Between March and December, a line of people wait, ice chests in hand, on the first Saturday morning of the month in the tiny hamlet of Delcambre.
They're waiting for the fishermen to coast in from the Gulf after catching crabs, fish or shrimp. Some fishermen shimmy into a boat slip, then dock and sell their catch fresh off the boat at the Delcambre Seafood and Farmers Market, held under the Bayou Carlin Cove Boat Landing and Pavilion at 605 S. Railroad St., Delcambre.
"The same thing that's true for seafood is true for all the other products — local is better," said Suzanne Dugas, the market's grant writer/administrator. Dugas is also involved in the day-to-day operations of the market. "It not only helps the local farmer or craftsman, it keeps money in our local economy."
Fresh shrimp are weighed on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Delcambre Seafood & Farmers Market.
Launched in 2013, the market hosts up to 60 vendors who sell everything from fresh produce, baked goods, jams and canned food to handmade crafts, jewelry and personalized T-shirts. Additionally, musicians provide live music for customers to enjoy.
Depending on the growing season, shoppers can find fresh produce including tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, sweet potatoes and more — plus prepared foods including tamales, spring rolls and more. Some vendors rotate throughout the year while others are “legacy vendors” who have been there since the beginning.
Wes Landry, co-owner of Cajun Element, has been a vendor at the market for three years. He brings a wide range of food options, including pork boudin, crawfish boudin, a special muffuletta sausage, Caribbean jerk chicken, crawfish bread and shrimp patties.
Born and raised in Delcambre, Landry says the market allows him to catch up with friends, family members and people he went to high school with who he doesn't see often.
Live blue crabs are sold by the dozen on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Delcambre Seafood & Farmers Market.
"I usually spend a lot more time talking than working," he said with a laugh. "Sometimes you have to shake hands, rub elbows and hold babies."
Dugas says that the biggest draw to the market is the fresh, local seafood and produce. Customers are able to get to know the farmers and fisherman, asking them questions about the specific items.
Wendell Verret, port director for the Twin Parish Port Commission, Port of Delcambre, says the market has grown over the years to offer new activities for kids and seafood demonstrations. In the past, the market hosted a tuna carving where customers were able to buy tuna steaks from the chef.
Milton Naquin fries soft-shell shrimp on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Delcambre Seafood & Farmers Market.
In Erath, a commissary and shared kitchen is being constructed to support small businesses in the area. The Acadiana Regional Seafood Hub will provide new outlets for vendors at the Delcambre Seafood and Farmers Market, as well as allow vendors to package their products for wider distribution, Verret said.
"Of course, many in Acadiana enjoy buying fresh shrimp off the boat, so we want to continue that and provide opportunities and better facilities for our commercial fishermen," Verret said.
With more than 50 vendors, Landry says the market is a diverse representation of what the state has to offer. He added that the covered pavilion is a bonus when it comes to dealing with weather elements.
Vendors ready their tables on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Delcambre Seafood & Farmers Market.
"There's handmade products and woodworking. People put a lot of time and effort into these things," he said of the products from the other vendors. "We do a lot of farmers markets, and this one is our favorite."
In 2021, the market launched a health and wellness program to provide health information to customers. A nutritionist, Laurel Blackerby, is conducting recipe analyses and providing healthier ingredient swaps to accommodate various dietary issues. At each market, Blackerby hosts a booth that offers children's activities, art projects, scavenger hunts and wellness information.
Dugas added that the health and wellness initiatives have helped to grow the market's reach to other parts of the state.
Marilynn White places items for sale at her tent on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Delcambre Seafood & Farmers Market.
While customers from all over Acadiana visit the market each month, some customers drive in from other cities like Lake Charles and Alexandria. When the market first began, Dugas remembers when almost 1,000 people attended.
“We thought that was crazy because you have to remember, the population (of Delcambre) is about 1,800 people,” she said. “If we get 1,000 people, that’s more than half of the population.”
Now, she says, on average, about 1,200 people attend each market.
Future plans include building a new restaurant at Bayou Carlin Cove Boat Landing and Pavilion, which could bring more traffic to the rural town that straddles Vermilion and Iberia parishes.
Mai Truong wraps spring rolls on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Delcambre Seafood & Farmers Market.
"People come to the market on purpose — they're not going to just drive by and see what's happening," Dugas said. "It has been amazing to see the loyalty of the regular customers and vendors."