Beyond the Produce: Bakers, Cooks and Crafters Share Their Creativity at the Charlestown Farmers Market

by Angie Kay Dilmore

African Americans have a storied legacy of commerce in Southwest Louisiana. Consider the Ball and Price families and many others who weighed the risks, acted on their dreams and opened their business doors to eager customers. That same entrepreneurial spirit is still evident today, including at the Charlestown Farmers Market in Lake Charles.  

Here you’ll read about several pop-up shops and the women who own them. These ladies exhibit the drive and determination needed to go to the market week after week, set up their tents and tables, display their wares and greet their clients. 

MMM! That’s Good 

Lona Cross and her husband, Andrus, sell a popular citrus drink made with fresh lemons and oranges mixed with mango, pineapple and coconut concentrates with plenty of ice. Lona says it’s a family recipe that originated 34 years ago in El Paso, Texas, when she first made an orange and lemon beverage for her children and grandchildren. The couple opened their pop-up shop in 2017 at the Moss Bluff farmers market and have peddled their fruity concoction at the Charlestown market since 2022. They also serve the drink at local events. 

Clarke’s Crochet  

Dana Clarke started crocheting around age ten. She became known by friends and family for her beautiful crocheted blankets. During the COVID lockdown in 2020, she crocheted even more to pass the time, adding smaller items to her yarn-based repertoire. As an outlet for her creations, Clarke opened her pop-up shop at the Charleston Farmers Market in 2023. Her table showcases colorful hats and scarves, whimsical stuffed animals (the octopus is adorable), charming keychains, dolls and more. 

DAT Girl Mona B  

As a child, Mona Braxton watched her grandmother bake. A long-time baker herself, Braxton strives to keep the “old-school” classic recipes that her grandmother baked alive by featuring nostalgic items such as sweet dough pies (in a variety of flavors including sweet potato and blackberry), 7-Up cake and pecan pralines. Her business got a kickstart when her friend Claude Ringmaiden challenged her to perfect a sweet dough pie. Now a staple at both the Saturday Charlestown and the Tuesday Farm & Table markets, her baked goods can also be found at Heaven on Earth BBQ & Seafood on Prater Rd. in Westlake. 

Yep’s Gourmet Popcorn 

Owned by sisters Melody, Dell, Indrea and Gwen, Yep’s Gourmet Popcorn was founded in 2012 and is operated both in Lake Charles and Atlanta, Georgia. Melody says she and her sisters are popcorn lovers. They bought popcorn so often they decided to start making it themselves. “It’s so good we wanted to share it with our communities. And it’s profitable,” Melody says. “Once you taste it, you’ll say, ‘Yep, dat’s good!’” Yep’s offers a variety of flavored popcorn and is available at the Charleston Farmers Market, local events, through their website and at private events.  

The Works Bakehouse 

After a decade of working with a local industry, and considerable coaxing from friends, Ona-Lee Davis switched gears and opened her own home bakery in September 2025. She’s been a baker since high school and says she’s elevated her baking skills over time. She offers a rotation of sweet treats featuring seasonal flavors and weekly treat drops. Davis offers cookies, mini-cakes and specialty items, such as banana pudding brownies and dark chocolate cherry cookies. Look for her Mardi Gras-themed cookies and chocolate-covered strawberry cookies for Valentines Day. Davis attends various markets and was recently found at the Lake Charles Meet Me at the Market event, a monthly companion market to the Charlestown Market. 

Heavenly Treats LLC 

Monica Turner is passionate about pralines. She started making this southern confection over 30 years ago and opened her business, Heavenly Treats, last year. Monica recalls making pralines as a child with her father. “Every holiday my father would make a large pot of candy. My sister and I would sit on stools while stirring until it thickened. When the pralines were ready, he poured it into several pans. I loved the smell of vanilla and the creamy taste of the pecan praline.” Turner also sells coconut pecan pralines, praline popcorn and nutty brownies. In addition to the Charlestown Market, her treats can also be found at Heaven on Earth BBQ & Seafood and The Red Cardinal in Welsh.