Location, location, location

Twenty-two—count ’em, 22— vendors were in full swing this past Thursday at the Red Stick Farmers Market’s new location at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, an unprecedented number for the mid-week event. Three weeks ago, the Thursday market shifted west from its former home on Perkins Road near Martin Wine Cellar to Pennington’s expansive grounds. Now there’s more room for farmers, better parking and easy access off Kenilworth Drive.

“The farmers love it. The public loves it. Pennington’s staff and researchers love it,” market chief Copper Alvarez told me Thursday. “Never in all my years with the market have I seen something we’ve done been so positively received.”

Indeed—the reception of the new market and its significant partnership with Pennington—suggests Baton Rouge has hit a new level of fresh food awareness. We’ve seen it in the steady growth of the 15-year-old Saturday market, but the recent jolt in interest over the Thursday market points to lots of untapped potential customers. With more booths at the Thursday market, you can pick up well-rounded groceries, including softshell crab, fresh catfish, brown popcorn rice, authentic Mediterranean prepared foods, artisan breads, honey, flowers, Berkshire pork, fresh eggs, chicken and scads of fresh produce, including good-looking homegrown tomatoes. Serious stuff. On my menu this week is pan fried softshell crab. Start with a wet batter of milk. Toss in a dry batter of flour, salt, pepper and paprika. Saute four minutes on each side in a tablespoon or two each of butter and olive oil.

The bounty of good eats is joined by something else—a more obvious focus on food as a weapon in the health arsenal. Pennington considers the market a great way to address one of its greatest challenges – encouraging consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables. The research facility is one of the largest and most respected nutrition centers in the world, and because it’s here in town, we have unique access to its findings. Pennington staff members will be on site at the Thursday market to share information about nutrition, clinical trials, and the award-winning DASH Diet, which can lower blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular disease. Access the diet for free here.

And here’s something else, patrons can precede their shopping trip with a walk or run around the Pennington grounds, or through the BREC park across the street on Kenilworth. An enclave of good living, smack in the middle of town.