Managing the Market
Southeastern graduate student helps revitalize local farmers market
Friday, November 20, 2015
When Ashton Herron was an undergraduate in sociology at Southeastern, her interest in environmental sociology – including the important role locally produced food could play in a community – was sparked. Herron soon jumped at an opportunity to participate in an internship with Vintage Garden Farm, a program of ARC Enterprises in New Orleans, to see what a local food system looked like.
David Burley, an associate professor of sociology at Southeastern who works to connect students with internship opportunities, selected Herron to participate in the program because of her “incredible work ethic and passion about social justice issues.” It also fit in with Southeastern’s Real-World Ready program designed to enhance students’ academic experiences through internships and other partnerships with businesses and organizations.
While working with ARC Enterprises, Herron said her initial spark of interest grew
stronger, and soon, she says, “I was like a freshly lit firecracker.”
The experience gave her the background to apply for the open position of manager of the Hammond Farmer’s Market.
“The city was looking for a market manager, and I knew Ashton would be a perfect fit for the position,” said Burley.
Now a graduate student in Southeastern’s Applied Sociology program, Herron has revamped the market to create a weekly congregation of farmers, artists and other vendors, in just a short time on the job. Once a gathering of only a handful of vendors, the market now has over 25 participating vendors on any given weekend.
“Ashton turned the Hammond Farmers Market around, from a really struggling market to an enterprise that could rival any in the state,” adds Burley.
Herron is looking forward to the day when the market has a permanent building in Hammond as opposed to its current location along the railroad tracks.
“This is now in the planning phase and would enable us to provide our community with farm fresh produce, plants, food, art and much more,” she said.
