Former Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival King Gary Cummings of Cummings Farm will bring a taste of that fresh and flavorful event to Alexander’s Highland Market’s front porch on Sunday, April 12, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., via a booth filled with fresh strawberries, jellies, and jams. In addition, Rome Family Farm will be on site with fresh tomatoes, and Pennington Biomedical Research Center will dispense nutritional information while sampling healthy seasonal recipes such as Louisiana Spring Salsa and Pina Colada Power Smoothies from its test kitchen.

And because April 12 is National DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) Day, the market will also feature local authors and books, such as Maggie Heyn Richardson, author of Hungry for Louisiana, Linda Taylor, author of LSU Alphabet Book and New Orleans Saints Alphabet Book, and Junior League of Baton Rouge with their award-winning River Road Recipes cookbooks.

The market will also feature face painting for kids, beer tasting for adults from local breweries, and outdoor grilling, making it truly a family friendly community event. “Supporting other small businesses and bringing people together to meet the folks who grow and make their food has been a fundamental part of our business plan since we opened two years ago,” says Lathan Alexander, president. “The pop-up market model builds community and benefits everyone.”

Other participating businesses include Eden Natural Soaps, Louisiana Gold honey, River Road Coffees, Susan Rodrigue Pottery, Most Delightful Foods, Ruth’s Hummus, Hanley’s Foods, Andi Lynn’s Elderberry Syrup, Fresina’s Pasta, Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce, Re:, Delightful Palate, Hanley’s Foods, Militello’s, Ivy’s Pride Tamales, Art by Carolyn Rodrigue, GrinningJupiter Jammery, and more.