So Fresh and so Green Green | February 4, 2019

Fresh & Local:

So Fresh and so Green Green

Have you already fallen off your New Year’s resolution health kick? We hope not, because right now is peak season for all kinds of greens at the market, and as you certainly already know, leafy greens are healthy as heck. Whether you prefer your greens stewed and wilty over the stove to ward off these chilly nights, or fresh and crispy in salad form, you’re sure to find it fresh at the market.

Hearty greens like mustards, collards, and kale break down when they are cooked, weakening their tough structure and mellowing out any bitterness. If you don’t already have a favorite recipe for cooking greens, and you’re short on time, a bit of olive oil, salt, garlic, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice will yield no less than perfect results every time.

If you’re more of a cold salad person, you’ll find all sorts of lettuce, spinach, and arugula on vendors’ tables. For extra bold flavor, stop by River Queen Greens’ tent at the Tuesday Uptown or Wednesday Bywater markets and stock up on microgreens or shoots. Plus, keep an eye out for new vendor Sam’s Sprouts at the Ochsner market on Wednesdays, who grows all sorts of sprouts to suit your salad and sandwich needs.

Picks of the Week:

Field Trip! Meet Me at the Market

It’s the most wonderful time of the year-- Mardi Gras! But it’s also a great time of year for a visit to the farmers market. Our Tuesday market is where we host our Meet Me at the Market field trip programming for local school children, and now through spring is when we have some of the best variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables for them to try. During a Meet Me at the Market field trip students get to meet our regional food producers, taste local produce, and learn about the importance of eating healthy and supporting our local economy. All Title I schools in Orleans Parish qualify for a discounted field trip rate. If you’re interested in a Meet Me at the Market field trip, contact our program manager at caryn@marketumbrella.org

Ochsner Health System employees can receive $5 each week in February

We believe that good health starts with what you eat! That’s why throughout the month of February, Ochsner Health System employees are invited to collect $5 from the blue welcome tent every Wednesday. Every week, show us your Ochsner employee badge and you will receive a $5 market token to spend on anything at the market. Market tokens are CCFM’s currency that are as good as cash at the market. Tokens don’t expire, you can use them at all of our markets, and every vendor accepts them! In the event you do run out of cash or your market token stash, you can use your credit card, EBT card, Apple Pay, or personal check to purchase market tokens at our welcome tent. This is made possible by our partnership with Ochsner Health System, and we are excited to provide fresh, local food to the community and the folks that keep us healthy!

SNAP Update

Due to the partial government shutdown, February Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP formerly known as food stamps) benefits were issued early. It remains to be seen what the three week reopening of the federal government will mean for the SNAP program in terms of March disbursements. To help keep families eating healthy food, Market Umbrella doubles SNAP purchases up to $20 at all seven of our market locations. Shoppers can swipe their EBT card for $20 and receive $40 in tokens to purchase fresh healthy food. The first $20 can be used on an any EBT-allowable item at market and the second $20 can be used on fresh fruits and vegetables only. To help stretch those February dollars that were issued early, come to the welcome tent and take advantage of Market Match every time you visit the market.

Last year, SNAP dollars and our Market Match program put $60,000 into the hands of the local farmers who are vendors at our markets, so this program helps farmers and food producers make ends meet. Market Umbrella is committed to the Market Match program, and we’ll keep you posted on SNAP developments.

Vendor of the Week:

T&R Dairy

Holy cow! T&R Dairy, A fourth generation family dairy farm, have added quite a few new items to their table in recent days. Now you’ll find Mrs. Mary or her sister Judy with whole milk, buttermilk, and chocolate milk at the Wednesday Ochsner and Friday Bucktown markets. As always, T&R will also be at the Tuesday Uptown market with a variety of aged cheeses including gouda and havarti, and fresh or cultured butter. While they will not be selling milk at the Uptown market, they are taking orders - so stop by to get yours in. Cheers to small, generational family dairy farms!

Tuesday’s Green Plate Special:

Paella NOLA

Recognize these guys from our new Friday Bucktown market? Paella NOLA will be joining us at the GPS tent at the Tuesday market throughout February for… PAELLA! Paella is a traditional rice dish from the Valencia region of Spain. With the freshest New Orleans seafood and other local ingredients, Jacob and his team will bring this dish to life every Tuesday for your brunch, lunch, and dinner needs. Vegetarian? No prob. Paella NOLA is making a special pan just for the GPS. Come hungry.

Recipe of the Week:

Strawberry Milk

This recipe for strawberry milk from Smitten Kitchen tastes like a melted milkshake, and farm fresh milk and strawberries take this recipe to the next level. This treat is a sure bet with the little ones and will likely bring waves of nostalgia for the grow-ups, too. Grab your milk and buttermilk from T&R Dairy or Country Girl Creamery, plus some sweet strawberries from Johndale Farm, Mendez Farm, or Fletcher Farm or Faust Farm and whip up a batch.

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!