Good Question: Help Me Find Cream Peas

Here is an interesting question about spring produce from reader Evelyn:

I've been looking for the delicious "cream peas" that I grew up enjoying. Living in the South, but haven't found them anywhere. Small, kidney shaped, ivory/green in color, and heavenly. Can you help?

Evelyn, we can't help you much, but we can direct you to the source of the photo above:

• Southwestern Produce - They say that these peas are "Tiny young peas, green in color, our smallest and most tender pea. Also known as a green acre pea or cream pea."

They actually call them "conk peas." Perhaps you can try growing them?

Readers? Any ideas?

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(Image: Southwestern Produce)

Comments (8)

I love cream peas , but my local market only has fresh ones available for a limited time. The rest of the year, I buy bags of Camellia Lady Cream Peas at the supermarket. I know that Cajun Supermarkets sells them online.

You're not thinking of butterbeans are you?

I got some at a farmers market here in San Antonio last year.. I'm thinking it was later in the summer though, around August. otherwise, never see them around here.

I'm not sure where you live -- but you need to go South Sweetie! In Alabama, Cream peas can be purchased at Farmers Markets from now through the Summer. They go by several different names -- but the Farmers will know what you are talking about!

Oh my, I can't believe someone else is as interested in cream peas as I am! My grandmother lives in Jackson, MS and that's the first and only place I've ever seen them and eaten them. In Jackson, they are actually sold in grocery stores frozen by a large company (can't recall the name). She actually buys them for me, freezes them and flies down to South FL (where I live) with them in her luggage just so I can have them. They are no where to be found in FL.

how did I grow up in the South and not eat these peas?

In Atlanta the "vegetable man" off of Roswell Road near Wieuca sells shelled peas in the summer. He has Lady Peas and Crowder Peas, and sometimes Lima Beans. The Lady Peas sound very close to what you are talking about. Crowder Peas are closer to black eyed peas. All of them are delicious. Amazing, actually. Why you can only get them in the South, I do not know. I find them much better than Lima Beans, actually, as they are more delicate and smaller and softer... Thinking of them makes me hungry.

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The farmers' market here in Memphis has them, but not usually until later in the summer...