Ascension Parish residents will soon have a daily destination for local meats, dairy, produce, and more when Chatagnier Community Market opens its doors in on Airline Highway in Gonzales.
Owned by Lexus and Jacob Chatagnier, the market was born from the success of pop-up events at their family farm. While zoning issues halted those events on the Chatagnier farm, the couple saw an opportunity to bring more local products to the community.
“We liked that the markets it brought everybody together and them able to get all the local stuff. Also, it’s hard for me to get to a farmers’ market every Saturday morning, so I figured a opening a farm fresh store would help a lot of people like me,” Lexus Chatagnier told What Now New Orleans.
The market has already secured several key partnerships to ensure a robust inventory. Sandy Run Livestock will provide a variety of beef and pork products, while Feliciana’s Best Creamery is slated to supply fresh dairy products. Other offerings will include mushrooms and microgreens from MycoCentric, as well as pantry staples from other suppliers, like canned vegetables, jams, and jellies.
To accommodate items that require a commercial kitchen — such as breads, cakes, and cookies — the store will host daily vendor pop-ups where producers can sell directly to the public. According to Chatagnier, there are more than 260 vendors being considered for pop-up appearances.
The market is currently targeting an early August opening, pending final approval from the health department.
