Summer Vibes | June 18, 2018

Fresh & Local:

Summer Vibes

Conditions are ideal for shrimp, so why are the shrimp small and few, and our seafood vendors missing markets? The answer is complex. As fishermen pay for expensive permits to search in new waters for the big marketable shrimp, and diesel prices are high, costs are increasing. And part of the market factors are shaped by the international trade of seafood. While 90% of the seafood caught in Louisiana is exported, the flip side of that coin is that 90% of the seafood consumed in Louisiana is imported. We take for granted that the shrimp in our po’ boys and crawfish in our pot are local, when chances are they are farmed and imported from countries with very low labor costs, low environmental standards, and little food safety oversight which leads to a very cheap product difficult for coastal fishers to compete with. Check out this recent nola.com article for more about the diminishing industry and its fading traditions. It can be daunting to keep track of the social and environmental impacts in our food systems. To keep it simple, all you need to do is know your fishermen. That way you know you are buying local, high quality seafood, and supporting the local industry. And, when you’re out to eat, ask where the seafood came from. It might not be from around here, but demonstration of demand for local is an important step to progress.

Picks of the Week:

Shop Like a Local

Want to shop at the farmers market but are not familiar with all of the locally available produce and its pricing? Fret not! Stop by the Saturday CBD market between 10-11am to learn how to use seasonal bounty to stretch your food budget while eating fresh local food. Hosted by Crescent City Farmers Market as part of the Eat Local Challenge which challenges you to go 30 days in June eating only foods grown, caught, raised or foraged within a 200 mile radius of New Orleans to raise awareness of the nutritional, economical, environmental and cultural benefits of eating locally sourced foods.

Crescent Fund for Penn Travis

We recently lost one of our beloved vendors, Donnie “Penn” Travis of Indian Springs Farmers Association Cooperative. Mr. Penn was an important part of our market and an absolute treasure in our hearts. If you’d like to make a donation to the family, we will be accepting them through the Crescent Fund. Click here to donate. All donations will go to the family.

Special Appearance by Marjie’s Grill!

This week, we are excited to bring to the Thursday market, a special appearance by Marjie’s Grill! Join us at American Can from 3-7 and find Marjie’s grilling up some delicious lunch and dinner options, which always use locally sourced ingredients. See you there!

Opportunities at Market Umbrella!

Interested in working for Market Umbrella? Through Serve Louisiana we are searching for an Outreach and Social Media Coordinator. The Outreach and Social Media Coordinator will plan, organize, and implement community outreach for the CCFM App. Serve Louisiana members work from September 1st through July 31st.

Here’s what you can expect:
A full time workload
Major Medical Insurance
10 personal days and 6 federal holidays off
In-depth personal and professional development
$5,815 education award upon graduation, which may be applied to student loans or additional education

The deadline to apply is June 30th. Apply to serve here!

Market Umbrella is also seeking volunteers on July 3rd from 1-5 and on July 5th from 8am-3pm. If you are interested please contact info@marketumbrella.org.

Vendor of the Week:

Things ‘n Stuff

With the addition of the Rivertown Farmers Market to the CCFM family came the addition of several great new vendors to our network that we’ll highlight here over the next few weeks. Things ‘n Stuff sells 40+ varieties of jams, jellies and preserves, made from local produce whenever possible which allows some great specialties like mayhaw jelly and a crawfish boil pepper jelly. Garlic jelly may sound like an odd combination of savory and sweet, but is surprisingly addictive and pickles and salsas are fresh and delicious. Arts and crafts are also allowed at the Rivertown Farmers Market to a limited extent and another endeavor of Things ‘n Stuff falls into this category. Here you’ll find quilted bowl cozies, which you nestle a bowl into and protects your hands from hot microwave dishes. You’ll also find quilted casserole covers, tortilla warmers and a variety of other items, in a wide variety of fabrics. Custom orders are welcome. Find them every Saturday at the Rivertown Farmers Market from 9-1.

Tuesday’s Green Plate Special:

South of Eden

South of Eden is a plant based pop-up and new CCFM vendor. Founded in the belief that food should be tasty, satisfying and nourishing, everything on offer is created to be just that. As the Green Plate Special vendor, we’ll be treated to breakfast and lunch made from entirely whole ingredients (SOE uses no commercially processed foods, although she makes her own nut milks and cheeses, nut and grain flours, etc.), locally sourced when possible. You can also pick up vegan breads, sauces, cheeses, dips, jams, ferments and more at the GPS table in June, and then at their regular market table at the Tuesday Uptown Market beginning in July. What a great addition to the market!

Recipe of the Week:

Fried Okra and Heirloom Tomato Salad

Yup, okra is here, and we are ready to dig in. Check out this recipe from Louisiana Cookin that combines crispy fried okra with sweet heirloom tomatoes, both of which are available at all five CCFM markets. This recipe has them topped them with a rich, lemony mix of crème fraîche and buttermilk for a distinctly Southern taste that captures the flavors of the season. Find buttermilk at the Country Girls Creamery or cheat and make your own by adding a tablespoon of either lemon juice or white vinegar to a cup of milk and allowing it to sit for ten minutes to curdle.

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!