With its fresh local produce, meats, seafood, honey, dairy products, ready to eat meals, artisan breads, pastries, sweets, jellies, salsa, plants, arts and crafts, candles, soaps and more, the German Coast Farmers’ Market is a one-of-a-kind experience.
“It can serve as a shopping experience, educational adventure, cultural enrichment and a social event all at once,” Market Board of Directors President Ann Montgomery said. “I hope that the market will continue to prosper during 2021.”
The new year is bringing new changes to the twice-weekly market, most notably a location change for the west bank market.
Previously held at 1313 Paul Maillard Road in Luling, the west bank market will now be held each Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the West Bank Bridge Park, located at 13825 River Road in Luling.
The market’s east bank operation will continue to be open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at Ormond Plantation in Destrehan.
Founded in May 2003, the German Coast Farmers’ Market is a non-profit organization operated by a volunteer board of directors. It was established to encourage farmers and small vendors to reach the public directly with produce and home-grown products.
The east bank market was established in June 2003, and the west bank market kicked off in July 2006.
Montgomery said dwindling interest in the west bank market spurred the location switch.
“We hope that this 2021 move of the west bank market to the West Bank Bridge Park proves to be a wise and productive one,” she said. “Some vendors said they would like to try to the park, and we had council members approach us about it and the parish was receptive to the change.”
Montgomery said the new location for the west bank vendors will be parallel to River Road. The park’s current pavilion may be used in the future if vendors are interested and there is a demand for additional space, but Montgomery said the current pavilion is not ideally built for market-style use.
“Building a market pavilion is a long-time dream of the German Coast Farmers’ Market,” Montgomery said. “We hope that a path will be paved soon for our plans to operate our market under a covered area, and that a new market pavilion becomes a reality.”
New vendors and a continuation of the Market Match Program, sponsored by the United Way of St. Charles, are both on the books for 2021.
With the Market Match Program, shoppers with SNAP benefits are given $1 in Market Match tokens for every $1 spent at the market using their EBT card. The program is valid for up to a $20 match per market day. Tokens can be used to purchase any SNAP eligible products available at the market and have no expiration.
“In spite of any difficulties that COVID 19 may present to us, I pray that our vendors, customers and volunteer stay healthy, and that 2021 is a year that we will be thankful for many blessings,” Montgomery said.
For more information on the market and to sign up for the newsletter that lists vendors planning to attend the markets, visit www.germancoastfarmersmarket.org.
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