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BREADA
BREADA isn’t just a farmers' market—it’s a movement dedicated to strengthening Louisiana’s agricultural economy and fostering a healthier, more connected community. Through innovative programs and support for small farmers, BREADA is redefining how local food reaches tables across the region.
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Expanding Food Access
BREADA believes that fresh, healthy food should be accessible to all. The Red Stick Rewards program matches SNAP benefits, doubling purchasing power for families in need while increasing revenue for farmers. Additionally, the Red Stick Mobile Market brings farm-fresh produce directly to neighborhoods with limited grocery options, ensuring that more Louisianans have access to nutritious, locally sourced food.
Farm Support and Sustainability
In addition to supporting food access for community members, the Red Stick Rewards program provides additional income to the farmer through a dollar-for-dollar match funded in partnership with Louisiana Healthcare Connections. This effort, along with the Red Stick Mobile Market, allows farmers to expand their reach and client base, while also bringing in fresh, new, and exciting foods to the people of those areas.
Farm operators in Louisiana are some of the poorest in the nation. The average net worth of farms in Louisiana is around 40 percent lower than the national average, with income to farmers averaging $12,500, three times less than the average across the country. Outside of the economic struggles of a small farm, natural disasters and ever-changing climate are daily stressors. In 2005, following the destruction of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, BREADA established the Louisiana Small Farm Survival Fund, the first of its kind in the state, to aid small farms and seafood enterprises that had been affected by the storms. Since then, the funds have gone on to provide critical relief to farmers in the event of a storm, flood, or fire. The funds directly support independent, local farmers and fishers that are often too small to receive grants or loans due to eligibility requirements of the USDA.
Educating the Next Generation
Another concern for the farming community is the generational shift away from rural areas and more traditional ways of life. According to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service census, the number of farms in our state has dropped 9% and the percentage of farm-related jobs has dropped in half within the past decade. This shift is something BREADA is working on.
With initiatives like Red Stick Sprouts and Farm to Table Tops BREADA is working to educate and inform youth about agriculture and the importance of locally sourced food. Through Red Stick Sprouts, children 2 to 12 can learn more about where their food comes from through fun, food-related activities at the farmers market that connects them to local farmers and agriculture. To date, over 2,900 kids have joined the Sprouts program and have been empowered to make their own healthy food choices. Similarly, Farm to Table Tops is a multi-disciplinary summer experience that introduces and educates children about Louisiana’s local food system through artistic enterprises. The program includes farm tours, cooking and nutrition classes, and hands-on art education.
