| March 28, 2022

Fresh & Local:

Women’s History Month Wrap Up

During Women’s History Month, we have shared information about the contributions of women in agriculture and food production, bios of women in our local food sector and even book recommendations focused on women and food. As this month comes to a close, we would like to highlight the unpaid labor of women and how it relates to the food families consume.

In today’s modern family, it is not uncommon for both parents to share the responsibility of being employed. However, there is much to say about the time associated with paid and unpaid work between women and men. The Center of American Progress has conducted research to understand the different facets of this unequal distribution of labor.

For those of you who may be new to this topic, you may not have heard of “the second shift”. This concept refers to unpaid housework and caregiving labor which takes place after the work day, and is a role most often fulfilled by women. Research shows that 80% of women in two-parent, heterosexual relationships with children are the primary grocery shoppers and food preparers in their households, spending an average of 68 minutes a day on meal preparation and 45 minutes a day shopping for groceries - almost two hours a day on providing food!

Market Umbrella supports women both as vendors and also as shoppers! We offer the CCFM box for home delivery for busy working parents who may not always be able to get to a market, and offer programs like Market Match and Market Mommas Club to help support women who are preparing food for their families.

Picks of the Week:

CCFM Sunday Market at Great Lawn
April 3rd - again!

Due to filming delays at the Tad Gormley Stadium, we will be holding the Sunday farmers market at the Great Lawn in City Park this coming Sunday April 3rd. Please view this handy map for more information!

We’re Hiring!

Market Umbrella is currently accepting applications for an Administrative & Communications Manager. This position is a full-time role responsible for assisting in the daily business operations of Market Umbrella. This position provides development and communications support for the organization, and manages our social media and the Market Morsel! To learn more and apply, visit here.

Calling All Kids! Join the Marketeers!

Mark your calendar! Sunday April 3rd we will be hosting our monthly Marketeers Club activity at market in a temporary location at the Great Lawn in City Park. Marketeers club is a free membership for market shoppers under 12. To become a member is easy, fill out this simple membership form.

CCFM’s Spring Farmers Training Series

This series of virtual and in-person classes is targeted to support farmers and producers in creating a more robust market business. You can access our recent and Consumer Behavior at the Farmers Market webinar here. If you’re a direct to consumer seller, or know someone who is, this class has TONS of great insight into best practices for market stall setup to maximize sales. They are open to the public and either free or very low cost. Click here to learn more about the classes and RSVP, which is strongly encouraged to save yourself a space.

Vendor of the Week:

Too Tall Farm and Nursery

Maggie Kaiser and Jacob Ingalls started Too Tall Farm and Nursery in 2015 with the goal of supplying local growers and gardens with a variety of vegetable, herb, and edible flower starts grown in a natural way. Maggie is also a trained and experienced doula and perinatal health advocate working with Birthmark Doula Collective, where she provides physical, emotional, and informational support to pregnant people throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, including chest/breastfeeding. Because of this work, Maggie is very interested in growing medicinal herbs and especially those that support folks during pregnancy and postpartum. Some of her favorite plants are tulsi, skullcap, spilanthes, nettles, and nasturtiums as well as other crops like turmeric, hibiscus roselle, ginger, and leafy greens. Additionally, Maggie has been involved with several different organizing bodies pertaining to the local food system over the years, including supporting Margee Green with her run for Commissioner of Agriculture in 2019; working for the National Young Farmers Coalition to develop better agricultural policy for small farmers on a state and federal level; organizing with the Greater New Orleans Growers Alliance, the NOLA Food Policy Action Council, and Sprout Nola; and, most recently, working with Sprout and Cooperation New Orleans to research, write, and facilitate learning spaces for growers around agricultural cooperatives and collectivism in Louisiana. You can find Too Tall Farm and Nursery at the Thursday Mid-City and Sunday City park markets or visit them at their nursery in the 9th Ward (2817 N Roman) on Fridays from 2-6 pm or Saturdays from 8 am - 1 pm.

Recipes of the Week:

Chef Melissa Araujo and Alma Cafe

Chef Melissa Araujo is the sole proprietor of the Araujo Restaurant Group that includes Alma Cafe - which she opened entirely on her own, with no investors. She employs many minority women in her kitchens, helping to build food service skills that are valuable anywhere in the world, creating upward career trajectory for many. As a first generation immigrant from Honduras, she grew up eating home-grown produce, and only once she was in the U.S. experienced supermarkets and heavily processed foods. Her own path back to good health involved a focus on fresh produce, which is the foundation for her local sourcing ethos. Purchasing only the highest quality fruits and vegetables from our local growers, seasonality is front and center on her menu.

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

Interviews with Women Leaders
of the NOLA Food System:

Sara Levasseur - Jamboree Jams

Provide a brief about your organization or business:

Jamboree is a small batch jam and marmalade company that uses only local, seasonal fruit to create special jars of jam.

One thing you're passionate about in the food system?

Working with and getting to know local farmers. Each season brings something different and I enjoy my product being completely informed by what the land has offered or not been able to offer that season.

One proud accomplishment, related to your food system work?

Honoring our local farmers and their hard work with my end product. The fruit comes first! Our product is processed and priced accordingly.