Indiana asparagus, old fashioned strawberries and vine ripe tomatoes are closer to your door than your local grocer, and taste even fresher, thanks to chef and proprietor Ron Harris.

Locally Grown Gardens Personal Produce is chef owned and operated. Conveniently located at 54th Street on the Monon Trail at 1050 East 54th Street, their market hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"We sell produce wholesale to restaurants. I know what it takes to grow and I know what it takes in the kitchen to be successful," explained Harris. "All of our items are picked daily for flavor and ripeness. Groceries will purchase produce for self-shipping. For example, true strawberries don't have the shelf life of engineered strawberries. These fresh (true) strawberries are solid inside. Engineered strawberries are hollow inside when they're shipped, giving them a longer shelf life," he noted. The freshness in these true strawberries is deliciously evident at Locally Grown Gardens.

According to a recent ABC News report, grocery produce items travel an average of 1,500 miles before being seen and purchased by consumers. Harris' contacts with produce growers around the state of Indiana and beyond give him a distinct advantage in purchasing fresher foods.

Describing his culinary background, Harris mentioned, "I was a corporate chef at MCL for 14 years. I've developed a lot of relationships with food growers all over Indiana as well as smaller boutique growers in Tennessee and citrus growers in Florida," he added.

An Indianapolis native, he left the Hoosier state in the late 1980s for New York where he served as an intern to Chef Larry Forgione at An American Place at 32nd & Park Avenue in midtown Manhattan. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1990. After graduation, he became the personal chef for the CEO of Oppenheimer Funds in East Hampton that summer. He returned to work with Chef Forgione that fall before joining Chef John Vongerichten in 1991 at JoJo's Restaurant at East 65th Street & Lexington Avenue on Manhattan's Upper East Side. He rejoined Chef Forgione on a third occasion and worked with fellow chef Melissa Kelly from 1992 to 1994 at the 1776 Tavern in Rhinebeck, New York.

While establishing his culinary career in New York, Harris was contacted by MCL, who asked him to return to the Circle City in 1994. Becoming their corporate chef, some of the specialty dishes he prepared for clients were Cedar Plank Salmon and Blueberry Pie. He pioneered MCL's Local Hero Program where the Indianapolis-based restaurant chain bought produce items directly from growers. The program concept had never been attempted before, but Harris proved instrumental in bridging a gap between the restaurant and its farmers & growers supplying their produce. MCL was ranked the number one family owned and operated restaurant in America according to a recent Peoples Choice poll. Charles O. McGaughey and George Laughner founded the first MCL restaurant in 1950, which quickly became a local favorite.

Since their opening on April 30, Locally Grown Gardens has attracted a loyal local following. They are expanding their product offerings beyond food. "We will grow fresh cut flowers, like gladiolas and sunflowers in the garden behind the market," Harris said. Home grown flowers like Gerber Daisies, Petunias and Superbells are currently available from Tuttles Orchard in Greenfield. Strategically situated on the Monon Trail gives the produce market high visibility among bicyclists, joggers, skaters and walkers. Harris' business is destined to grow.

As summer arrives, Locally Grown Gardens will sell blueberries, corn, cucumbers and green beans from Indiana, cantaloupes and watermelons from Georgia, South Carolina and Indiana when in season. Peaches will also be available from the Palmetto state. During July and August, eggplant, peppers, red and sweet onions, yellow squash and zucchini will be added to their produce selection, along with Michigan and Wisconsin cherries. Other items currently available at the market are free range eggs, which are raised naturally where chickens can freely roam on farms. Produce shoppers can find Clove & Thistle honey from Danville. Decker melons will be available from Decker, Indiana around July 4th.

A list of available daily fresh produce and homegrown flowers can be found at the market and a blackboard lists produce items expected for the remainder of the year. An indoor reference library contains numerous food and gardening books, where Harris can assist customers having questions. Inquiries can also be answered by calling 255-8555 or by faxing 255-6555.

Locally Grown Gardens produce must be seen and tasted to be truly appreciated. Harris has created a neighborhood niche in offering a variety of daily fresh produce to customers in the Broad Ripple community and beyond.