New Year, Big News! | January 6, 2020

Fresh & Local:

New Year, Big News!

The new year is here! For many of us, the new year offers the opportunity to reflect and renew or begin healthful self-care habits. The farmers market is a bountiful resource of good-for-you options. Eating local helps to support local economies and producers, strengthening your community and the planet as a whole. Freshly picked produce not only tastes better but it is more nutrient dense, making the farmers market a one-stop shop for new years nourishment. Come get your resolution on and harness the power of plants this 2020!

Speaking of new, we have an exciting addition to our website! You can now find which vendors are scheduled to be at every market, each week. That’s right - no more guessing! Find a complete list of who is at the market here. While we will make every effort to keep this list current, life happens and sometimes a vendor has to cancel last minute. If you want to be sure a certain vendor is at market call the veggie hotline: (504) 495-1459.

Epiphany!

While the rest of the country is settling in for winter, here in Louisiana we’re gearing up for the Carnival holiday season! You know what that means… King cakes! Mardi Gras is every New Orleanians favorite time of year. You can expect to find king cakes at market through Mardi Gras. Pictured above is Compagnon Bakery’s brioche cake made with stone-milled Barton Springs Mill flour, filled with cinnamon, sugar and butter, then topped with a cream cheese frosting. It’s time to break out the ol’ purple, green and gold attire and baby(or bean)-filled dough circles.

Bywater Market

After a Summer break and temporary hiatus, we are excited to say that our Bywater Market on Wednesdays at the Rusty Rainbow is finally reopening! Mark your calendars folks - we will be back in the Bywater on Wednesday, January 22nd! The market runs from 3-7pm every Wednesday, year round, rain or shine and is located at the foot bridge to Crescent Park at Chartres and Piety. Stay tuned for the vendor line-up featuring 20+ new and returning vendors.

Strawberries

These sweet and juicy ruby red beauties are back at the market! More than just a tasty treat, strawberries are rich in Vitamin C helping to support your immune system and manganese essential to both bone health and boosting your metabolism. Not only that, strawberries are an excellent post-work out snack full of polyphenols that help your muscles recover by reducing pain and inflammation.

Vendor of the Week:

Johndales Farm

Hey y’all! The best berries in town are back in action. Heather’s family, the Johndales, have been with the market since its inception in 1995 and while you may know them for strawberries, you can also find greens, beans, mushrooms, honey, jams and jellies and more at their table while they are in season. The Johndales grow 4 delectable varieties - festival, frontier, camino real (most common), and radiant, festivals being the sweetest. Caminos are coming in strong right now so expect to find Heather at the Uptown, Mid-City, and CBD markets and more!

Tuesday’s Green Plate Special:

Thali Llama

Back by popular demand, Thali Llama is heating things up as the Green Plate Special to kick off the new year! Thali Llama focuses on different regional cuisines of India, where Tyler and Merritt explore dishes they learned throughout their travels. Stop by every Tuesday through the end of January for some heartwarming dishes including mango curry, stuffed Naan, butter chicken, and more!

Recipe of the Week:

Strawberry Balsamic Salad with Basil and Feta

The name says it all and this combination of sweet and savory will be a welcome addition to any meal! This simple, but delicious salad from Two Peas and Their Pod consists of four ingredients and most can be purchased at the farmers market. Grab a few pints of strawberries from Heather and some basil from Cajun Growers, but don’t stop there! Opt for goat feta from Brown Hat Dairy Farm to make it extra local.

What’s your favorite dish to make after visiting the Crescent City Farmers Market? Share your recipes with us on Instagram or Facebook or even Twitter and it might be featured in our weekly newsletter!