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December 19, 2012
After almost a decade of setbacks, the Lafourche Central Market finally hosted its ribbon cutting.
“Seven years ago, Senator Mary Landrieu wanted to bring attention back to the bayou and the good things we have here, and she secured $500,000 to build this pavilion,” said Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph. “This is a special structure to help show who we are and what is so special about Bayou Lafourche. This was a long time coming.”
The Lafourche Central Market, located at the corner of 4484 La. Highway 1 and U.S. Highway 90 in Mathews, has been open since August and will be open at the location from 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday. The construction of the multi-purpose pavilion was delayed by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike and the 2010 BP oil spill, and the original grand opening, slated for Labor Day, was delayed by Hurricane Isaac.
About 40 vendors from across the region turned out for the opening of the farmers’ market, which featured fresh fruits and vegetables, live crabs, woodwork, handmade dresses and jewelry, homemade baked goods and candy and a live band.
“This is a wonderful day, despite the hurricanes,” Randolph said. “The bright side to these storms is the money the state received for fisheries. People are selling shrimp here, and shoppers are enjoying the resources. This building represents farmers, seafood workers and talented crafts people.”
“I saw seven Christmas wreathes I like, but I can’t hang them all on one door,” Randolph added, laughing.
Mike Strain, commissioner of the state’s agriculture and forestry department, was also on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“This is a great day for agriculture, forestry and aquaculture,” Strain, who oversees the state’s farmers’ markets, said. “Farmers’ markets are becoming more and more important to the economy. Know your farmers, know your fishers, know your food. These places are about forging friendships and supporting the community. This building is made of cypress, so it will be here for a long time.”
Friends Kay Campbell and Jean Sanders of Raceland were one of the many out and about enjoying the wares of the market.
“We’re farmers’ market fans,” Campbell said, laughing. “We had fresh boiled shrimp for lunch, and I picked up some cracklins and grapefruit.”
“The music is good, and it’s a great way to support the community and see friends and neighbors,” Sanders said.
The pair, who plan to hit the market every Saturday, were checking out hand crafted wooden spoons made by Stephen Lindley of Napoleonville.
“The roux spoons are the most popular,” Lindley said. “The wooden pelican slider box is my favorite piece.”
Lindley has been making his spoons, crafted out of 95 percent recycled or rescued wood, for about 25 years, and he quit his full-time job a year ago to pursue his spoon-fashioning passion. Each spoon features a design, ranging from deer and fish to fleur-de-leis and birds.
“All the spoons take about the same amount of time,” Lindley said. “The pelicans and deer are a little harder though.”
Lindley’s spoons run about $30 for the smaller versions and $50 for the larger ones.
Dwayne and Tara Harris of H & H Fruit and Vegetable Stand in Cut Off were also selling their goods – fresh fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, yams, cucumbers, squash and eggplant – at the market.
“I was raised on a dairy farm, so I’ve been doing this all my life,” said Dwayne as his wife bagged cucumbers for a customer. “The cauliflower has already sold out for the day, and the cabbage and sweet potatoes also go pretty quickly.”
The couple grows their produce on a 110-acre farm in Washington Parish and average $300 to $600 in sales at each market they attend.
Emily Authement of Raceland checks out spoons crafted by Stephen Lindley of Napoleonville. Lindley was one of about 40 vendors on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Lafourche Central Market.
