National Farmers Market Week is a Celebration! | August 8, 2022

Fresh & Local:

National Farmers Market Week is a Celebration!

National Farmers Market Week is in full swing! We had a blast at the Sunday market yesterday, and there are still two more opportunities to join in on the fun!

This Tuesday, Ochsner Eat Fit will bring their smoothie bike for customers to blend a tasty breakfast beverage featuring last of the season peaches. We’re also hosting our first-ever Kitchenware Sale! Shop for new-to-you cookware, flatware, cookbooks and kitchen/dining accessories at the Uptown market this week and the proceeds go to support Market Umbrella and the Crescent City Farmers Market.

On Thursday, expect a delectable treat from Chef Kim of KD’s NOLA Treats. You can also get your blood flowing at our Mid-City market by taking FREE a hula hooping class perfect for the whole family, courtesy of Jennette Ginsburg of Hey Now Hooping. And we can't forget to mention, Huckleberry Fred’s Creamery is bringing BABY GOATS!

Rain, shine, heat, or humidity, join us as we show appreciation for our vendors, community, and all that make CCFM More Than a Market! Check out the event calendar for the full list of activities.

Picks of the Week:

What makes a sandwich a sandwich?

August is National Sandwich Month, and with many of us, both young and old, returning to school this month, this portable meal is a trusty companion to the start of many people’s school year. We here at Crescent City Farmers Markets want to remind you that now is a great time to get creative with your sandwich game and eat local! For a traditional sandwich, we have fantastic breads from bakers like Honest Foods, Micro Pharms, and Leo’s Bread. Like cheese? Check out cheeses like mozzarella or plain or flavored cheddars from T & R Dairy or plain or flavored goat-milk chevres from Huckleberry Creamery. Want something sweet? You can’t go wrong with honey from Powers Beekeepers, or jam from vendors like Things n’ Stuff. Craving some protein? Try shrimp salad made with shrimp from Anna Marie Seafood, crawfish salad from Fresh Fruit Sensations, or some pate from Backwater Foie Gras - all delicious options. Last, but DEFINITELY not least, veggies are a sandwich must. Fresh veggies like cucumbers, tomatoes and microgreens contribute great texture and flavor, and cooked veggies like roasted eggplant, roasted peppers or roasted tomatoes can be the foundation for a great veggie forward sandwich. All these items are in season and available from CCFM vendors like Isabel’s, Poche Family Farm, and Monica's Okra World. Come to a market and get inspired - sandwiches are brain food!

We Want Your Opinion!

Now through August 13th, tell us about your shopping experience and enter our sweepstakes for a chance to win a CCFM Merch Bundle! Five lucky winners will be selected and no purchase is necessary to enter. Survey responses impact future decisions about Market Umbrella’s markets, programs, and activities. Even if you don’t regularly attend our markets, your opinion is valuable and we want to hear from you. To read the full sweepstakes guidelines and take the survey, click here!

Back to School Snacks with Market Produce!

It’s August, which means the children are heading back to school. Send them off with yummy snacks using fresh and local ingredients from the Crescent City Farmers Market! One of our favorites is crudités, raw cut veggies paired with a dipping sauce. This dish is quick, easy, and can be customized for each kiddo! Plus, it can be made quickly for those late mornings when you and the family are in a rush.

Thanks to the variety of fresh, seasonal veggies always readily available in-market, this dish is never boring! Cut crudités using fresh cucumbers, sweet peppers and carrots and if you’re feeling fancy toss in a few cherry tomatoes and pickles. For the dip, try one of Isabel’s salsas or the goat cheese spread from Huckleberry Creamery, or check out Sassy Cajun Seasonings for dip bases like spinach and artichoke. No matter the taste buds, the Crescent City Farmers Market has something to make your child’s next afternoon snack tasty and unique!

Summer P-EBT Eligible for Market Match

Summer Pandemic EBT, or Summer P-EBT, provides food benefits to children eligible for free or reduced-price lunch who weren’t getting their meals through the school during the summer months. All students in K-12 schools are eligible to receive Summer P-EBT if they receive free or reduced-price meals and were in school May 2022. Over 80% of students in Orleans Parish public schools are eligible.

Each eligible child will receive a benefit of $391 issued in two installments, one for $195 and a second for $196 deposited onto P-EBT benefit cards that parents should already have from prior rounds. There is no action required for students: school systems will submit eligibility information and benefits are automatically issued to eligible families.

P-EBT cards will work just like any LA SNAP card and can be matched dollar for dollar at the CCFM markets or with any of our Market Match partners (Top Box Foods, River Queen Greens and Grow Dat Youth Farm). For every P-EBT dollar spent in any of these locations, we’ll match it with another dollar, cutting the customer price in half.

More information about Summer P-EBT on the DCFS website: https://www.dcfs.louisiana.gov/page/pebt-summer-2021

Vendor of the Week:

Things ‘n Stuff

Calling all jam and jelly lovers! With over 50 varieties of jams, jellies, and preserves, there is a flavor for everyone at Things ‘n Stuff’s table! Since her introduction to the Crescent City Farmers Market in 2018, Ms. Brenda has been spreading the love with jams and jellies ranging from blood orange jelly to crawfish boil pepper jelly to classic strawberry jam. At her table you can find jams and jellies both sweet and savory, alongside her fresh and delicious salsas and pickles - all made with locally sourced fruits and vegetables. Besides all of the canned goods on her table, you’ll find an array of quilted bowl cozies, casserole covers, and tortilla warmers. Find Ms. Brenda, her daughter and granddaughter along with all their specialty canned goods at Sunday market - the garlic pepper jelly is a must!

Recipe of the Week:

Canned Peaches in Very Light Syrup

Peach season may be nearing its end, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying summer’s spotlight fruit! It's time to get canning! Check out this recipe to learn how to preserve the taste, texture, and quality of fresh peaches for up to 12 months beyond their season. Can we enjoy Cherry Creek Orchard peaches all year round? Yes we can!

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!