10 minute read
Explore the Farmers Markets
Explore the Farmers
The Shreveport-Bossier area has not one or two, but three farmers markets, each with their own unique location, atmosphere, mission, operations, and schedule. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, farmer’s, farmers, and farmers’ are all acceptable variations of the name, and a farmers market is defined as “a market at which local farmers sell their agricultural products directly to consumers.” While there are plenty of fresh ucts directly to consumers.” While there are plenty of fresh farm-grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes to be found, modern farmers markets have grown into so much more. With the addition of some mix of live music, food vendors, and products made by local artisans, they have become almost events—a welcome outing whether you stroll the markets solo, with a friend or bring the entire family.
Depending on which market you visit, you are sure to find nourishment for the soul: energy in the bustling activity, relaxing entertainment, a plethora of healthy food choices for next week’s meals, and the discovery of locally made products. You may see foods not found in your grocery store, or even bring home a new piece of art. Shreveport Farmers’ Market The Shreveport Farmers’ Market has been around for 35 years, and for the last 20, has been operated by the Red River Revel Arts Festival. The market is considered an important project of the Revel that provides fresh, healthy, locally grown and produced food to the community. This market is supported by the Downtown Development Authority, Slow Food North Louisiana, and the City of Shreveport. The Shreveport Farmers’ Market is an openair environment located at the downtown Shreveport Festival Plaza, much of it shaded by a pavilion.
BY ELIZABETH DEAL
Markets
The mission of the Shreveport Farmers’ Market is to a SNAP card can receive a dollar-for-dollar match of up to encourage a strong local food system; increase sustain- $20 in purchases, increasing their access to fresh, healthy, ability of independent local farmers, ranchers, and food locally grown food and providing the vendors with the op-locally grown food and providing the vendors with the opproducers; and foster stewardship of land and communi- portunity for additional sales and income. Some farmers portunity for additional sales and income. Some farmers ty through public markets. The market also seeks to pro-ty through public markets. The market also seeks to pro- also accept Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Food Cou-also accept Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Food Couvide a forum creating cooperation among farmers, other pons available through parish Councils on Aging. vendors, and the community, while educating consumers, vendors, and the community, while educating consumers, offering a market for farmers to sell their goods, and serving as a business incubator for food artisans. The market ing as a business incubator for food artisans. The market brings together people from Northwest Louisiana, Far brings together people from Northwest Louisiana, Far East Texas, and the Southern Arkansas region. The Shreveport Farmers’ Market has live music, over 10 The Shreveport Farmers’ Market has live music, over 10 vendors preparing food on-site, and cooking demonstrations by local chefs. The market features over 75 vendors with fruits, vegetables, herbs, plants, honey, fresh breads, jams, jellies, pickles, seasonings, sauces, cheeses, flowers, shrimp, prepackaged meals, and ethically raised beef, pork, chicken, and lamb. You’ll find sweets like chocolates, cookies, cakes, candies, donuts, pralines and locally handcrafted items such as art, jewelry, crafts, candles, soaps and dog treats. According to Market Manager Emerie Eck Gentry, the Shreveport Farmers’ Market is the only USDA-approved farmers market in the Shreveport-Bossier community, which allows for acceptance of Supplemental Nutrition which allows for acceptance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. In May of 2021, the Revel partnered with Louisiana Healthcare Connections to establish a “SNAP Match” program. Now, shoppers with to establish a “SNAP Match” program. Now, shoppers with
Saturdays, June 5 - August 28 (except June 19) 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM Festival Plaza, 101 Crockett Street www.redriverrevel.com/farmers-market/
@ShreveportFarmersMarket
A community service project of JuneJune 5 5 - AugustAugust 2828 (except(except JuneJune 19)19)
Saturdays, 7:30am - 12:30pm
• Outdoor, Open Air Market & Pavilion with over 75 vendors! • Social Distancing Measures - Spaced out Booths • Hand Saniizing Staions • Live Music and Cooking Demonstraions • SNAP Benefits Accepted by most vendors
FESTIVAL PLAZA, SHREVEPORT
candles, wood and metal crafts, jew-candles, wood and metal crafts, jewelry, clothing, and leather, plus laser elry, clothing, and leather, plus laser etching and artists in various medi-etching and artists in various mediums. Some vendors do custom work ums. Some vendors do custom work on-site. on-site. A combination of food vendors and A combination of food vendors and food trucks serve favorites on-site: food trucks serve favorites on-site: tamales, street tacos, meatball hoa-tamales, street tacos, meatball hoagies, barbecue, turkey legs, chicken gies, barbecue, turkey legs, chicken and dumplings, and more. You can and dumplings, and more. You can also find beef jerky, nutty bars, ket-also find beef jerky, nutty bars, kettle corn, fresh squeezed lemonade, tle corn, fresh squeezed lemonade, real fruit smoothies, and cotton real fruit smoothies, and cotton candy. Wandering down the aisles, candy. Wandering down the aisles, you’re sure to hear local Navy vet-you’re sure to hear local Navy veteran Garland Wilford singing and eran Garland Wilford singing and playing guitar, and sometimes playing guitar, and sometimes making jokes. making jokes. Founder and Market Manager Founder and Market Manager Bossier City Chris Graham emphasizes the Chris Graham emphasizes the Farmers Market family-friendly feel at the market for both shoppers and family-friendly feel at the market for both shoppers and This Bossier City among the vendors. The vendors help each other out and among the vendors. The vendors help each other out and Farmers Market refer clients to one another. Graham has witnessed some refer clients to one another. Graham has witnessed some is in its sixth year food vendors purchasing vegetables early in the morn-food vendors purchasing vegetables early in the mornof operation, and ing on-site from the farmers to use in cooking the menu ing on-site from the farmers to use in cooking the menu had the longest du- items they will sell that day. items they will sell that day. ration in the area, essentially tracking growing season. Rain or shine, the market is open on Saturday mornings continuously for eight months of the year. Over 75 vendors represent farmers, hobbyists, businesses, non-profits, restaurants, food trucks, entrepreneurs, artists, crafters, and other creative types. Even the Bossier Library comes once a month. Farmers come from ing growing season. Rain or shine, the market is open on Saturday mornings continuously for eight months of the And pet lovers rejoice. Pets are welcome on a leash, and you’ll find a number of vendors selling pet treats, pet clothing, and even pet furniture. A special “dog days of summer” event is scheduled for July 3 with pet-themed vendors, local rescues and non-profits, a shaded pet zone, and an ice pool for splashing and cooling off (for the pets, not their people!) And pet lovers rejoice. Pets are welcome on a leash, and you’ll find a number of vendors selling pet treats, pet clothing, and even pet furniture. A special “dog days of summer” event is scheduled for July 3 with pet-themed vendors, local rescues and non-profits, a shaded pet zone, and an ice pool for splashing and cooling off (for the pets, not their people!) Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas and the market will only sell fresh fruits and vegetables that are grown in the U.S. The market location is outside on the south side of Pierre The market location is outside on the south side of Pierre Bossier Mall. But don’t be deterred by the parking lot lo-Bossier Mall. But don’t be deterred by the parking lot location; there’s a half-acre of grassy area to eat, relax and play. Vendor booths are spread throughout the blacktop and green spaces surrounding the building. The mission of Bossier City Farmers Market is to give lo-The mission of Bossier City Farmers Market is to give local farmers and businesses the opportunity to interact, acquire and sell to new and existing customers; develop a local market that operates every weekend without breaks local market that operates every weekend without breaks so vendors can develop quality relationships with their so vendors can develop quality relationships with their new customers over a long period of time; and create a new customers over a long period of time; and create a family event that is easily accessible with ample parking and a variety of products and great food. The market offers fresh vegetables, fruits, cheeses, and The market offers fresh vegetables, fruits, cheeses, and eggs; Gulf shrimp; pickles, salsa, jellies, jams, and honey; eggs; Gulf shrimp; pickles, salsa, jellies, jams, and honey; baked goods; boudin sausage; spices and nuts; and fresh baked goods; boudin sausage; spices and nuts; and fresh flowers. The market has seen a growth in products from flowers. The market has seen a growth in products from local artists and makers, with handmade goods like soaps, local artists and makers, with handmade goods like soaps,
Saturdays, April 3 – November 20 Saturdays, April 3 – November 20 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Pierre Bossier Mall 2950 E. Texas St., Bossier City Pierre Bossier Mall 2950 E. Texas St., Bossier City www.bossiercityfarmersmarket.com www.bossiercityfarmersmarket.com
@BossierCityFarmersMarket @BossierCityFarmersMarket
Provenance Farmers Market The Provenance Farmers Market has been operating for almost a decade and has grown exponentially over the almost a decade and has grown exponentially over the years. There will be three Summer Markets & Music Farmers Markets, open to the public on Thursdays in June, located at Windrush Park in the Provenance Neighborhood. Provenance is proud to take part in the “shop local” and Provenance is proud to take part in the “shop local” and “eat local” movements by providing a place for local vendors to sell their goods. Provenance also believes strongly in promoting Louisiana culture and the arts in the Shreveport-Bossier community. As a Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND), Provenance was nationally awarded a “Best in America Community” and hearkens back to the days when such events regularly took place within neighborhoods. place within neighborhoods. The market has a beautiful outdoor set-The market has a beautiful outdoor setting with a sprawling lawn and many trees--a perfect place for picnicking and listening (and dancing) to the music by local bands. Family and pet friendly, there is a playground for the friendly, there is a playground for the kids and plenty of space for pets to play. Approximately 35 vendors represent farmers, artisans, crafters and makers. You’ll find fresh produce and meats from Louisiana and East Texas farmers, plus dairy products, canned goods, baked items, handmade gifts, local artists, and more. Food vendors and food trucks are on hand for an easy and delicious picnic dinner! Live music starts at 4:30 pm and the line-up is Hali Brown on June 10; TD McMurry on June 17; and the Mike Woods Band on June 24. Matt Snyder Woods Band on June 24. Matt Snyder of Pinpoint Marketing serves as the of Pinpoint Marketing serves as the market manager.
And don’t worry if you can’t make it to Provenance in June…they are planning to have a farmers market in the fall!
Thursdays: June 10, 17, 24 4:00 - 8:00 PM Windrush Park 1968 Bridgewater Avenue, Shreveport www.yourprovenance.com/events/
@YourProvenance @ProvenanceTND
