First-year events bring popular markets back to Bossier
There’s a growing trend in the town of Haughton.
Every Saturday morning you can find farm fresh, hand picked produce at the Haughton Farmer’s Market. Booths are set up each Saturday through Aug. 10 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Joe Delaney Park, on the corner of West Jackson Avenue and South Maple in downtown Haughton.
Caroline King, market organizer, said the weekend event has become an outlet for local farmers to gather in a defined location to sell their produce directly to the community.
“This was set up specifically for the community to be a one-stop shop in a family friendly environment,” King said.
The Haughton Farmer’s Market is open to a variety of food vendors, creating a 90 percent food based supply to a 10 percent craft. Items sold change by the week and King said there’s always something or someone new each week.
“We want it to be mainly food items and the vendors are happy,” she added. “There is no charge to reserve a spot and they can sell what they want.”
Since opening last month, the farmers market has doubled in vendors and customers. Reagan Currence, a Haughton resident and Town Clerk, is a regular vendor at the farmers market selling a variety of products from Dove’s Rest Honey Shack in Downsville. Her list of items includes homemade jellies and relishes, infused olive oils, honey and jars of pears fresh picked and preserved from her home.
“Everyone is looking for the freshest produce and you can’t always buy that in a store,” Currence said. “We’ve had a good response to our products so we will definitely come back.”
Farmer’s markets are an excellent way to bring nutritious fruits and vegetables to the dinner table. Another advantage is the chance of finding some unusual produce or products for sale.
Paula Farquhar’s sweet concoction of Autumnberry jam is something you won’t find in the average grocery store. Autumn berries are the small red fruit of the autumn olive tree that are sweet and tart when ripen and packed with vitamins and nutrients, including the anti-oxidant, lycopene.
Farquhar discovered the tree at her Princeton home and did some research to find out exactly what it was. Now, she offers regular, reduced fat and sugar free Autumnberry jam from the Big Blue Barn.
“There’s just something about country living,” she said. “This doesn’t come from a big farm. These are backyard farms of people who do it because they love it.”
The Haughton Farmer’s Market will be open this Saturday, July 6, from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. While some vendors and shoppers may head west to downtown Shreveport, Farquhar said she prefers to stay close to home at the Haughton Farmer’s Market.
“The greatest thing going for us is that we are not the Shreveport Farmer’s Market,” Farquhar said. “It’s so much different here and I absolutely love it.
King is in the process of planning a festival for the final two days of market, Aug. 3 and Aug. 10, which will include a health fair, activities for children and hot food items from the Haughton-based food truck, Some Like it Hot. Market hours will be extended until noon for those two days only.
King also has plans to open a fall Farmer’s Market, which is tentatively set for October 19, October 26, November 2 and November 9 from noon until 3 p.m.
Vendor space is currently available at the Haughton Farmer’s Market. However, reservations are required in advance.
For more information on the market or to become a vendor, contact Caroline King 949-9592 or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HaughtonFarmersMarket
