Market Umbrella is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3), based in New Orleans, whose mission is to cultivate the power of farmers markets to drive economic and community health in the region. Market Umbrella has operated the Crescent City Farmers Markets (CCFM) since 1995.
Work Opportunities at CCFM | November 4, 2019 |
Fresh & Local:Work Opportunities at CCFMWe are looking for a farmers market coordinator! The coordinator works to help plan and execute weekly farmers markets as well as doing community outreach and promoting and implementing our various fresh food access programs. We’re looking for someone friendly and welcoming, diligent and organized, and ready to work year round rain or shine at our outdoor markets. Check out the complete job description here and apply by November 15th. Want to get more involved in the markets and our food access programming? Fall is a great time to volunteer at markets - the crisp, cool air makes markets busy and cheerful places to be. Come hang out and talk about your favorite seasonal recipes while you work alongside staff to set up and break down market and beverage service, lead children’s activities, as well as engage with customers and vendors. See the inside workings of our various fresh food access programs, and while you’re here, pick up all the fresh fruits and veggies (and seafood, meat, dairy, bread, etc.) you need. Check out our calendar of available volunteer opportunities and sign up for a spot directly through the calendar. Check back often as we also use this calendar to post volunteer opportunities at various events we attend around town and host ourselves. We are always posting new shifts for market events :) |
Picks of the Week:Donations for Mrs. JeannieThanks to everyone who donated or bought a ticket for the farmers market gift basket raffle last Tuesday! We were able to raise over $600 for Mrs. Jeannie and her family during their difficult time and absence from the market. We are still accepting donations. In case you missed the raffle - stop by the welcome tent for more information! |
You Don’t Know a Yam thing About Sweet PotatoesLouisiana loves sweet potatoes! But is it a yam or a potato? The short answer. Sweet potatoes are a tuber vegetable native to North America. Why do some people still refer to them as yams? Back in the 1930s, Louisiana sweet potato growers marketed sweet potatoes as yams (a similar tuber with origins in Asia and Africa) to set them apart from other state’s sweet potato crops and it stuck. Whether white, orange or purple flesh, sweet potatoes are nutritious and delicious! Packed with fiber, beta carotene, and potassium they help to prevent or reduce our risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes. Despite having a single growing season, sweet potatoes are usually available year-round, much like apples. This is made possible by the curing process which helps to preserve the potato and develop the sugars in the tuber giving it its distinctively sweet flavor, and making them shelf stable and available over the course of the year. Fall is harvest time, so you can find them fresh now, and maybe even get your hands on the elusive leaves, another nutritional powerhouse. |
PersimmonsWhile there are Louisiana native varieties of persimmon, you’re most likely to find Japanese fuyu, hachiya, tanenashi, or saijo at the market. All are typically a red orange when ripe, fuyu - the squat, almost square type - can be eaten when firm much like an apple, while a saijo or hachiya - the heart shaped variety with the point at the bottom - are inedibly astringent until they ripen to a pudding-like consistency. They won’t stick around for too long so pick some up from Amorphous Gardens, Major Acre Farm, Star Nursery, and more! |
Vendor of the Week:Amorphous GardensAmorphous Gardens joins us at the Tuesday Uptown market all the way from Farmhaven, MS. On his 16-acre farm, Jonathan, along with his wife and three children, emphasizes sustainable and natural growing practices. He avoids synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and doesn’t use plastic mulch, which is a common cover on conventional farms. In addition to his witty remarks and sense of humor, Jonathan brings all kinds of unique produce to the market. Right now you can buy sweet potatoes, saijo persimmons, the elusive sunchoke, beautiful flowers, and more. |
Tuesday’s Green Plate Special:Red GravyWelcome back Red Gravy Cafe to the Green Plate Special! It’s been a while and we are very excited to see what Chef Roseann Rostoker has in store for us. Red Gravy is a cozy bistro in the French Quarter serving rustic Italian cuisine using recipes handed down from Roseann’s grandmothers, aunts and mom; along with a few self-inspired creations. Chef Roseann is one of Crescent City Farmer Market’s most loyal shoppers and strives to include fresh seasonal produce, eggs, meat and seafood from our local producers. Stop by every Tuesday in November from 9-1pm for a bite - Ciao! |
Recipe of the Week:Chickpea and Sweet Potato StewIt’s finally soup season! Hooray! In our opinion, there’s no better combination than sweet potato and leafy greens mixed together in a stew. Healthy, hearty, and warming-- this autumnal combination will bring cheer to any chilly night. This recipe calls for spinach, but feel free to substitute collard greens, mustard greens, or sweet potato greens (just make sure to cook them for 5-10 minutes before simmering with the rest of the soup ingredients, as these greens are not as delicate as spinach and do not wilt as easily). Enjoy! What’s your favorite dish to make after visiting the Crescent City Farmers Market? Share your recipes with us on Instagram or Facebook or even Twitter and it might be featured in our weekly newsletter! |
About Us
The Crescent City Farmers Market operates weekly year-round throughout New Orleans. The CCFM hosts 70+ local small farmers, fishers, and food producers, and more than 150,000 shoppers annually.