Ruston Farmers Market: Rooted in Community 

Ruston Farmers Market (RFM) began in 2007 with a simple question: Why doesn’t our community have access to fresh, local food? What started as a conversation among a small group of women in a book club quickly grew into a grassroots effort powered by volunteers, farmers, and neighbors who believed Ruston deserved a thriving market to support local growers and makers.

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With support from the City of Ruston, the market officially launched in 2008 in a public parking lot downtown and steadily gained momentum, attracting vendors, customers, and community support. As it grew, so did its mission. In 2010, North Louisiana Farm Fresh, Inc. (NLFF) was formed to operate the market with goals centered on supporting local agriculture, educating the public about food systems, and promoting health and nutrition. NLFF became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2014.

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A major milestone came in 2015 when the City of Ruston partnered with NLFF to move the market indoors to a renovated city-owned warehouse, creating a permanent, weatherproof home. Thanks to community fundraising, city support, and multiple grants, the market expanded its reach, hired its first paid market manager, and launched programs to increase food access, including SNAP matching.

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Since then, RFM has grown in both size and impact and continued to support vendors while providing customers a space to gather, shop, and connect. In 2024, RFM hosted more than 90 unique vendors, saw over 21,000 customers walk through its doors, and helped invest over $400,000 back into the community. 

 

The Drew Jones Teaching Kitchen at RFM opened in 2024, providing a space for culinary education through hands-on cooking classes to free educational sessions.

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Open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., RFM serves as a testament to what can happen when a community comes together to support a shared commitment to local growers and makers.