'Farming' ideas: Groups working to bring farmers' market to parish

SORRENTO - Area farmers may soon have a central place to sell their wares, and area residents may have a place to buy fresh produce if an idea from local business leaders comes to fruition.

Members of the Ascension Leadership Class of the Ascension Chamber, in coordination with the Ascension Parish Tourist Commission and the Ascension Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) are exploring the possibility of a farmers market in Ascension Parish.

With "Ascension Fresh Market" picked as the tentative name of the venture, officials with the project are looking to open the market by spring 2007, AEDC President/CEO Tommy Kurtz said last week.

The market would cater to farmers in Ascension Parish as well as nearby parishes such as St. James and St. John the Baptist, Kurtz said. It would start as a small event, possibly increasing in frequency during the spring and summer months, depending on interest.

Possible locations for the market include Crescent Park in Donaldsonville as well as Jambalaya Park and the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, both in Gonzales, Kurtz said.

In a research presentation made to farmers at the AEDX office in Sorrento last week, Kurtz explained different aspects of each site.

The Lamar-Dixon Expo Center is "very well outfitted for a variety of events including a Farmer's Market," Kurtz said. The center's large parking lot, available utilities, location and room for cargo trucks make it a very good option, he added.

Kurtz told The Citizen Friday that Lamar-Dixon had been chosen as the best overall site for such a venture.

He said that Crescent Park came with the additional attraction of being located within Donaldsonville's downtown historical area and has ample space to hold a moderately sized Farmer's Market. However, he pointed out that Donaldsonville is somewhat removed from the more densely populated and trafficked areas of the parish and parking is also limited.

Kurtz cited Jambalaya Park in Gonzales as being "well located in the center of Gonzales" and already having substantial spring and summer traffic, due to the family oriented attractions such as the sprayground and pool area. He also said that parking is suitable there, as well as having available facilities and covered areas in the case of inclement weather. Drawbacks include the current population of the area and locating spaces for farmer's trucks.

"This area could work quite well for a Farmer's Market due to location, utility availability and parking areas," Kurtz said.

Kurtz also said that there are many organizations that could help to sponsor the market. They include a possible new non-profit association, the Ascension Chamber of Commerce, Ascension Parish Government, the Ascension Parish Tourist Commission, SMG-Lamar Dixon if it is chosen for the location, the city governments of Gonzales and Donaldsonville if a site in those areas is chosen, the Donaldsonville Area Chamber of Commerce if a site there is selected or the Microbusiness Enterprise Corporation of Ascension (MBECA), a Donaldsonville-based entrepreneurship group.