Musca-Wine & Dine | September 3, 2024

Fresh & Local:

Musca-Wine & Dine

Muscadine grapes at the Crescent City Farmers Market remind us that early-autumn crops are just around the corner. Only in season from late August to mid-September, these disease-resistant “grapes of the south” are usually found flourishing in the wild, but are also cultivated commercially. They come in dark purple or a greenish pink and grow on vines like any grape. The term muscadine usually refers to the dark purple ones, while the lighter ones are sometimes referred to as scuppernongs or bronze muscadine.

Their taste is musky-sweet (hence the name), and they’re unlike the grapes you’re used to since their skin is thick and slightly bitter, and you’ll find a few large seeds nestled inside. For this reason, they’re often used to make other things like jelly or wine, and if eaten fresh, many people will squeeze out the soft center to eat, spit out the seeds, and discard the peel. Muscadines are a true superfood full of grape flavor and heart-healthy antioxidants; it has been gathered for centuries in our region to make jams, jellies, preserves, and wine. Muscadines can be enjoyed fresh and freeze well, allowing you to save the season and preserve their nutritional value. Find them at all CCFM markets while the season lasts!

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.

Food Insecurity

The US Department of Agricultural (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for a healthy, active lifestyle. Food insecurity often leads to stress, poor nutrition, and an elevated risk of chronic disease. One in six Louisiana residents struggles with food insecurity, including one in four children. Learn more about the health impacts of poverty and food insecurity.

Picks of the Week:

Come Real-cyle With Us Every Sunday!

Learn more about the behind the scenes work of Realcycle and how they give your food waste and recyclables another life here in their news feature with weekly CCFM shopper and news anchor, Shelby Latino! Since joining the Sunday City Park market, CCFM shoppers have diverted thousands of pounds of waste from landfills through Realcycle waste drop-offs. Realcycle is a local waste solution company that provides free compost and recycling collection at Sunday Markets. 

Materials must be carried into the market, carts are available on-site to bring over recyclables and compost. There is no drive up area for the market or this drop-off.

Acceptable recycling:

• Cardboard (broken down)
• Aluminum
• Glass
• No plastic or trash please

Acceptable compost materials:

• Food waste
• Leaves
• Wood chips
• Clippings
• Coffee ground
• No oily foods, meat, or dairy please

Restock! Vintage CCFM Ringer Tees

We’ve restocked the Vintage CCFM Ringer Tee at all three of the weekly markets! Rep your favorite market around town in this soft and fashionable ringer tee, featuring one of the earliest logos for the Crescent City Farmers Market. Sizes range from S to XXXL and cost $20. Keep your eyes peeled for merch drops coming in the near future!

National Fruits and Veggies Month

September is National Fruits and Veggie Month! With cooler months on the horizon, some of our favorite produce is making its way back to the market. The end of the hottest part of summer graces us with fresh and leafy greens, juicy fruits, and a wider variety of produce. Come cool down at the market and get your fruit and veggie fix with creative, fresh juices and smoothies from JuiceSee or the Fresh Fruit Sensations.

Wild Lemons in Louisiana?!

For a limited time only, the Indian Springs Farmers Association is bringing wild lemons to the market! They’re smaller than a typical lemon, and taste like a blend of lemon, lime, and even orange. As the story goes, folks used to cook with lemons in their kitchen and throw the peels/scraps out the window, which birthed this variety of wild lemon. Come out to the next Tuesday Uptown Market on September 10th to try some muscadine lemonade made with local muscadines and wild lemons.

Vendor of the Week:

Mycelium Express

If you have been to any of our markets, you will recognize the two masterminds behind Mycelium Express. Rickey and Mike have been growing mushrooms since September of 2018 and have been a beloved part of our market since the Summer of 2019. Rickey and Mike cultivate a wide selection of mushrooms including Oyster, Shiitake, Portobello, Cremini, Lions’ Mane, Coral Tooth, and King Trumpet. They also carry wild foraged mushrooms like Golden Chanterelles and Morels when they are in season, so get them while you can! And not to mention, Rickey and Mike offer grow-at-home kits and specialty tinctures made from their mushrooms. If you haven’t met these “fun-guys”, you can find them every Tuesday Uptown Market, Thursday Mid-City Market (beginning end of September), and Sunday City Park Market.

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Recipe of the Week:

Muscadine Sorbet

With plenty of hot Southern days left between Labor Day and Halloween, this deeply mauve muscadine sorbet is the perfect treat to keep stashed in your freezer in the fall. Whether you have a Ninja Creami, an ice cream maker, or just a big frozen bowl - this recipe will be sure to help cool down hot summer days.