Recognize Juneteenth | June 19, 2023

Fresh & Local:

Recognize Juneteenth

Today is Juneteenth, an important holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth is a time to take stock and acknowledge the inequities in our food system. The ancestors of the people who created the agricultural industry are some of the most impacted by food insecurity. Following Emancipation, the USDA required collateral to receive a farm loan. Many states enacted restrictive black codes, predatory lending practices, and generations of underfunding made it incredibly difficult for Black farmers to own, cultivate, and prosper from their land. Black communities preserved their traditions of growing, harvesting, and preparing food within an expansive cultural practice. Learn about the significance of Juneteenth for food sovereignty for Black folks here.

The cultural legacies of okra, beans, melons, rice, yams, and many other foods brought across the Atlantic are shared on tables today. Okra and melons have already made their seasonal debut, you can count on sweet potatoes too. Find them with the Indian Springs Farmers Association, a collaborative of Black-owned farms in Mississippi, at the Tuesday and Thursday Markets. Support Black farmers by shopping directly from their tables, where you can engage with the people who produced the food from the earth for you.

Picks of the Week:

River Queen Greens now accepts
EBT payment online

Certified Naturally Grown veggie farm on the West Bank, River Queen Greens (RQG) is the first direct retail farm in the country authorized to accept SNAP online! As Market Match partners, this is a major accomplishment for the program. They collaborated with government and third-party payment agencies. RQG piloted the program so farms could offer local food to online customers using EBT. Thanks to the Market Match program, the boxes are half-priced. River Queen Greens are a trailblazer, who sustainably grows high-quality produce for our diverse community and has worked hard to expand access and remove barriers for shoppers using EBT. They’re out of season for the summer, but we look forward to their fall return!

Greaux the Good increases
current partner count to 12!

The Greaux the Good program has recently added two new partners: Alexandria Farmers Market and Natchitoches Farmers Market. The current total of statewide Greaux the Good partners is twelve! To view the full list of current partners, click here.

Greaux the Good provides funding and administrative support to Louisiana farmers markets, farm stands, and other eligible entities to create or expand a market match program in their communities. Shoppers that utilize Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and/or Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) benefits will receive a dollar-for-dollar match for dollars spent at Greaux the Good partner locations. This empowers families to purchase more fresh local foods and generates more business for local farmers.

To read the full press release, please visit greauxthegoodla.org/pressreleases.

Greaux the Good is Greauxing fast! Please visit the Greaux the Good website and follow Greaux the Good on social media pages for the latest updates: Instagram: @greauxthegoodla | Facebook: Greaux the Good | Twitter: @greauxthegoodla

Eat Local Bike Tour

Gear up for the Eat Local Bike Tour on Thursday, June 22 from 5 pm – 10 pm. This tour celebrates the recognition of A Greener NOLA and Eat Local NOLA campaigns by the New Orleans City Council. It all kicks off at the Thursday Mid-City Market. Riders can shop through an abundance of seasonal delights. Juicy creole and cherry tomatoes and peppers in all shapes and hues, or pick up some blueberries and blackberries for a sweet treat with an energy boost. In addition to fresh and local food, the riders can ask questions and learn from vendors, as well as watch a chef’s demo from Palm and Pine. The group will then travel along the Lafitte Greenway to the SPROUT garden and pollinator meadows to learn from the SPROUT team about what’s in season and how sustainable agriculture is beneficial to the community. Then, the group will stop for coffee on the way to the Faubourg St. John Gardens. The ride finishes at Second Line Brewing, where the group will celebrate with a toast. Second Line will feature food from Waska NOLA, a Latin food truck featuring arepas, patacon, and family-style picada. Volunteer options are available with SPROUT NOLA. Registration is free, but please sign up so we can plan accordingly!

Thank You, Where Y’at!

Thank you to Where Y’at for their sponsorship of this year’s Moonlight Market fundraiser! Where Y’at is New Orleans’ source for the latest news on food, music, sports, and general entertainment around town. They share a monthly printed magazine, daily social updates, and a weekly e-blast. Visitors and locals alike can always be in the know and are sure to find some fun! Through their generous sponsorship, Moonlight Market celebrated fresh food, talented chefs, and a vibrant community of local foodies! Thank you!

Vendor of the Week:

T&R Dairy Farm

Did you know that June is National Dairy Month? What better way to celebrate than by paying a visit to T&R Dairy’s table for some legen-dairy products?! Hailing from Liberty, Mississippi, Mary Regan of T&R is a fourth-generation dairy farmer. She produces aged cheese, yogurt, ricotta, whole milk, and eggs, along with beef yielded from their grass-fed cattle. T&R also specializes in pasteurized milk, flavored cheeses such as jalapeño and habanero, artisan cheeses like Gouda and Havarti, and fresh and cultured butter. Visit T&R Dairy’s table at all of our markets and grab yourself something udderly delicious!

Recipe of the Week:

Baked Ricotta

This baked ricotta recipe from Rosemary Molloy is wonderfully simple, deliciously creamy, and versatile! It can be served hot or cold with crackers, crostini, roasted vegetables, or even on top of pasta. The simple ingredients make this a great recipe when you need to serve something impressive in a pinch! Topped with juicy tomatoes at peak season. Add fresh basil and oregano from market for a tasty dip perfect for your summer soirée.

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!