Moving Beyond Cancer in NOLA: Keep on Driving On - from the Crescent City Farmers Market

Keep On Drivin’ On | April 27, 2020

FRESH & LOCAL:

Keep On Drivin’ On

Yesterday was a beautiful day! The weather was fine, the market was brimming with freshly baked breads and first of the season summer squash and blueberries, and the Drive Thru market could not have gone better! Between using WhatsGood to increase customer and vendor convenience in placing and processing orders online, increased safety protocols, and customer participation with our new placard system and staggered arrival times, many customers found there was not even a wait upon arrival!

We are so excited to announce that with these efficiencies under our belt, starting this week, Sunday May 2nd, the Drive Thru market at the Parkway will be a weekly event! Place orders and pay starting Wednesdays at 11pm to Fridays at 11pm at WhatsGood, print and complete your placard, and we’ll see you on Sunday at the Parkway when you pick up your order.

Shopping with SNAP for the first time? Call the Veggie Hotline at (504) 495-1459 to add a SNAP payment option to your account. If you’ve done it before, just select the SNAP option when you check out. Market Match (our program that doubles food stamp dollars spent at market up to $20) does apply!

GOOD FOOD WORD OF THE WEEK:

While Market Umbrella is known for our farmers markets and fresh food access programs, food systems work touches on many social, economic, and environmental issues. The Good Food Word of the Week seeks to shed some light on these parts of our work and the way we talk - demystifying the jargon.

Sustainability

This week’s Good Food Word is Sustainability - Our planet exists in a careful ecological balance with a finite number of resources. The goal of sustainable agriculture is to produce sufficient food for current populations without disrupting the ability of future generations to provide for themselves by preserving the balance of natural resources within ecosystems. Learn more about sustainable agriculture and support the Crescent City Farmers Market to create a sustainable future.

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Feed the Second Line

Market Umbrella is thrilled to announce our partnership with the Krewe of Red Beans to Feed the Second Line. Krewe of Red Beans has had much success with Feed the Front Line which purchases food from local restaurants (many of whom have been devoted market shoppers) and helps to keep service industry staff working. Krewe members then bring it to front line medical workers, those brave doctors, nurses and hospital staff working around the clock to treat COVID-19 patients. Similarly, Feed the Second Line will safely get fresh, local food, pantry staples, prepared foods and household supplies to New Orleans culture bearers - musicians, Social Aid and Pleasure Club members, Mardi Gras Indians, artists, and other cultural figures - and support local farmers at the same time! Learn more and support this work at: feedthesecondline.org

CCFM Box

Crescent City Farmers Market has partnered with Top Box Foods and Refresh Farmers Market to provide you with healthy, local, and affordable food delivered to your home. The $40 CCFM box contains 8-12 items from CCFM vendors, mostly produce, and is offered twice weekly. We’re working on increasing the number available as they’ve been flying off the shelf but you can follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for updates on when sales launch. Order online at Top Box Foods New Orleans. When you get your box, tag us in a pic of all the great dishes you make with it - we love to see the fruits and veggies in action!

Market Match, our program that doubles SNAP dollars spent, does apply so SNAP users can purchase the box for only $20! Choose “pay at pickup” and Top Box will contact you directly to process your SNAP payment.

Market Umbrella Makes It a SNAP!

VENDOR OF THE WEEK:

Isabel’s Tamales and Produce

Beloved CCFM vendor, Isabel, and the rest of the Mendez brood grow a variety of produce on their family farm in Independence, Louisiana. Right now, you’ll find her stocked up with summer squash, eggs and strawberries. We’d be remiss, if we didn’t mention her crowd-pleasing homemade tamales, breakfast burritos, tortilla chips and salsas. You can place orders with her via What’s Good for our Sunday drive thru market. So, go ahead. Get all that... and a bag of chips!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK:

White Bean and Spring Vegetable Stew

Even though we’re all stuck inside, spring has sprung all around us! This stew is a sweet reminder that we can still enjoy a taste of spring. The recipe calls for pantry staples like beans, garlic, and frozen peas. (If you don’t have dried beans, canned beans work just as well). Radishes and other springy vegetables give this stew some crunch and color. If you don’t have all of the veggies that the recipe suggests, don’t fret! We’re sure it will be just as good with less ingredients or some substitutions. Bon appétit!

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!