Sep 16, 2019

USDA features Louisiana veggie grower, marine veteran

Louisiana vegetable grower Fredie Manes and his wife Patti were recently featured by the USDA’s “Fridays on the Farm” series.

Manes is a retired veteran of the Marine Corps and a self-described “market gardener” according to the feature story. This fall he is growing tomatoes from seed, a wide variety of lettuce, spinach, kale and other greens. He has two high tunnels obtained through the Natural Resources Conservation Service that guard against cold snaps.

He regularly travels farmers’ markets in central Louisiana, and in addition to growing he also is the manager of the Alexandria Farmers Market.

For more about Manes and his farm operation, read the whole feature story below.

Photo by Amy Robertson, NRCS Louisiana