Closing the Year With Gratitude, You Make a Difference | December 25, 2023

Fresh & Local:

Closing the Year With Gratitude, You Make a Difference

Throughout 2023, Market Umbrella has been busily increasing fresh food access for all New Orleanians, and taking advantage of novel opportunities presented to small scale agriculture. This year we’ve continued to expand our programming to increase fresh food access and small business support impact. This past year, we brought new vendors to market, including graduates from the SPROUT Truck Farm table, our partner that helps smaller farms and food businesses access the market, increasing the number and type of products, and the diversity of our vendors which is a key component of our strategic plan, now in its second year of implementation. Feel free to read more about the strategic plan on our website.

Last year we added Greaux the Good and this year has seen continued expansion across the state, adding farmers market and farm stand partners and increasing sales of fresh, local fruits and vegetables. This year also saw the relaunch of Meet Me at the Market, our field trip program for pre-K through 3rd graders that has been on hiatus since early 2020, meaning that all of our programs running before COVID have now been restored, plus some. As a non-profit, these system-changing efforts are only made possible by supporters like you.

Shopping at the market supports our vendors and our local economy, and your contribution to Market Umbrella supports the continued local food system support and food access work of our non-profit. With this in mind, please take a moment to make an investment in the future of our local food system as well as the health and prosperity of our regional economy by completing the enclosed reply card to send your gift today. You can also give online at marketumbrella.org or text CCFM to 44-321 to donate right from your phone! Thank you in advance for your support of our work to build a stronger, healthier and more resilient community!

Picks of the Week:

Bring on the Brassicas!

Brassica is the scientific name for the mustard and turnip family which includes kale, collards, mustard greens, radishes, watercress, rutabaga, arugula, kohlrabi, brussels sprouts, rape (the seed that canola oil is made of), cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, romanesco, turnips and bok choy. What a happy family, and nearly all of these are available now at Crescent City Farmers Markets! Brassicas represent some of the oldest cultivated crops, with farming roots that reach back over 10,000 years. These vegetables and greens prefer a cooler growing season, so they’ll be with us through the winter and deep into spring.Brassicas contain high levels of vitamin C, A, E, K, as well as folate, calcium, iron, potassium and phosphorus, as well as a good source of dietary fiber. Recent research has demonstrated clear health benefits to humans from eating Brassicas in protecting us against some common cancers and cardiovascular disease Check out Isabel’s Tamales and Produce, Monica’s Okra World, Perilloux Farms, Indian Springs Farmers Association, Faust Farm, Joe Fekete Family Farm and more to fill up on healthy produce at any of our weekly markets that you and your family will love.

SNAP-Ed: Create Your Own MyPlate Menu

Bring in the new year ready to tackle your nutritional goals and grocery planning! Join us on December 31st to learn how to create your own MyPlate plan to support a healthy diet. At the market, you can learn how to optimize your nutrition and meal planning by focusing on balancing all essential macronutrients on your plate. There will be resources to help you understand portion sizes, nutritional goals in your everyday meals, and how to incorporate the rich and hearty items from the market into your lifestyle. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss, ask questions, and take home giveaways! We hope to see you there!

Holiday TopBox Schedule

The CCFM box from Top Box will take a brief pause for the Holidays. Deliveries will not occur on December 26 or January 2, deliveries will resume January 9 in the new year. Get the freshest local produce selected by the farmer who grew it, delivered to your door for free. Contents are sourced from across the CCFM vendor network, change weekly and now include the best of what fall has to offer us. Using EBT to pay? Select “Market Match Eligible” at check out for half off your box!

Holiday Market Closure Schedule

The holiday season is upon us! As a reminder, the Tuesday Uptown Market will be closed on December 26, so that our vendors have a chance to rest, celebrate, and observe the holidays with their loved ones! Make sure to get your holiday shopping done at the Thursday Mid-City markets before and after the closures. The December 31, Sunday City Park Market will still remain open. Whether you need green beans and carrots for a side dish, local meat for a scrumptious roast, or eggs for a show-stopping dessert, CCFM markets have a lot to bring to your holiday table.

Vendor of the Week:

Thank you to All of Our Vendors!

This year, we hosted 73 small, family-run businesses as vendors at the Crescent City Farmers Market—that’s up from 55 at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic! We are so grateful to our growing community of local food producers who bring fresh, delicious foods to the markets each week. As we close out 2023, we want to give a big THANK YOU to our vendors, new and seasoned alike, for their contribution to CCFM and our community.

Recipe of the Week:

Hot Honey Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Bring on the Brassicas! Brussels sprouts are in season and at market! This heart-warming recipe adapted from How Sweet Eats is the perfect winter veggie dish to warm up on those chilly evenings when the temperature drops with the sun. Many vendors at each market have brussels sprouts and green onions. Powers Beekeepers, Indian Springs Farmers Association, and Honest Foods sell honey and visit Huckleberry Farms for their goats milk feta cheese. Find out who will be at market before you visit, by clicking here.