Last Call for Peaches | August 13, 2024

Fresh & Local:

Last Call for Peaches

The markets all summer long have been overflowing with peaches - which has been especially exciting after last year’s late freeze resulted in no peaches at all!. But, as summer progresses, it’s time that we bid adieu to our fuzzy, pink friends. Cherry Creek Orchards will be selling their last harvest of peaches this week. The Thursday August 15th Mid-City Market and Sunday August 18th City Park Market will be your last chance to buy peaches - so come out and stock up! 

Luckily, peaches preserve perfectly! When you stock up, you can freeze them for future smoothies and recipes or cook them down into a delicious homemade jam. While you may be able to find peaches at the grocery store for the rest of the year, nothing beats a fresh, picked when ripe, locally grown peach.

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.

Local

Surprisingly, this term has no legal definition and is highly subjective. USDA calls it sourced within 400 miles. For the Crescent City Farmers Market, our vendors come from within 200 miles of New Orleans which includes parts of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Picks of the Week:

National Farmers Market Week

Thanks to the over 3,000 folks who came out to National Farmers Market Week, across all three markets! While this week is prime weather for many of the markets around the country, shout out to everyone who braved the heat and helped demonstrate how CCFM does farmers markets. From vendor demos and tastings, to the Kitchenware Sale and Chopped Chef Challenge, it’s been a delight having the buzzing energy in the market space. Luckily, programming like this isn’t exclusive to this week. Looking forward to lots of exciting activities happening year round, rain or shine, at all three weekly markets!

Chopped Chef Challenge

And the winner of the Chopped Chef Challenge is (drumroll).... Chef Shonda! Congratulations Chef Shonda for taking home the golden chef hat with her mouth watering watermelon ceviche. Chef Lindsay and Chef Anh prepared incredible dishes as well, making the race to the top oh so close. Each chef was given the same ingredients: watermelon, okra, and cucuzza - and made dishes that displayed their unique perspective on cooking. 

We’ll be holding more Chopped Chef Challenges in the future - so if you’re a chef or know someone who’d like to participate, reach out to markets@marketumbrella.org to get added to the list.

Rep the Market in Style

Did you know that you can buy Crescent City Farmers Market merch at the welcome tent at each market? That’s right - you’ll be the coolest cat in town shopping for cold items with your CCFM cooler bag, and staying hydrated with the new CCFM reusable water bottles! Each market is stocked up with tank tops and the vintage CCFM ringer tee. You can buy merch with cash, credit or debit, tokens, or checks. And keep your eyes peeled, you never know what new merch may hit the market.

Music at the Market: August Lineup

Is your family looking to spend SUN Bucks at the Crescent City Farmers Market? You’re in luck! SUN Bucks is a program that supports children that normally receive free or reduced price lunch at school over the summer. Just like with SNAP benefits, you can double your SUN Bucks dollars at all three weekly markets with Market Match! For more information on SUN Bucks and how to receive them, visit DCFS’ SUN Bucks website.

Vendor of the Week:

Také Box NOLA

Také Box NOLA is run by duo Caroline and Kyle. They have been producing gourmet mushroom grow boxes from spore to mycelial block with all organic material right here in New Orleans. Their mushroom grow boxes are essentially a pre-colonized mushroom fruiting block made from organic rye grain, hay, and hardwood sawdust. All you need to do is apply a little water and watch this beautiful block turn into a blossom of ready to cook, gourmet mushrooms. Také Box currently offers a variety of oyster and lion’s mane mushrooms and grow kits. Not only do these boxes provide you with delicious, organic, gourmet mushrooms, but all boxes are silkscreen printed with original textile designed by Caroline herself, making it a beautiful addition to any countertop. Find these distinctive mushroom grow kits and the two fun creators behind them at the Thursday and Sunday markets each week!

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Recipe of the Week:

Muscadine Grape Jelly

NPR says that “Muscadines May Be The Best Grapes You've Never Tasted”! As we phase out of peaches, muscadine become the most readily available local fruit and you can find muscadines at the market from Johndales Farm, Know Dat Grow Dat, Indian Springs Farmers Association and Joe Fekete Family Farm. Try this muscadine grape jelly and taste for yourself these awesome little guys.