Spotlight on the Alexandria Farmers’ Market

      Posted On: May 7, 2018

Dear FMC virtual market-goer,

Greetings from the Alexandria Farmers’ Market! We’re taking over FMC’s Instagram this week to share with you a look into our market. The market is loved by our community, and for good reason!  As a new “visitor”, there are a few things you ought to know to fully appreciate the market that surrounds you. 

The Alexandria Farmers Market is a midweek market that operates every Tuesday afternoon – rain or shine, all year long. Our mission is to connect the community of Alexandria with the farmers, ranchers, and agricultural artisans of Central Louisiana. We strive to improve the physical, social, and economic well-being of the region by providing access to fresh, healthy, local food for residents, fostering community relationships, and serving as a business incubator for growers and producers.

We’ve been around for just three years, but we operate as a family who’s known each other a lifetime. Vendors are engaged in planning events and spreading the word, whether that’s through social media posts, TV interviews, or putting out yard signs. Every week, we offer Kids Club, which gives youth shoppers free wooden tokens that they can use to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables. This program increases access to fresh, healthy, local food, educates children about healthy eating, seasonality, and shopping, and increases sales for farmers. In 2017, Kids Club brought an additional $4,340 in produce sales to our market, and it continues to grow.

We also host monthly special events with live music, cooking demonstrations, kids’ activities, and more. We are excited to launch a brand new food access programs this summer – stay tuned for the announcement during our Instagram takeover! Our market is supported by a host of partners, and we are deeply grateful for our community. Our regional economic development agency and two foundations collaborate to provide management and guidance; a church is our location host; healthcare companies sponsor food access programs; and local businesses contribute in a number of creative ways.

We are so excited to take over FMC’s Instagram account because we make good stuff in Central Louisiana, and we want to show our pride! 

We hope what we share transports you to our market and makes you feel truly welcome!

Spreading our Local,

Allison Tohme