-educated Chef Ron Harris appreciates the advice of musicians as much as any culinary gurus’. In fact, it was Ice Cube that elucidated Harris’ expansion plan for his Indiana produce market, Locally Grown Gardens, in the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood of 54th Street. “Ice Cube was being interviewed, and they were asking, ‘What advice would you give to young artists coming up?’” Harris says. “He said, ‘Well, in music, I would say you have to keep it focused. Make it hot on your block first. Then you can be hot in your state, then maybe on the Internet, then hot nationally and then hot globally. But you gotta be hot on your block first.’ “I consider our market pretty hot on the block. I believe that – you have to be good where you’re at first. Being good is being humble and sincere at what you’re doing, and trying to be the best you can.” Being hot on the block also includes “keeping it real.” That’s where the “personal produce” mantra you’ll see on LGG signage comes in. Ron keeps it real by keeping his connection to both his growers and his customers personal. He’ll trek down to the Amish community in Southern Indiana or Garwood Orchard farther north to develop face-to-face relationships with farmers and cherry-pick their offerings.