Buy Fresh, Buy Local

On Thursday Morning

By Melani Johnson

 

Every Thursday morning from 8 a.m. until noon Red Stick Farmers Market sets up at 7248 Perkins Road. The market, in a parking lot near Perkins and Starring, includes a variety of locally grown food from fresh produce to clean, wholesome poultry.

 

With its convenient location, the farmers market allows South Baton Rouge consumers to connect directly with local farmers.

 

Local farmer Eric Morrow sells a variety of fresh produce from eggplant to juicy strawberries.


“There is something about the atmosphere of a farmers market that keeps me coming back,” said frequent Red Stick customer Harriet Jones.   “I enjoy shopping outdoor and I also enjoy personally getting to know the farmers who grow our food. I love the freshness and the very high quality of the produce too.”

 

Local farmer Eric Morrow sells a wide variety of fresh produce throughout the week at the Perkins Road, Main Street and Goodwood Blvd Red Stick locations. “I grow all my own produce on my 87-acre farm,” he said.   “To list just a few: I grow egg plant, shell peas, blueberries, corn and strawberries which are very popular in the fall.”

 

Red Stick Farmers Market also fulfills customers’ poultry needs. Elaine Muhaimin raises chickens in Zachary on her Yard Bird Farm. “We are actually from New Orleans. After Katrina we were homeless but we were fortunate to have great relatives who let us stay with them for about four months,” she recalled.   “Then we bought a farm and learned how to raise chickens from agricultural programs at LSU and Southern.”

 

Muhaimin has now been raising chickens for six years. Yard Bird Farm holds true to their mission statement which is to produce clean, wholesome, pharmaceutical free pastured poultry for direct marketing in Louisiana.

 

Murat Gundogdu of Nur’s Kitchen also sets up shop each week at Red Stick Farmers Market. Nur’s Kitchen allows traditional Turkish foods to be present in the kitchen of many Baton Rouge homes.

 

Nurs Kitchen offers 30 different recipes including Hummus, Tabuli, Eggplant Dip, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Lima Bean Plaki, Fresh Leeks, Spinach & Artichoke Pies, Pesto and Feta Cheese Dip.

 

“My favorite right now is the cilantro hummus,” said Gundogdu. Nur’s Kitchen believes in cooking with only fresh, high quality ingredients. “Most of our ingredients come from local farmers markets and we always use seasonal vegetables as well. For example, right now we use okra and the last two months of the year we use beets.”

 

These fine dishes are also available at Covington's Acquistapaces Supermarket; Whole Foods ( New Orleans, Metairie and Baton Rouge); Langenstein's ( New Orleans and Metairie) and Springs of Life ( Lee Road in Covington).  

 

Or on Thursday mornings you can just drop by and check out these and all of the fine prepared foods and fresh produce available every week at the conveniently located Red Stick Farmer’s Market in the parking lot on Perkins across from the Baton Rouge Clinic.