Recognizing the Impact of Dr. King | January 17, 2022

Fresh & Local:

Recognizing the Impact of Dr. King

I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits.

~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
From remarks upon acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize

As we reflect today on the profound impact that Dr. King has had both nationally and globally, this quote reminds us that what we may think of as basic human rights are still out of reach for so many, and that so much of what may seem common sense is still in many ways a radical belief. Market Umbrella’s mission of “public markets for public good” speaks to the audacity of believing that everyone in our community should have access to fresh, local food; that everyone should have welcoming spaces to connect with their neighbors and enjoy the vibrant and diverse culture New Orleans has to offer; and that everyone deserves the same access not just to food but also to dignity, equality and freedom.

As part of our ongoing commitment to support equity and racial justice in our community, Market Umbrella began a Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) Planning process at the end of 2021. We are examining our work both internally and externally, with the goal of ensuring that we are living out our mission and that our markets and programs truly reflect the community we serve. This process includes feedback from a variety of stakeholders including program participants, vendors, and other non-profit organizations. We look forward to setting our top priorities and next steps, and to sharing the final results of this work with you in the spring.

Picks of the Week:

We’re Hiring

We are in the market for a Director of Development and Communications. This newly created full-time staff position is responsible for leading the fundraising and communications activities of Market Umbrella and the Crescent City Farmers Markets. See full details here!

Sunday Curbside Ending

These last two years have seen many market shifts, from curbside, to drive thru to home delivery, adapting to the changing way people make groceries. We continue to adjust to consumer and vendor preferences, working to return to a “new normal”. This week will be the last week that the curbside option will be offered at the Sunday City Park market. Preorder will still be available, so feel free to meal plan and list make and order everything you need Wednesday through Friday through WhatsGood here for pickup at vendor.

Prioritizing Food Access in a Natural Disaster

On the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ida howled through Louisiana devastating coastal communities. In a time where everyone was forced to be flexible and make ever changing pivots through the pandemic, Hurricane Ida added an extra layer of challenges for our state. As GusNIP grantees, Director of Programs Kasey Davis and Director of Markets Angelina Harrison will be presenting on how Market Umbrella and the Crescent City Farmers Market prioritized food access in response to a natural disaster. Join us Thursday, January 20th at 2:45 pm as we share our work with Nutrition Incentive Hub Annual Convening attendees. This Convening is free and open to the public. For more information go to nutritionincentivehub.org

Vendor of the Week:

Fletcher Farm

Some of William Fletcher’s fondest memories as a child are of picking strawberries at his grandparents’ farm in Ponchatoula where he grew up. After completing university and moving away for several years, William decided to return to his grandparents’ land and continue the family tradition after the farm had been abandoned for many years. With over six acres planted with sweet Louisiana strawberries and another five acres planted with seasonal vegetables, Fletcher Farm has become a staple of the CCFM and the CCFM home delivery box. At the Fletcher Farm booth you will find strawberries, seasonal produce, and pantry staples such as strawberry barbeque sauce, pepper jelly, pepper jelly vinaigrette, and their famous “Gammie Jammie,” a strawberry jam named after his grandmother where the recipe originates. Recovering from Hurricane Ida, we are excited to welcome Fletcher Farms back as a year-round vendor at our Tuesday markets!

Recipes of the Week:

Cakey Strawberry Cobbler

Not only is this cakey strawberry cobbler delicious, it's one of the easiest types of cobbler to pull off, making it a great recipe for budding cooks, or if you have young helpers who want to get involved in the kitchen.

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:

Ricotta, Orange, and Chocolate King Cake from Leo’s Bread

Each week during King Cake season, we’ll be featuring one of the many King Cakes available at CCFM markets. If you have come to the Tuesday Uptown or Thursday Mid-City Market, you are familiar with the infamous Leo’s Bread. Kate originally started selling her breads and bagels at the Crescent City Farmers Market seven years ago. In addition to her buttery pastries and crusty semolina loaves and sandwich breads, every Mardi Gras season Kate bakes a special King Cake filled with ricotta, orange, and chocolate and topped with candied orange slices with a small animal trinket inside. You definitely won’t want to miss out on this one.