Just about every Saturday morning, shoppers flock to the Red Stick Farmers Market in downtown Baton Rouge carrying off bags of satsumas and collards, milk and cream.
But long before the customers show up at 8 a.m., the farmers and the staff of the Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance, which runs the market, have been hard at work.
A good many of the more than 50 member farmers will have trucked in a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, artisan breads, homemade pies, honey, milk and cheese, native plants, herbs and specialty food items.
Everything filling the bins and tables under the tents has been grown or produced locally. So, while you will find heirloom tomatoes and Creole cream cheese, you won t find bananas or mangoes.