Celebrating Black History and Food History | February 13, 2023

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Celebrating Black History and Food History

To celebrate Black History Month, each week we're sharing our favorite books related to race, food, and agriculture! This week's installment of our Black History Month book list focuses on food history and how our nation's culinary legacy has been shaped by Black people and culture!

• The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South by Michael W. Twitty is a memoir infused with historical knowledge. The author traces the roots of Southern cuisine as far as Central Africa and as near as New Orleans' Congo Square while tracing his own ancestry through the food he eats and prepares.
• Black-Eyed Peas and Hoghead Cheese: A Story of Food, Family, and Freedom by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Steffi Walthall is a beautiful children's book that reveals to us the origins and significance of soul food. Read along as a young girl helps her grandmother prepare a holiday meal in this tale about the connection between one's history and the foods they eat.
• High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America by renowned cookbook author Jessica B. Harris is a culmination of Harris' extensive research on the cuisine of the African Diaspora. High on the Hog was adapted into a television series in which food writer Stephen Satterfield travels the world to experience regional delicacies intricately tied to Black history. Feast with your eyes and watch the series on Netflix!

Picks of the Week:

Updates on Greaux(ing) the Good!

Greaux the Good, Market Umbrella’s statewide Market Match program, has added seven partners throughout the state! These partners include Boyce Farmers Market (Boyce), Camellia City Farmers Market (Slidell), Crescent City Farmers Market (New Orleans), Fightingville Fresh market (Lafayette), Hammond Farmers & Artisans Market (Hammond), Red Stick Farmers Market (Baton Rouge), and St. Helena Farmers Market (Greensburg)! All of these partners already have or will begin operating Market Match programs soon. This means more access to fresh, local food and stronger food systems throughout Louisiana!

Don’t have a Greaux the Good partner doubling SNAP dollars in your area? Greaux the Good is still looking to add more partners in the upcoming months, and offers support and funding for program participants. To learn more about Greaux the Good’s recent work, read their latest press release here!

Market Umbrella announces leadership changes

In the month to come, Market Umbrella will be transitioning our organizational leadership; Cordelia Heaney, Market Umbrella’s current Executive Director, will be transitioning out of her role at the end of February, and Angelina Harrison, longstanding Director of Markets, is assuming the role of Interim Executive Director for the organization.

Cordelia will be joining Findlay Market in Cincinnati, Ohio as their new President & CEO. “We are sad to see Cordelia leave and grateful for her leadership at Market Umbrella,” Elisa Muñoz, Chair of the Board, says. “The organization has grown under her care and our loss is Findlay Market’s gain. The Board of Directors has complete confidence in Angelina’s ability to lead the organization during this time of transition. Her history within the organization and her deep ties in the food system and community have proven invaluable and I look forward to seeing her leadership grow in this interim role. The markets and programming we all love will continue under Market Umbrella’s capable staff.”

To read more about this transition, click here.

Berry in Season!

Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes strawberry season! It’s berry time at Crescent City Farmers Market, which means you can find strawberries at any market. It’s nearing the peak of strawberry season; in just a couple of weeks from now, strawberries will be rich and deep red throughout. Eat strawberries fresh, made into desserts, in salads, or dipped in chocolate–all that matters is you get them while you can!

Also in season right now are fresh snap peas as well as so many sorts of greens, cruciferous veggies, and plenty of root veggies. And, as always, we have high-quality eggs, meats, fish, dairy, baked goods, drinks, snacks, and more! Stop by Crescent City Farmers Market and get your fix of fresh and local foods.

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

Shop with us tomorrow, February 14 aka Valentine’s Day, to find the perfect gift for your loved ones! Pick up some chocolate-covered strawberries from Johndales Strawberry Farm and grab a bouquet of flowers from Know Dat Grow Dat. Market offerings range from handmade candles and soaps, delicious baked treats, sweet jams, spicy oils, and fresh ingredients for a love-crafted meal–there’s something for everyone’s Valentine! Can’t decide? Let your loved one choose by gifting them a pouch of CCFM tokens that can be spent on anything at market! Token gift bags can be purchased at our market welcome tent. Check out our social media–either Instagram or Facebook–for Valentine's Day gift ideas.

Vendor of the Week:

Helens House

Meet Kevin Austin of Helens House Bread for the Soul, a traditional and specialty artisan bakery! Kevin’s baking journey began a little over a decade ago at our Tuesday Uptown Market, when he had his first taste of real, hearty bread. Growing up, the only bread he was familiar with was store-bought, pre-packaged, sliced white or wheat bread. His first taste of fresh, handmade bread at CCFM many years ago sparked an inspiration and obsession with making his own. What started as a hobby quickly turned into a career as he picked up tips and skills from local bakers, gaining his own name and following in the process. Kevin has sold breads through a number of local outlets, including Hollygrove Farmers Market, Rouses, and the New Orleans Food Cooperative. He is appreciative and excited to serve his breads at CCFM and to its amazing community. You can also find Kevin at Mardi Gras Zone serving up what many have called the best pizza in the city! YUM! Find Helens House Bread for the Soul every week at the Thursday Mid-City market with their array of artisanal breads, including favorites like jalapeño cheddar, rosemary olive, and harvest bread. Check out Helens House Bread for the Soul on Instagram.

Recipe of the Week:

Smothered Okra Tomatoes with Shrimp

This week, we are continuing our staff-favorite recipes with roots in the African diaspora! Next on our list is a savory Smothered Okra & Tomato Stew cooked with mouthwatering local shrimp from the market. You can enjoy this flavorful dish as a stand alone stew, or pour it over brown rice to make it a complete meal!

What’s your favorite dish to make after visiting the Crescent City Farmers Market? Share your recipes with us on Instagram or Facebook and it might be featured in our weekly newsletter!

King Cake of the Week:

Coffee Science

This week’s King Cake of the Week is our last of the season! Coffee Science’s Chocolate Espresso King Cake is so delectable, we wonder how we haven’t mentioned it yet. The toasty flavor of espresso combines with the sweetness of chocolate and signature King Cake icing to make one of Carnival season’s tastiest king cakes! Coffee Science’s other available King Cake flavors include Venetian Crème and Satsuma. Preorder here by Monday night (tonight!) at 8 pm for pick up at their coffee shop on Wednesday, February 15, or by 8 pm on Wednesday for pick up on Friday, February 17. You can also get a taste of Coffee Science’s King Cakes at the Sunday City Park Market, from 8 am to 12 pm. There are only a couple remaining opportunities to land one of Coffee Science’s King Cakes–get it while you can!