Bringing in Black History Month! | February 6, 2023

Fresh & Local:

Bringing in Black History Month!

Happy Black History Month from CCFM! To celebrate, each week we're sharing our favorite books about Black people's contributions to food and agriculture! We are starting off our list with books about race and food justice, to help us better understand the challenges Black food producers have faced historically and today.

• This Little Light of Mine: The Life of Fannie Lou Hamer by Kay Mills is a stunning biography of Black Civil Rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. In addition to advocating for Black voting rights and food sovereignty in our neighboring state of Mississippi, Hamer founded the Freedom Farm Cooperative, which included 1,500 food-producing families at its height. Hamer is someone you should know if you're interested in the history of the food justice movement in the South.
• Black, White, and Green: Farmers Markets, Race, and the Green Economy by Alison Hope Alkon teaches us how farmers markets can affect environmental and food systems change. By being cognizant of the ways race and class factor into food justice, we can move towards equitable food access in our communities.
• Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm's Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land by Leah Penniman is chock-full of need-to-know information for starting a farm business, as well as regenerative farming techniques with roots along the Diaspora. At once a celebration of Black agricultural history and a call to carry on the torch, Penniman's book is a must-have for gardeners and farmers who seek to pay homage to those who stewarded the land before us.

Picks of the Week:

New Market Match Partner Alert!

We’re so excited to announce that our signature nutrition incentive program, Market Match, has added a new partner location: the New Orleans Food Co-Op! Beginning February 12th, shoppers at the New Orleans Food Co-Op will receive 50% off fresh fruits and vegetables when they use their SNAP/ EBT card.

The New Orleans Food Co-op is a member-owned cooperative, meaning it’s 100% owned by people in the community! Member-ownership is an investment in the cooperative system, local farms and businesses, and sustainable production methods. Click here to learn more about Market Match and all of our partners!

Love at Market

It’s February, which means Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Shop at Crescent City Farmers Market to find the perfect gift for your loved ones. Our vendors offer handmade candles and soaps, delicious sweet treats, and fresh ingredients for a love-crafted meal. Prefer to gift a great experience? Purchase a token gift bag to invite your loved one for a stroll through the market! No matter how you celebrate Valentine’s Day, CCFM has what you need. Keep an eye out on our social media–either Instagram or Facebook–for Valentine's Day gift ideas.

Cajun Growers is Back!

Tomayto, tomahto–however you prefer to say it, Cajun Growers knows what you’re talking about! Long-time CCFM vendors Tad and Lillie Ledet have made their long-awaited return to the Tuesday market! In tow, they’ll have a selection of hydroponic vine-ripened tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, and crisp cukes all the way from Cutoff, LA. Dedicated Saints fans, their tent is hard to miss. Just look for the ol’ black and gold! Don’t dilly-dally though, they sell out quickly!

Vendor of the Week:

Know Dat Grow Dat

Mike Beauchamp of Know Dat Grow Dat is a firm believer that we are what we eat! After 44 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Mike shifted his focus towards growing microgreens to educate and encourage people to take more control over their own nutrition. While gardening at Hollygrove Market and Farm, Mr. Michael Beauchamp and Mr. Nelson Richardson connected and became business partners. Out of this, Know Dat Grow Dat was born!

Know Dat Grow Dat is an urban garden that produces flowers and microgreens using sustainable growing techniques. Filled with flavor and vitamins, microgreens enhance any meal! Mr. Mike is also a member of Delgado's Big Band, where he hones his saxophone skills on alto and baritone saxes, and the Farm Service Agency County Committee for Urban Agriculture, where he serves as an elected official. Find Know Dat Grow Dat on Instagram and at the Tuesday Uptown and Thursday Mid-City markets.

Recipe of the Week:

Sweet Potato Casserole

This Black History Month, we are featuring staff-favorite recipes with roots in the African diaspora! To start off, we’re making this Sweet Potato Casserole recipe, featuring fresh sweet potatoes, honey, milk, and eggs from market. Each bite of this casserole is creamy and delicious, topped with a mouthwatering honeyed pecan crumble. Add a scoop of ice cream for a real treat!

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!

King Cake of the Week:

J&D Blueberries

For this week’s King Cake of the Week, we’re featuring J&D Blueberry Farms’ Blueberry King Cake! The soft, sweet blueberry filling, scrumptious sugar coating, and fluffy, flaky dough are a truly mouthwatering combination. Other available king cake flavors include lemon, apple, chocolate, cream cheese, bavarian cheese, cherry, strawberry, and blueberry. Pick up a king cake at market or get any of their delicious King Cakes shipped straight to you for a flat fee! Order online or by direct messaging J&D Blueberry Farms on Facebook. Click here to view CCFM’s 2023 King Cake Guide to see all king cakes available at market!