<p>Peaches! Bluebs! Oh my!</p> | May 20, 2024

Fresh & Local:

Peaches! Bluebs! Oh my!

Get ready for the stars of early summer market - peaches and blueberries are officially bountiful this season! Due to the late freeze of winter 2023, last summer had nearly a total crop kill for both of these locally grown favorites :( Growing locally in a region with unpredictable climate events like hurricanes and freezes offers unique challenges to produce, so it’s wonderfully exciting to welcome back the vendors that specialize in both the sweet and the tart.

Cherry Creek Orchard will now be at all three markets with their iconic peaches! Check out Poché Family Farm and Things ‘n Stuff for more peaches and peach related goodies (hello, jam!). For bluebs, we have none other than J&D Blueberry Farm! They specialize in blueberries and a whole variety of blueb treats like baked goods, jellies, and tea and lemonade. Support one of the country’s leaders in domestic tea production. 

Good Food Word of the Week:

While Market Umbrella is known for our farmers markets and fresh food access programs, food systems work touches on many social, economic, and environmental issues. The Good Food Word of the Week seeks to shed some light on these parts of our work and the way we talk – demystifying the jargon.

Heirloom

Today, conventional grocery stores reflect 6% of the foods we ate less than 100 years ago. Heirloom varieties of produce are those types that used to be grown for a variety of reasons, primary among them flavor, but have gone by the wayside as conventional food systems prioritize shippability, shelf stability and uniformity.

Picks of the Week:

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

It’s (un)officially the start to summer with Memorial Day Weekend! Stock up on snacks and produce at any of this week’s markets in preparation for your long weekends and beach trips. Come start your Sunday off at the City Park Market with some juice from Fresh Fruit Sensations and a croissant or three from Leo’s Bread.

Eat Local Bike Tour: June 2nd

Mark your calendars and gear up for the 2024 Eat Local Bike tour - happening on the morning of Sunday, June 2nd! Hosted in partnership with Eat Local NOLA, join us to pedal and savor our vibrant local food culture.

We’ll be starting at the Sunday City Park Market at 10 am. Stops include Grow Dat Youth Farm to talk about their current work, Porgy’s Seafood Market for a fish demo with tabling from Audubon Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries and Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, and Sprout NOLA to hear about a farmer-focused disaster support series. Concluding at Skeeta Hawk Brewing with beer and light hors d’oeuvres.

Market Mommas Club Meet-up

Calling all Market Mommas Club participants! We’ll be having a meet-up at the Tuesday Uptown Market on May 28th. Come spend your morning at the market, meeting other families and learning more about how to make the most of your food dollars. We’ll have bag giveaways and a seasonal tasting. Hope to see you there!

All About Dairy

Visit the market programs table at the Tuesday Uptown Market tomorrow to learn all about dairy and taste delectable samples from our dairy vendors! In the summertime when many of the produce vendors slow down their production, you can count on the dairy vendors to be stocked at the market. You can find an assortment of creamy products including tangy whole milk yogurt, farmhouse mozzarella, and yogurt cheese at T&R Dairy’s tent. Find them at every Sunday market, Thursday market, and every other Tuesday market!

Vendor of the Week:

Gingerbooch Fermentables

Originally hailing from “funky Northeast Philly'', Luke Sirinides has had fermentation on the mind for years. Quarantine allowed him the time necessary to properly ferment, as the rest of the process requires only household items such as jars, pots, pans, sieves, and funnels. The star of the show is kombucha - specifically Gingerbooch, Luke’s combo creation of the drink and probiotic lemonade. If you haven’t tried it out yet, come to any of the three markets and ask for a bottle! Sweet, gingery, and with that kombucha kick, it’s clear why this is a fan favorite. A few other varieties of probiotic lemonade are also available, like his famous satsuma kombucha, which has been a big hit with market staff. After starting small, Luke brought kimchi and sauerkraut to the table as well. Find Gingerbooch Fermentables at all three markets, you can't go wrong, and your gut will thank you!

Recipe of the Week:

Creamy Peach and Honey Popsicles

Stay cool with the incoming heat and take advantage of this summer’s wonderful peach bounty with these refreshing and delectable popsicles!