Moving Beyond Cancer in NOLA: CCF Market Morsels

Spring has Sprung! | March 19, 2018

Fresh & Local:

We know it is spring when we welcome back to market in all their understated splendor, the alliums - the plant genus that includes onions and their piquant relatives chives, leeks, and garlic with all their accompanying foliage and blossoms. Favorites at this time of year include spring onions, the little golf-ball- sized fresh onions, just smaller less mature versions of a traditional bulb onion. The mild and versatile leek somehow collects and traps all that soil between its delicate layers, but we defeat it by chopping it first, then washing the cut pieces. And one should not overlook the delicacy of scapes - that connective shoot of onions, garlic or leeks that leads to the flower bulbs, and yields a tender vegetable with subtle savory flavor. Use the flowers of any allium for lovely, edible garnish. Later on, garlic and onions will be cured and their familiar papery skins will protect them for storage through the year, but for now, we welcome back these fresh and vibrant essential ingredients.

Picks of the Week:
Best Berries

Best berries in town y’all. We are hitting peak strawberry season in South Louisiana and CCFM has three fabulous strawberry growers: Johndale Farm, Mendez Farm, and Poche Family Farm. At the market you can get 4 delectable varieties - festival, frontier, camino real (most common), and radiant, festivals being the sweetest. This is the first year you will find frontier berries which are huge and exceptionally sweet for their size. Tried and true, opt for the market fav - festival! But rest assured, with the recent cold snap all strawberries are sweet as can be. You can find $3-4/pints or 2 for $5 at all of our markets, keep an eye out for discounted flats! Now is the time to stock up for your canning projects.

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)

The Senior FMNP supports seniors age 60 and over that meet the income requirements with booklets of vouchers worth $20 to purchase produce, which in turn supports our local farmers.

Seniors may apply at one of the locations listed below between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Monday, March 19 - Arthur Monday Recreation Center, 1111 Newton St.
Tuesday, March 27 - Daughters of Charity - New Orleans East, 5630 Read Blvd.
Wednesday, March 28 - Andrew “Pete” Sanchez Community Center, 1616 Caffin Ave.
Tuesday, April 3 - My Redeemer Baptist Church, 2829 Washington Ave.

Booklets are limited and issued on a first come, first served basis so it is important that you apply as soon as you can. They’re usually mailed in early summer and expire on November 30th. Only pre-approved farmers can take them, but don’t worry, most of our vendors are ready for you. You’ll find them by the big yellow FMNP signs at their tents.

Contact Catholic Charities, the organization that processes these applications, at (504) 245-7207 or www.ccano.org with questions or for more information.

Bean Madness

It is here, the Sweet 6-bean! The third round of Bean Madness is taking off. While the rest of America is obsessing over college basketball, we in New Orleans are debating our Red Beans. The tournament is modeled after college basketball’s March Madness and determines through blind taste tests the best red beans in the city. All proceeds will go to 2 non-profits, Anna’s Place and Make Music Nola! We’ll be hosting double blind taste tests at all Thursday and Saturday markets this month. Tastings are free and open to everyone - Come taste and vote!

Vendor of the Week:
Indian Springs Farmers Cooperative Association

Composed of over 30 individual black-owned farm operations in Mississippi, this cooperative has been a vendor at CCFM since the beginning. Mr. Ben Burkett and Mr. Pen Travis attend Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday markets year round along with other co-op members bringing a wide assortment of produce aggregated from members at their centralized facility in Petal, MS. This facility is also used for light processing so you can find chopped frozen okra, chopped frozen greens, chopped turnips, and sweet potato sticks - increasing convenience and extending the season for a multitude of products. Come visit their stand now for a great selection of winter and spring crops including sweet potatoes, broccoli, spinach, collards, kale, cabbage, green garlic and green onions.

Tuesday’s Green Plate Special:
La Cocinita Food Truck

La Cocinita is popping up at the Green Plate Special for the month of March. Their fresh cuisine features tamales, tacos, and make your own bowls and an amazing variety of salsas. Enjoy them for breakfast and lunch every Tuesday at 200 Broadway Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Recipe of the Week:
Strawberries in Wine with Mascarpone Cream

As French chef Mimi Thorisson’s states, “so many strawberries, so little time!” Now is the time to jump on the berry train as our Northshore strawberries are in peak season. Pro-tip: use Country Girl Creamery’s yogurt cheese (strained yogurt) instead of mascarpone cheese. It’s warming up and this refreshing sweet treat will make you fall in love with Louisiana berries all over again.

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!