Happy New Year! | January 1, 2024

Fresh & Local:

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! For many of us, the new year offers the opportunity to reflect and renew or begin healthful self-care habits. The farmers market is a bountiful resource of good-for-you options. Eating local helps to support local economies and producers, strengthening your community and the planet as a whole. Freshly picked produce not only tastes better, but it is more nutrient dense, making the farmers market a one-stop shop for new years' nourishment.

Many cultures and countries have particular "lucky" New Year's Day foods, and the southern United States is no exception. Greens, pork, and cornbread, as well as black-eyed peas, cowpeas, or beans, are some of the typical symbolic foods served on New Year's Day. "Peas for pennies, greens for dollars, and cornbread for gold,". Pork is considered a sign of prosperity in some cultures because pigs root forward, this is why many southern New Year's Day dishes contain pork or ham. Cabbage and sweet potatoes frequently join the New Year's Day table. Add a bit of luck to start off 2024 with local, healthy food.

Picks of the Week:

It’s a New Year, so We Eat Cabbage

May the new year bring you peace, love, health, and happiness. It’s a new year in Louisiana, so we are going to eat cabbage today. Cabbage is related to the Brassica family (kale, broccoli and cauliflower) and is packed with vitamins and fiber. Break out a heavy pot for this Smothered Cabbage with Smoked Sausage, or get your greens in this smothered cabbage and greens. Whichever way you prefer to cook it, you are in luck because cabbage weathers the winter months in Louisiana, you can expect to find them at market for months to come. Happy New Year!

January Marketeers Meetup

Bring out the kiddos and join us this Sunday, January 7 at the market for a kid-friendly activity! Meet us at the More Than a Market Tent. Marketeers Club is a free membership program for market shoppers under the age of 12. Members are invited to participate in monthly market activities and receive a special token of appreciation during their birthday month—$5 in tokens to spend at the market! To enroll your kids in Marketeers Club, fill out this simple membership form.

CCFM King Cake Guide

While the rest of the country is settling in for winter, here in Louisiana we’re gearing up for Carnival season! You know what that means… King cakes! Starting Sunday, January 7, vendors will have King cakes of all sorts and kinds for you to sample. Keep an eye out for our full King Cake Guide detailing pre-order options and all offerings you can expect to find at market.

Better Than Ever in 2024

Tips to reach your New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Start with small changes: Instead of a diet overhaul, make small changes to what you eat and drink that will work for you now and in the future.
2. Take one day at a time: Sometimes things don’t go as planned, even with the best of intentions. If you miss one day or one milestone for your goal, don’t give up!
3. Be active your way: Pick activities you enjoy! If you focus on having fun or learning a new skill that interests you, you will be more likely to stick with it.
4. Team up: Find a friend with similar goals—swap healthy recipes and be active together. Staying on track is easier with support and a cheerleader.
5. Celebrate successes: Think of each change as a “win” as you build positive habits and find ways to reach your goals. Reward yourself−you’ve earned it!

Vendor of the Week:

Perilloux Farms

Mr. Timmy Perilloux, a market favorite, is back at all three CCFMs! A native of the river parishes, Mr. Timmy lives and farms in Montz, Louisiana. Every fall, he hosts hay rides and sells his family’s 100-year-old heirloom native pumpkins. His larger-than-life produce encompasses almost everything from beets to carrots to cauliflower bigger than your head. Come on out to any CCFM to sample from Mr. Timmy’s produce-laden truck!

Recipe of the Week:

Hoppin John with Collards

Bring some good luck and wealth into your new year by making this delicious Hoppin John with collards! Whether you believe in the superstition or not, you’ll be glad to start your new year with such a hearty, warming dish. This recipe from Savory Nature is seasoned with a ham hock, the trinity plus the pope, and just a bit of cayenne pepper. Black eyed pea season is sadly behind us, but you can certainly pick up your collard greens from market. Several vendors carry greens, check who will be at market each week by clicking here.