Seasons Change | October 26, 2020

Fresh & Local:

Seasons Change

“Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower”. That is unless you live in the sub-tropics where, despite the unchanging green landscape of live oaks, temps are cooling and the bright greens and yellows of summer squash at market are fading into the muted browns and oranges of winter squashes and satsumas. We say, see ya’ next summer to eggplants, peppers and okra, and hello to field greens like mustards and kale, tender lettuces and arugula, radish, turnips and other root veggies. Soon we will see cauliflower, brussels, carrots and beets! With fall harvest we also welcome back beloved produce vendors like Isabel’s Tamales and Produce, L’Hoste Citrus, Star Nursery, Major Acre Farm, Poche Farm and more. And the seafood season remains strong with shrimp and crab and catfish a’plenty.

As the seasons change, our city and region continue to adapt to the global pandemic. Market Umbrella is no exception. We continue to innovate so that you have safe and broad access to fresh, local groceries; and so local growers and purveyors of quality value add products have opportunities to sell their goods. Last week, the Bucktown Harbor Farmers Market became a hybrid walk-up/curbside pickup market, and will soon move back to Friday evenings; we look forward to reopening the Thursday Mid-City Market later this year in a new location. And, this month, Market Umbrella and Top Box Louisiana collaborated on a special home delivery option nutritionally designed for lactating moms, as part of the Market Mommas Club.

Good Food Concept of the Week:

In addition to running farmers markets, a critical component of Market Umbrella’s work is to enhance food and nutrition access and awareness in our community. The Good Food Concept of the Week seeks to shed some light on this part of our work and also to demystify the jargon.

Aggregated CSA

This week’s Good Food Concept is Aggregated CSA – Also known as multi-farm CSA, an aggregated CSA works like traditional Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in that a buyer commits to purchase produce for a season, either with an up front single payment or weekly subscription, supporting the grower by letting them know how much to plant and/or paying up front which supports the expense of planting and harvesting, a time between seasons when a producer may have expenses but no income. The primary difference is that instead of supporting one farming operation, an aggregated CSA supports several farms as producers bring product together, or an entity like a food hub or an aggregator puts the product together from many farmers for the end consumer. This is how the CCFM Box and Market Mommas Club Box through Top Box Foods works. Market Umbrella is the aggregator that brings together the products of many CCFM vendors to offer through the box. Growers know that they will have sales and consistent income, and can focus on other parts of their business like growing crops, and consumers benefit from the best of what’s locally grown.

Picks of the Week:

Bucktown Harbor Farmers Market goes Hybrid

Market Umbrella is proud to be included in the official naming of the road way entrance to Bucktown Harbor, the home of the CCFM Bucktown Harbor Farmers Market. Now a hybrid market, you have the choice of shopping outside, in person, in the fresh air and sunlight, OR order in advance for contactless curbside pickup though WhatsGood (pre-order Saturday through Tuesday at 2pm) for this Wednesday, October 28th, 8-12am. The CCFM Bucktown Harbor Market will return to Friday evenings next week on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6th, 3-7pm. Follow our Facebook Event for the latest updates!

The CCFM Bucktown Harbor Farmers Market is generously supported by the Office of Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken. We hope to see you there!

Order the Market Momma Club Box

The Market Umbrella Market Mommas Club was created in 2017, with generous support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, to support moms during their breastfeeding journey. MMC provides Louisiana families with increased access to fresh, local whole foods and connects mom to breastfeeding support groups. Enrollment is open to breastfeeding mothers or mom-to-be that are eligible to receive WIC who have not previously participated in the club.

Drive Thru Halloween Celebration - Drive Through Boo on Lafitte Greenway

Halloween is right around the corner! Join our community partners Friends of the Lafitte Greenway and New Orleans Recreation Development Commission for a drive through celebration on Friday, October 30th from 6-8pm on the Greenway at N Prieur St. No car? No prob! There will be a walk through and bike through section too! Don’t forget to wear your costume and mask up! Enjoy scary, haunted house-like decorations, ghosts and ghouls, and of course, trick or treat candy! More information here!

Vendor of the Week:

Doyle Hanson

It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news of the unexpected passing of long time Crescent City Farmers Market knife sharpener, Doyle Hanson. Doyle has been keeping blades sharp at CCFM since before Hurricane Katrina and was a friend to all. Pesto Paul said Doyle, “...was always a good friend and market vendor. I remember him as an early proponent of offering his services through Farmers Markets. I am sure many a Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey was more artfully and easily dismembered thanks to his services.” And former market vendor Stacy Bonnecaze had this to share, “Doyle was a generous friend who I got to know during my time as a vendor with him on Tuesday mornings in New Orleans. He had known my father, Papa Tom and my Mom during their time at the market. He enjoyed sharpening knives or anything else from a sword to a machete, the more unusual and challenging the better. He loved sharing his corny jokes. He was a proud soldier who loved his country. He was a master of more than one martial art. He loved his adopted grandchildren and will be truly missed.”

Recipe of the Week:

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Don’t discard your pumpkin guts this year! Instead, get them roasty toasty with this super easy recipe by food blog Delish. Butter and salt is all you need for this yummy and nutritious seasonal snack or topping! Spaghetti, butternut, and acorn squash all yield edible seeds that are delicious when roasted with many (endless?) combinations of butter or oil and seasonings-- we love sea salt, smoked paprika and garlic powder, but a sweet version with honey and cinnamon goes over well with the littles. Warm out of the oven, this is a special fall treat. Psst… CCFM and Market Mommas Box recipients will find adorable and delicious butterkin pumpkins this week - Happy Halloween!

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!