<p>Moonlight Magic Awaits</p> | October 28, 2024

Fresh & Local:

Moonlight Magic Awaits

Grab your tickets now for Moonlight Market 2024! We’re just a few weeks away from an exciting evening celebrating the Crescent City Farmers Market and all of the amazing programs that Market Umbrella offers. We’re bringing together some of the best chefs and restaurants in the city to serve up seasonal bites unique to their culinary experience. With your ticket, enjoy food from all the vendors, plus garden-to-glass cocktails, craft beer, and bubbles—all while listening to live music from Mark-Anthony Thomas!

Restaurants include:

• Acamaya
• Saba
• Mister Mao
• Palm&Pine
• Honey’s
• Txow Txow
• Black Roux Collective
• KD Nola Treats
• Chef Shonda
• And more!

Tickets are $60, and proceeds go towards supporting Market Umbrella’s mission. Don’t miss this chance to eat, drink, and connect with the community. We hope to see you there!

Sponsored by: Louisiana Healthcare Connections, Fidelity Bank, Southern Strategy Group, Times Picayune Nola.com, NORD, JV Foods, WWNO, Roulaison Distilling Co, Parkway Bakery & Tavern

Picks of the Week:

How Johndales Farm Uses Beans for Soil Health

One benefit from getting produce from market vendors is the knowledge and care that goes into growing practices. At Johndales Farm, Farmer Heather is planting beans in the field to enhance soil fertility, reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers, and further develop sustainable farming practices. Planting beans, or other legumes, is an effective way to improve soil nitrogen naturally. Beans form a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, primarily Rhizobium, that live in nodules on their roots. These bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use, enriching the soil with nitrogen as the beans grow. After the bean crop, the soil will have higher nitrogen content, which benefits future crops, especially nitrogen-hungry plants like corn or leafy greens.

Source: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Grants For Small-Scale Food Farmers

As a founding member of the Louisiana Small Scale Agriculture Coalition (LSSAC), Market Umbrella is excited to offer grants to support Louisiana’s small-scale food farmers—funds that go directly to the fields and wash-and-packs of those who feed us! These grants are aimed at addressing various on-farm needs, especially for farmers who have historically received less support from federal and state programs including Black, women, people of color, and LGBTQIA farmers. This includes those growing specialty crops, as well as low-tech or rural farmers. 

To learn more about the grant application, visit: https://www.lssac.org/onfarmgrant2024

To apply, visit: https://formstack.io/7E0D3 and submit by November 3rd!

Winter Hours Approaching for Thursday Mid-City Market

Every year, the Thursday Mid-City Market adjusts its hours for winter after Daylight Savings Time ends. Starting Thursday, November 7th, the market will be open from 3 pm to 6 pm. Shorter days make it challenging to operate in the dark, so we’re closing a bit earlier, but there’s still plenty of time to stock up on groceries and grab a taco or three! As the weather cools, warm up with a cup of hot cacao JuiceSee, traditional soups with Latino Snacks, and more!

Regular hours (3 pm to 7 pm) will resume on Thursday, March 13th.

Speaking of Daylight Savings Time…

You may have heard that Daylight Saving Time was created for farmers—but did you know that’s a myth? In fact, farmers have historically opposed it, with the agriculture industry even lobbying against DST in 1919! First implemented during World War I to conserve energy, DST disrupts farm schedules, as cows, crops, and markets operate best on steady, natural rhythms. Today, DST remains for energy savings and lifestyle alignment, but one thing’s for sure: it’s not for the farm! And while we may be losing daylight hours, all three of our weekly rain-or-shine markets are still here to provide you with fresh, seasonal produce.

Source: AgAmerica

Vendor of the Week:

L’Hoste Citrus

It’s citrus season, y’all! In 1981, Lester and Linda L’Hoste began their journey into the world of citrus farming and they have been certified organic since 1996. Their mission is to produce the best products for their customers; they would like to extend a warm thanks to everyone who has supported their farm and family over the years. After damage from Hurricane Ida, the L’Hoste’s joined the family business as well. This allowed them to expand their offerings this season beyond satsumas, grapefruits, and Meyer lemons to include heirloom pumpkin, squash, peppers, tomatoes, cantaloupe, and canary melon, “the sweetest melon, you’ll ever taste” according to Lester. Look for winter veggies like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kale as the seasons change. Find L’Hoste Citrus at Tuesday and Thursday Markets.

Recipe of the Week:

Butterfly Pea Flower Lemonade

Add a touch of magic to your day with Butterfly Pea Flower Lemonade! This stunning drink shifts from deep blue to vibrant purple with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Lightly earthy and perfectly refreshing, it’s as fun to make as it is to sip, ideal for cozy afternoons or colorful gatherings. Pickup Butterfly Pea Flowers at the Veggi Co-Op table at any weekly market!