By james art 
Blue Runner Foods
Originally from the garden of 21-year-old Pierre Chauvin in Union, Louisiana, this over 100-year-old company moved to Ascension Parish in 1946 and has been known for its canned red beans ever since. Today, Blue Runner produces a variety of dried bean products and Creole staples in addition to its famous bright blue preserves. bluerunnerfoods.com
Community cafe
Henry Norman “Cap” Sauridge started making coffee in his grocery store in 1919. And today, his brand, Community Coffee, is sold in nearly every store in town—and as far away as Alaska. Four generations and 105 years later, the Saurage family still tastes their product every week to uphold Cap’s commitment to taste. communitycoffee.com
Louisiana Fish Fry Products
This local brand was born in the kitchen of another Red Stick institution: Tony’s Seafood. Its namesake, Tony Pizzolato, has found that customers come back not only for fresh seafood, but also for dishes battered in his house-made seasoned fish. He made the business official in 1982 and today he creates mixes, bases, boil boosters and more. louisianafishfry.com
Manda Fine Meats
What started as Manda Brothers Provision Co. in Baton Rouge in 1947, is still a family-run business that now sells its flavored sausages and meats in 15 states. Its smoked pork and andouille sausages are staples in Louisiana staples like jambalaya and gumbo. mandafinemeats.com
This article was originally published in the November 2024 issue 225 Magazine.