We all know Mr. Okra. One of the very last of the great New Orleans singing street vendors, he cruises our neighborhoods in his brightly-painted produce truck equipped with an old-school megaphone PA system to bring us fresh fruits and veggies every day. If you’ve lived in the Crescent City, chances are you’ve been stirred to the curb of your street at least once by Mr. Okra’s deep, gravelly voice.
Mr. Okra and his famous produce truck at Jazz Fest. (Photo: Kim Welsh)
The familiar sound of “I have oranges and bananas. I have eating pears and apples” outside your window always makes your day better, and now you don’t even have to be in New Orleans to hear the friendly chant: that’s right, you can take Mr. Okra with you everywhere. Emanation, the company that’s brought you laughs for days at the push of a button with their talking keychain series “In Your Pocket,” recently released its latest edition, the Mr. Okra talking keychain.
Now, Mr. Okra is not the first New Orleans celebrity to grace the Emanation line-up. The same company that brought every nine year old and ’80s throw-back baby alike the cherished Mr .T. and Monty Python – In Your Pockets, has also concentrated some of former Mayor Ray Nagin’s most memorable moments into a portable handheld device.
Mr. Okra - In Your Pocket!
The thing about Mr. Okra though is that he is truly one of our quirkiest and most beloved celebrities. He is the stuff legends are made of, an artist of a dying craft. Though you used to have to be a Ninth Ward regular to know Mr. Okra, he’s now been invited to set up at Jazz Fest each year, sampled in rock songs and even in a few films. But now we can all feel at home, where ever we are with the sound of Mr. Okra – thanks to the folks at In Your Pocket.
Classic Mr. Okra Calls:
“I have oranges and bananas. I have eating pears and apples.”
“It ain’t no use in cooking, if you don’t use fresh veg-e-tables.”
“I have blueberries. I have peaches; I have plums. I have the mango.”
“It ain’t no joy like a ninth ward boy.”
“I have mirliton. I have bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers…”
“I love my truck and I love what I do.”
OffBeat took some time to chat with Mr. Okra and the founder of Emanation, Steve Winn this week about their new product for Episode 50 of our Look-Ka Py Py Podcast. Listen here to hear about how it came together and how Mr. Okra learned his unique trade.
The Mr. Okra “In Your Pocket” talking keychain is now available in the OffBeat.com store. Click here to order yours delivered right to your doorstep, just like Mr. Okra’s produce. (Plus, Mr. Okra receives a royalty on the sale of each In Your Pocket)
WATCH THE OFFICIAL COMMERCIAL FOR THE MR. OKRA – IN YOUR POCKET,
FEATURING MR. OKRA HIMSELF!
