Farewell to Satsuma Season

It’s time to say farewell to the beloved satsuma, the tiny tangy fruit we’ve been consuming by the dozen since October. While the season is not entirely over, peak season is definitely behind us, and you’ll see fewer and fewer of these sweet, snackable, easy-to-peel fruits at market over the coming weeks.

But fear not, because citrus options still abound at the market with the L’Hostes, Star Nursery, and A&K Citrus still hauling in loads of navel oranges, lemons, grapefruit, mandarins and more. Without freezing temperatures that sometimes disrupt blood orange season this time of year, we happily welcome back arguably the most attractive of all the citrus.

Contrary to popular belief, January is a great season for produce here in New Orleans, with countless colorful crops for sale across all of our markets. You’ll find all the colors of the rainbow on display-- pink radishes, red strawberries, orange carrots, yellow lemons, green kale, purple cauliflower, and so much more. As you say your goodbyes to this year’s satsuma season, make room in your fridge for all the goodies you’ll be finding at the market in the weeks to come!

Field Trip! Meet Me at the Market

It’s the most wonderful time of the year-- Mardi Gras! But it’s also a great time of year for a visit to the farmers market. Our Tuesday market is where we host our Meet Me at the Market field trip programming for local school children, and now through spring is when we have some of the best variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables for them to try. During a Meet Me at the Market field trip students get to meet our regional food producers, taste local produce, and learn about the importance of eating healthy and supporting our local economy. All Title I schools in Orleans Parish qualify for a discounted field trip rate. If you’re interested in a Meet Me at the Market field trip, contact our program manager at caryn@marketumbrella.org

LAST WEEK! Help River Queen Greens get $10,000!

CCFM vendor River Queen Greens, an urban farm located in the Bywater, has applied for a grant for caterpillar tunnels from Cultivating Change, a grant program that supports local farms with funds to upgrade operations, invest in food safety, and implement sustainable technology. The winners will receive up to $10,000 and are determined based on the number of votes they receive over the one month voting period. That means they need your help! The top five projects receive funding, so let’s make one last push to help them get there! Visit this website and vote for them for the last few days of January.