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German Coast Farmers Market reports nearly $440,000 in 2024 sales; SNAP match changes detailed
Summary
Market leaders told the council the two markets reported nearly $440,000 in sales in 2024, almost 40,000 patron visits and a shift in SNAP incentive funding from United Way to the state Grow the Good program.
Anne Montgomery, speaking for the German Coast Farmers Market board, told the St. Charles Parish Council the market reported nearly $440,000 in combined sales in 2024 and nearly 40,000 patron visits between the East Bank and West Bank locations.
Montgomery said the board logged about 2,000 volunteer hours and hosted roughly 60 vendors across the two markets last year. She said the market accepts SNAP and credit cards; patrons used cards to spend nearly $37,000 in 2024. The transcript includes an unclear figure about total match-program spending, which Montgomery corrected mid-remarks; a specific final dollar figure for match-program redemptions was not provided on the record.
Montgomery described a change to the market’s nutrition incentive programming: United Way of St. Joe’s Parish had funded a SNAP-match program capped at $20 per visit but reduced its grant support. Montgomery said the state-funded Grow the Good program increased its SNAP match cap to $40 per visit and the market reconfigured its system to accept the new cap. She said the change should not be noticeable to SNAP customers.
Why it matters: the market’s SNAP incentives and vendor activity support low-income residents’ access to fresh produce and local farmers’ incomes.
Montgomery summarized market operations: the East Bank Saturday market has operated at the East Bank Regional Library parking area in Destrehan for 22 years; the West Bank market operates at Westbank Bridge Park in Luling and sets up under the park pavilion during summer. She highlighted special events including kids’ activities, live music, vendor anniversaries and memorials for longtime volunteers.
The board thanked the parish council, the parish president’s office and parish departments of libraries and recreation for support. Montgomery and Carmen Johnson, the market treasurer (present with Montgomery), answered council questions about attendance and promotional efforts and urged residents to visit.
Montgomery noted upcoming market events and a kid-focused parade on Feb. 22, 2025, and encouraged residents to check the market website and social channels for schedules.
