Cenla Org

Louisiana Central

Cenla Org

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Farm and Food

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Farmer
Training Program

The Farmer Training Program, with support from the USDA (BFRDP, NRCS), provides in-depth assistance for farm and ranch-based business start-ups and existing business expansion. Annually, this program offers group workshops, online programs, one-on-one technical assistance, business coaching, access to business loans, and many crucial services that support local production of specialty crops and grass-based livestock.

2024 Program
Louisiana Food Fellows

Local leadership is the foundation for a resilient region. Louisiana Central works with elected leaders and stakeholders to engage regional residents around some of our core initiatives, including Food Systems. Our programs and workshops help individuals become empowered to engage within their community on issues of importance to them.

Louisiana Food Fellows

Introduces food systems from a grassroots perspective

Offers workshops in community food systems, policy, outreach, and community organizing

With more than 100 graduates across the state, our longest-running leadership program ensures that participants become more confident local food leaders in their community and gain a better understanding of their role in the food system.

Read more about Louisiana Food Fellows
Alexandria Farmers Market

Alexandria Farmers Market exists to help connect people with the hands that grow and raise our food. Connecting to our local food goes hand in hand with connecting to our community. We recognize the Alexandria Farmers Market as a gathering place. We are a gathering of local Farmers, Ranchers, and Artisans excited about our products. A gathering of neighbors and families from all around Alexandria making up the market-goer community. We offer programs like Kids Club, SNAP Match, and Senior and WIC FMNP bonuses to give everyone a reason to come. We love fresh, healthy, local food and sharing our love for it with those around us. Our love of okra, mustard greens, pecans, purple hull peas, and cushaw squash is strong because it is an Alexandria tradition. In Alexandria, we share a culture of a place, food, and community that is our own.

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Louisiana Small Scale Agriculture Coalition (LSSAC)

Louisiana Small Scale Agriculture Coalition (LSSAC) is a statewide coalition that works to ensure equitable opportunities for small-scale agriculture in Louisiana. The coalition’s members provide comprehensive technical assistance to farmers and the coalition acts as advisors to organizations and institutions that wish to purchase Louisiana grown, harvested, raised, and produced food directly from Louisiana Farmers, Ranchers, and Fishers. LSSAC member organizations have deep roots in Louisiana agriculture and support small scale producers with technical assistance and programs across multiple program areas.

If you would like to include LSSAC in your work,or you believe your organization would like to explore membership, please contact: Elisa@nolafoodpolicy.org.

Current members: Acadiana Food Alliance, Big River Economic Agriculture Development Alliance, Louisiana Central, Market Umbrella, New Orleans Food Policy Action Council, Shreveport Green, SPROUT Nola.

LSSAC is currently working on the USDA SE TOPPS (Transition to Organic Partnership Program), USDA RFBC, and other statewide programs that support strong outcomes for the Louisiana Food System.

Learn More About LSSAC
Transition to Organic Partnership Program

This USDA program is part of the Southeast Center for Organic Transition at Florida Organic Growers (with funding from USDA AMS). The Louisiana Central Farm & Food Team is partnering with Market Umbrella and Sprout Nola to coordinate efforts across Louisiana in order to support small scale agriculture with the expansion of organic production practices.

As a partner organization we will work collaboratively with the other Louisiana partners to:

Provide community building opportunities to include:

Train-the-mentor support

Technical assistance

Workshops and field days covering topics including organic production practices, certification, conservation planning, business development (including navigating the supply chain), regulations, and marketing

Help producers overcome technical, cultural, and financial shifts during and following certification.

Engage educational and training institutions (including crop advisors and extension agents) on organic workforce training and education and future human capital planning.

Build paid mentoring networks to share practical insights and advice.

Connect transitioning farmers with mentors for at least one year after certification.

Learn More
Regional Farmers Market Program Development

The Louisiana Central Farm & Food Team has multiple programs with resources for farmers markets. For example:

The Alexandria Farmers Market (AFM)

The AFM recently celebrated eight years in the Alexandria community, has been a proud supporter and market partner since the beginning, and employs a full time market manager and a full time program director for the market. We pride ourselves on maintaining a strong rural farmers market and invest in the maintenance of tried and true programming, while also piloting innovative ways to meet the needs of our vendors and our community. Our market is farmer-centric, with strong ties to Louisiana agriculture. Learn more about our market HERE.

Greaux the Good

This statewide program gives Louisiana direct-to-consumer food purveyors (such as farmers, farmers markets, farm stands, and CSA's) the opportunity to create or expand a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) nutrition incentive program (SNAP/FMNP and SNAP/FMNP Match). This program has technical assitance and funding available to support matching programs! For more information please HERE.

The Louisiana Farmers Market Managers Network

This is a statewide community of practice founded by Louisiana Central and co-facilitated by us, BREADA, and Market Umbrella. We meet mothly via Zoom to connect market managers to one another and share best practices, lessons learned, and opportunities! If you lead a market in Louisiana we encourage you to join us. To learn more and to inquire about joining this group, email Bahia.

Find a Local Farmers Market
Food Policy Council

The Farm & Food team collaborates with the Food Policy Action Council on matters of statewide food system policy. We are developing a local working group in partnership with FPAC to focus on local and regional food system policy.

Click here for more information on the statewide effort

Contact our team to discuss the local working group!
Mid-Market Agriculture

In the “Middle”, between direct and commodity marketing options, farmers and ranchers are working to distinguish their products in the marketplace based on environmental stewardship, food quality, and fair trade. Louisiana Central is documenting the demand for these products and working to fill the void in scaled-up production to meet the demand. Agriculture of the Middle creates strategic alliances among farmers, processors, distributors, and retailers to reach restaurants, grocers, and eventually households, that demand local and regionally sourced, ethical, and sustainable options in the food system.