<p>Honoring Juneteenth</p> | June 18, 2024

Fresh & Local:

Honoring Juneteenth

This Wednesday is Juneteenth, an important federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and provides an opportunity to reflect on  continued inequities in our food system. The ancestors of the people who labored to grew the agricultural industry of the United States are some of the most impacted by food insecurity and have received disparate treatment in operating farms. Many states enacted restrictive black codes, engaged in predatory lending practices, and generations of underfunding made it incredibly difficult for Black farmers to own, cultivate, prosper and pass down their land. Black communities preserved their traditions of growing, harvesting, and preparing food within an expansive cultural practice. Learn about the significance of Juneteenth for food sovereignty for Black folks here.

The cultural legacies of okra, beans, melons, rice, yams, and many other foods brought across the Atlantic are shared on tables today. Okra has already made its seasonal debut, and watermelon will be coming before the end of the month. Find them with this week’s Vendor of the Week: Indian Springs Farmers Association, a collaborative of Black-owned farms in Mississippi, at the Tuesday and Thursday Markets. Support Black farmers by shopping directly from their tables, where you can engage with the people who produced the food from the earth for you.

And special shout out to Dakar NOLA who just took home Best New Restaurant at the 2024 James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony! Chef Serigne frequents the market to bring fresh, local produce to Dakar’s Senegalese pescatarian menu. Check them OUT!

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.

Polyculture

As opposed to monoculture in which vast swatches are planted with a single crop leading to soil nutrient depletion, increased incidents of pest and disease outbreaks and decreased resilience in general, polyculture is a farming method more typical of small growers where multiple products are grown on farm, and usually rotated so less fertilizer and pesticides are required.

Picks of the Week:

Louisiana Seafood Passport x CCFM

The Louisiana Seafood Passport has officially launched and as a partner of the Crescent City Farmers Market, you have many opportunities to collect your stamps at our markets. Come visit Pete and Clara’s Seafood at all three weekly markets, and Anna Marie Seafood at the Sunday City Park Market for all of your fresh seafood needs. Simply upload a photo of your purchase (and your gourmet meal, if you’d like!) to the website to earn towards your tote bag. Visit laseafoodies.com to learn more!

Donate Your Kitchenwares!

As we gear up for National Farmers Market Week in August, we're collecting gently used kitchen items for our Third Annual Kitchenware Sale. Pots, pans, barware, small cooking appliances, cookbooks, dishes, and more! Bring in those culinary companions you no longer need. Your donations will benefit Market Umbrella and the Crescent City Farmers Market. Shop the sale and discover your new favorite kitchen tool while supporting a great cause!

Drop off at our office:

• 200 Broadway St, Suite 107
• Monday - Friday, 9am to 4pm

If you have any questions, email us at admin@marketumbrella.org or call the office at (504) 861-4485.

Bike Tour Recap

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Eat Local Bike Tour! We hit the town visiting local restaurants and urban farms, and unveiled the brand new logo for Eat Local. What began as the Eat Local Challenge over a decade ago is continuing to grow into a community that supports farmers, fisherpeople, and producers all over SE Louisiana. Stay tuned for exciting updates with Eat Local as we continue to uplift those who make our region unique and special.

Welcoming Keandra, Director of Finance and Operations

Please welcome the newest addition to the Market Umbrella team - Keandra! As Director of Finance and Operations, Keandra will be crunching numbers and keeping the ship afloat as we grow deeper into food systems work. She’s spent most of her career working with local nonprofit agencies and governmental entities who have helped and advocated for underserved communities of children, neighborhoods and people with disabilities. Check out our staff bios to learn more about Keandra and the rest of our team!

Vendor of the Week:

Indian Springs Farmers Association

Indian Springs Farmers Association (ISFA) is a joint venture of 30+ small Black-owned farms from Mississippi that collaborate in growing and distributing their produce. First formed in 1976 to help African American farmers sell vegetables to a wider market, ISFA has become a long-time vendor with CCFM, bringing a rich array of in-season veggies to market each week. This time of year you’ll see a lot of greens and sweet potatoes at their table! Additionally, ISFA is often featured in the CCFM home delivery box during this time of year. Learn more about the cooperative’s organizer and revered Mississippi farmer, Ben Burkett, along with the history of the ISFA cooperative in this video.

Recipe of the Week:

Roasted Japanese Eggplant With Crushed Tomato, Parmesan, and Thyme

You can travel the world by just visiting the market these days with Japanese Eggplant! Thanks to the bounty at River Queen Greens, you can make this savory and light vegetarian dish for your next dinner party. If you want to take it to the next level, you could serve it with toasty garlic bread for optimal scoopage.