Our Mission
Harvest is a solution driven social for-profit organization that creates access to affordable farmed goods while establishing and managing sustainable markets throughout the New Orleans Area. With our multidimensional approach, Harvest is committed to offering sustainable solutions to help close the gap between New Orleanians and healthy food options. Our focus is promoting and building awareness to the benefits of the local economy and Agriculture by creating access and bringing innovative markets and farmers’ markets to an urban environment.
Founder Brandon Pellerin at Calas Cafe Stand
Image: Everyday Matters
Introducing the Calas - Food Heritage protects food security
Introducing the Calas!! Belle Calas!, Tout Chauds Calas! A traditional rice dish that made the journey from Africa to the heart of Louisiana, Calas represents the rich culinary history and heritage of the Treme neighborhood!
Harvest Nola pop up is proud to announce that we are now the permanent home of this iconic dish which was created by enslaved and free people of color!
In preserving the cultural traditions and heritage that are intertwined with this beloved food, we aim to celebrate the history of the Calas Women who created and passed down this culinary tradition.
Calas is more than just a dish and a chant– it symbolizes the resilience and ingenuity of marginalized communities throughout history. Proceeds from Calas sales enabled enslaved Africans to buy their freedom in Louisiana. Join us every weekend at 1010 Treme St to learn more about this iconic dish and its vital role in the history of Louisiana.
Experience a taste of history with us at Harvest Nola pop up – the home of the traditional Calas!
Fish Fry in Treme | Pop-Up Market
Come spend time each weekend at Harvest Pop-Up Market for a delicious Fish Fry as we continue to share our message of equitable economic development within the community. We take a multi-dimensional approach to creating access to healthier food throughout the New Orleans and wider Louisiana area. Our Fish Fry offers an exceptional version of New Orleans fried food that is made with locally sourced fresh speckled trout, organic coconut oil and gluten-free coconut cornmeal batter.
We'll be holding the Fish Fry weekly in the historic Faubourg Treme, a vibrant neighborhood that has continued to serve as a long-time emblem of New Orleans culture. We share a traditional fried food experience that places fresh, health-conscious ingredients at the forefront, and serves to combat the prevalence of heart disease and diabetes facing our communities. Harvest Pop-Up Markets seek to educate the public and offer a different experience of cooking, forging a way forward and delivering healthier food to the people of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.
The Fish Fry will be held at 1010 Treme Street next to Louis Armstrong Park, weekly from 2-7pm, starting March 23, Thursdays - Sundays.
Jefferson Parish Summer Bridge Program
Harvest Summer Camp Farmers Market Program
Interactive Education
Harvest’s healthy eating habit initiative brings a farmers market experience into the school environment. We provide children with fresh produce and farmed goods and educate them about the importance of nutrition and food security. The impact of this is felt beyond the classroom, where students can share their newly acquired knowledge as well as food items with their families and communities. In addition to exposing our youth to nutritious fruits and vegetables we provide students with ‘Harvest Cash’ to spend at the market, empowering them to make their own shopping decisions in addition to budgeting their allowance at the market.Experiential Learning - Harvest Nola’s Kid-Run Farmers Market
Through our interactive ‘Kids Run Farmers Markets’ we introduce students to basic business principles, solutions for economic and health problems in our communities and the importance of supporting local farmers and seasonal growers.With food security becoming more scarce than ever, Harvest is committed to getting fresh, healthy nutritious food into the hands and homes of our youth and their extended families. It is a true honor to engage our school system to improve the quality of life for our community and children.
Book a Harvest event for your school
Jefferson Parish Summer Bridge Program
Harvest is available for school events in the Greater New Orleans area. With enquiries or to learn more please reach out directly through our form. We look forward to hearing from you!
With thanks to Our partners Troy Sawyer and Girls Play Trumpets Too for adding a fun and educational component to our summer camp at Jefferson Parish Summer Bridge Program”
Eco-Friendly Bike Cart
Harvest App
Mission Continued
Our markets provide a healthier and local alternative to current industrial shopping practices by providing residents access to locally sourced and locally grown produce and other sustainably raised items and goods in a personal and convenient setting. We believe that by making public markets and farmers’ markets more accessible,we can connect inner-city entrepreneurship, rural farmers and urban Community garden projects to New Orleans communities through vending rentals and leasing at our innovative community centerd markets.
Harvest encompasses sustainability, agriculture, economic development, environmental protection and social justice as a whole. Harvest strives to give back to New Orleans by partnering with local businesses and nonprofit organizations in the area.
“Fostering food security through adaptability is the key to creating access”
BRANDON PELLERIN | Founder
Brandon Pellerin | Founder
History
Harvest is founded by New Orleans Louisiana native, Brandon Pellerin. At a young age he was exposed to the benefits of community gardens which fostered his passion for creating access to healthier food options in New Orleans. At thirteen years old, Brandon partnered with Parkway Partners and ran three community gardens in the Bywater neighborhood which allowed him to offer his community fresh produce and herbs. Inspired by mentorship from Karen Hinkel and the economics of inner-city gardening, Mr. Pellerin became a socially conscious entrepreneur creating a herbal butter company.
With the success of ‘Caleb Herbal Dairy Products’, Mr. Pellerin inspired other young people to become involved within their community and taught them how to become entrepreneurs by utilizing inner city garden settings. As a result, Mr. Pellerin was recognized by Mayor Marc Morial of New Orleans for being a leader in his community at such a young age.
Impacted by Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Pellerin relocated to New York City where he continued to pursue and develop his herbal butter company. Along with other displaced Katrina survivors he cofounded the ‘Katrina House Project’ Organization to serve displaced New Orleans residents in New York by helping them establish themselves in NYC and return to a state of self-sufficiency. Katrina House Project’ partnered with World Cares, a post 911 disaster recovery organization, the MTA Transit Union and the New York Solidarity Coalition.
Upon his return to New Orleans Mr. Pellerin created projects that reflect his passion for food security and event organizing - bringingpeople together around culture, healthy food access and community. In doing so Mr. Pellerin presented Harvest to the people of New Orleans. Other projects include ‘White on Burgundy’, a 2016 alternative art gallery at his French Quarter residence that showcased the local New Orleans artist community. This evolved into ‘Dock 12’ his current performance and visual arts space in the North Robertson artist lofts.
Brandon continues to learn and expand his awareness and self-education regarding international food movements.
Below: Brandon attending the World Food Innovate Summit in Milan Italy, 2015
Become a Vendor
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