Sowing Equity | October 10, 2022

Fresh & Local:

Sowing Equity

Market Umbrella developed a strategic plan which identifies the organization’s priorities as well as initiatives to achieve our goals over the next three years. We also developed a clearer mission through this process. Now, Market Umbrella’s mission is to cultivate the power of farmers markets to drive economic and community health in the region.

Inherent to that mission, Market Umbrella has made it a priority to integrate an anti-racist approach into all internal and external Market Umbrella activities in order to increase diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI) amongst all of Market Umbrella’s staff, Board, vendors, and market supporters. You will see this show up in our organization through four primary initiatives:

• Identify and address inequities and disparities in systems and processes in order to increase representation for all stakeholders (board members, staff, vendors, farmers, and shoppers) to reflect the demographics of New Orleans
• Build a truly inclusive culture of belonging in the workplace and on the board of trustees through continual investments in DEAI ideas, actions, and practices
• Establish a system to support and avenues to champion vendor-owners who are people of color through comprehensive and continuous efforts
• Create an experience that is welcoming, relevant, and accessible for vendors, shoppers, and farmers of all backgrounds, abilities, and interests

We will be promoting diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all of our work. This way of thinking, working, and living creates more opportunities to celebrate the region’s rich culinary and cultural legacies and to support the local food system. For the next three years and beyond, please join us as we welcome more community members and food producers into the Crescent City Farmers Market community.

Picks of the Week:

Celebrating National Farmers Day!

October 12 marks National Farmers Day! At Crescent City Farmers Market, we observe this day by recognizing the full impact of the agricultural and farmworkers in our communities. Farmers work hard year-round to bring the fruits, veggies, and agricultural products that keep us fed, dressed, and nourished! We are so grateful to work alongside passionate local farmers and vendors! Now that harvest season is upon us, come to any of the three weekly Crescent City Farmers Markets to experience the magic of local food firsthand!

(Peas Come to) Halloween at the Market!

Join Crescent City Farmers Market for a Halloween celebration at the Sunday Market! In addition to food so fresh it’ll fright, this year’s Halloween market will feature games, music, costumes, and spooky surprises for the whole family. Plus, prizes for anyone who comes dressed in a food-themed costume!

We’ll be haunting the City Park Farmers Market at Tad Gormley Stadium (Marconi Dr & Navarre Ave) on Sunday, October 30th from 8am to 12pm––be there or be scared!

Parking at Market

Crescent City Farmers Market is excited to welcome visitors to our markets and wants to create a safe and seamless experience for market participants and residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. We encourage visitors to observe the parking options and restrictions surrounding each market. At our Thursday Mid-City Market, this includes no parking on the uptown side of Lafitte Avenue. For our Sunday City Park Market, no parking on Marconi Drive in areas with diagonal white parking lines. Finally, at our Tuesday Uptown Market, customers may enter the Tulane parking lot from Broadway or Leake Ave. When parking at any market, please pay attention to any nearby street signs!

Vendor of the Week:

Passion Flour

After a summer hiatus, Passion Flour Baked Goods is back at the Mid-City Thursday market! Passion Flour is an innovative micro-bakery that creates delicious and visually-striking pastries, cakes, and drinks with an emphasis on tropical and local ingredients, carrying a healthy selection of vegan and gluten-free options. Passion Flour is a team effort with spouses Ryder––the baker––and Jade––the manager and cake decorator––working together to create something unique. Passion Flour has an identity rooted in kindness and cooperation with other artists and vendors within the New Orleans community. Starting as a pandemic job-hobby, Passion Flour is now Ryder and Jade’s full-time gig. Contact them via Instagram @passionflourbakedgoods for custom orders, or find them at our Thursday market with some of their classic flavors: Peanut Butter Brownies, Brown Butter Toffee Oat Cookies, and Hibiscus Iced Tea. Try their new fall specials, Honeycrisp Coffee Cake and Cardamom Spiced Pumpkin Loaf!

Recipe of the Week:

Caramelized Baked Persimmons

October marks the beginning of persimmon season! Persimmons are sweet and juicy--almost custardy at their best. If you are going to eat a persimmon raw, make sure it is ripe! Eating an unripe persimmon raw will leave your mouth with a chalky, unpleasant sensation. Bypass this uncertainty with this delicious caramelized, baked persimmon recipe! The natural sugars of the persimmon combine with honey, butter, and cozy spices to make a mouth-watering persimmon dessert that pairs deliciously with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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!