This Heat is Udderly Unbearable | September 4, 2023

Fresh & Local:

This Heat is Udderly Unbearable

The heat this summer has been udderly unbearable! With extreme temperatures, comes unfavorable conditions for the production of many of our favorite market products like fruits, vegetables, protein, and dairy. Dairy production naturally slows down in the summer months with increased heat and humidity in our region. Under hot conditions, cattle’s immune systems are suppressed and they spend more time standing in an attempt to dissipate heat, all factors leading them to produce less milk. Dairy production is the most robust in the winter and spring when conditions are optimal for the growing of ryegrass, an important and high quality food source for cattle. Once temperatures rise above 87 degrees-F, ryegrass goes dormant and stops growing, further limiting the growth and production of cattle and dairy. Similarly to cattle, when temperatures rise, conditions are less optimal for the laying of eggs and we see a reduction in production. Exceptionally high temperatures this summer coupled with a lack of rain have exacerbated the depression of dairy and protein production this time of year. As the weather cools down and we near the fall, you can expect to find dairy and protein offerings at market such as eggs, cheese, and milk to increase in consistency and quantity. We’re thankful for the resilient dairy and protein farmers in our CCFM community who bring an array of offerings all year round!

Picks of the Week:

Family Friendly Pesto Cooking Demo on September 7th in collaboration with Friends of Lafitte Greenway’s Market March Program

Ayo - let's go! Come make pesto! Join the Greenway's free walking group, Market March, every Thursday until November 2nd at 4:30pm at market and walk from the market to Broad Street and back. Upon completion of the walk, you will receive $5 to use toward anything at the market. This Thursday, September 7th, after the walk, stick around for our family friendly cooking demo and learn how to make pesto.

Bagged Lunch from CCFM

Want to pack school lunches with nutrients and fiber to help keep little scholars full and focused? Shop any CCFM to find Isabel’s Tamales and Produce and Monica’s Okra World with their cucumbers and green beans; VEGGI Co-Op carries okra at the Uptown and Mid-City Markets; and find peppers with Indian Springs Farmers Association and Poché Family Farms at the Uptown Market. Grab some Greek yogurt from T&R Dairy and a Sassy Cajun Spices dip mix to make a dip for the crisp, crunchy, crudités. Buttery Spell sells flavored peanut butter like cinnamon honey and praline, which also make for a great dip. Slather your favorite peanut butter on a slice of sourdough from Leo's, or country loaf from Honest Food, or sweet potato bread from Helen’s House. All you need is some jelly or jam from Things N’ Stuff for an A+ PB&J!

Caterpillar Found at Market, Donated to the Audubon Insectarium

Have you heard the tales (tails) of animals found at market? Cucuzza, the polyphemus moth and once caterpillar, affectionately named for the local squash, was found at the Thursday Mid-City Market. He was donated to the Audubon Insectarium where he found love and his more than 50 babies have now graduated to the larva stage. Here he is pictured with his offspring at the egg stage, what a doting father! Visit Cucuzza’s descendants and marvel at the beauties of our ecosystem in New Orleans!

Vendor of the Week:

T&R Dairy Farm Steer

Hailing from Liberty, Mississippi, Mary Regan of T&R is a fourth-generation dairy farmer. She produces aged cheese, yogurt, ricotta, whole milk, and eggs, along with beef yielded from their grass-fed cattle. Conventionally, farmers raise one breed of cattle for dairy and another for beef production, but not T&R Dairy! In their unique process, a single breed of grass-fed cattle, Holstein, are raised on their mother’s milk; the heifer calves are raised for dairy production and the steers for beef.

Visit T&R Dairy’s table at all CCFM markets to pick up beef and try your hand at the unbeef-lievably tasty Bahn Mi burgers below!

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Recipe of the Week:

Bahn Mi Burgers

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy cold drinks and sizzlin’ sandwiches! This Bahn Mi Burger recipe from Little Spice Jar is a fun twist on the classics and also extraordinarily easy to personalize. Not to mention, many of the ingredients can be found at market! Get started by picking yourself up some beef from T&R and buttery brioche buns from Paw Paws. Then, pick up some cucumbers, microgreens from Know Dat Grow Dat, and maybe even stop off at Poche or Isabel’s tent for pickled veggies. If you aren’t a huge fan of spice, you could also skip the jalapenos and sriracha mayo in favor of farmhouse cheddar cheese from T&R. While you’re at it, grab a sweet potato or two for the perfect side of sweet potato fries.