Every Saturday, Hammond’s Farmer’s Market is open for business, rain or shine. Those visiting
the market are able to browse aisles of produce benefiting the environment as well as the local farmers.
Along with local product being available, local artisans are able to set up booth for those who travel to the Market. 

Hammond’s Farmers Market has a variety of farmers, growers, artisians, sellers of organic product and more.
The efforts of the food market it too not only help local business, but to create a fun environment
and atmosphere for those who visit the variety of vendors. Those who wish to visit the market have
the opporutnity
every Saturday, no matter the weather. 
 

Every Saturday, streets of Downtown Hammond host local farmers and vendors with the goal of bringing the city of Hammond together and fostering land and locally grown food. 

From 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Hammond’s Farmers Market is held at #2 West Thomas Street in Downtown Hammond, Louisiana. The market is open year round. 

One reason that the market is gaining momentum in the city of Hammond is that the farmer’s market is now opened throughout the entire year compared to the past. Also, today two markets that once were not scheduled together have joined forces, the Farmer’s Market and the Art Market.

“Originally, the market was broken up in two, there was an art market and a farmer’s market. It happened at certain times and different parts of the year,” said sociology graduate 

student with a focus in globalization and sustainability Ashton Herron. “What we did was a revamping of the market. We combined both markets, did it every Saturday, year round and then had it from eight to 12. I think the consistency made a big difference with the customers and the vendors because they could count on us rain or shine, clear or storm, 30 degrees, 100 degrees, we will be there. I think that trust and relationships built through the customers and us being open.”

Starting off with three vendors and now ranging from 25 to 30, the Farmer’s Market has created an atmosphere that brings in a larger crowd as well as finds a way to create a fun experience. 

“We have farmers, growers, artisans, organic food, organic coffee and tea and different stuff like that,” said Herron. “It is a little bit more than a farmer’s market. We don’t just have produce, milk and eggs. We showcase artist, we have food. It could be like a little destination downtown. We just started a little market café so you can shop and then hang out under the oak trees. We have people that come and stay for two hours just to hang, it is a laid back place to go and hang out.”

Though college students are in a low attendance on the weekend, some are optimistic and have faith in college students becoming involved in the future. 

“I think there is the connection that millennials want more of a connection, they are more interested in the experience,” said associate professor of sociology Dr. David Burley. “I think college students are very much on that connection. There is a window to connect them because farmer’s markets is an experience, much more than going to the grocery store, which is usually a negative experience. Farmer’s markets, like the one in Downtown Hammond, there is community there and that millennials are interested in that.”

Along with a hope for students becoming more involved in participating in the farmer’s market, some wish to convey that all need to try to work and come together helping the farmer’s market as well as letting the vendors know the benefit they brought to Hammond.  

“You have people here that are doing the right thing, without chemical, that is not poisoning our air, our water, our bodies, and we should be supporting them,” said Burley. “We should be like, Thank you for doing this and growing such wonderful product.’ We should encourage each other, have more people do it and get more people interested in doing it.”

To learn more about Hammond’s Farmer’s Market, visit dddhammond.com or if you would like to participate on campus for their version of a farmer’s market, Reconnect is tentatively planning to schedule a farmer’s market on National Food Day, Wednesday, October 25.