<p>Fall Is Just Around The Corner</p> | October 14, 2024

Fresh & Local:

Fall Is Just Around The Corner

With the peak of summer heat behind us, fall vegetables are making a strong appearance across all three Crescent City Farmers Markets! Leafy greens thrive in cooler weather, which helps them develop tender leaves and prevents bitterness. You can find fresh salad greens at River Queen Greens and mustard greens at the Monica's or Isabel’s Produce. For something unique, check out the hearty luffa squash from VEGGI Co-op! Known for its use as a sponge—an age-old practice dating back to ancient Egypt—it can also be eaten.  Winter squash and pumpkins, great for grills, stir frys, and soups, are available from Fat Cat Farms, Perilloux, L’Hoste Citrus, and Johndales Farm.

As we celebrate new fall vegetables, let’s not forget the fabulous new fruits! Citrus season is starting with satsumas and lemons from L’Hoste Citrus, along with wild lemons from Indian Springs Farmers Association. Sweet, soft persimmons are abundant from L’Hoste Citrus, Fat Cat Farms, Amorphous Gardens, and VEGGI Co-op. And don’t miss the muscadines still hanging in there from Johndales Farm and the Monica's.

Summer favorites like eggplant and sweet peppers will be making their exit over the next few months, so don’t miss your opportunity to enjoy them! Since we are a seasonal and local market, each month looks a little different depending on what can grow and harvest in our region. As we enter fall, it’s one of the best times for a bountiful harvest. Come check it out for yourself!

Picks of the Week:

Citrus Came Early This Year! Hey Satsumas

Cousin to the tangerine and clementine, satsumas have been grown in Japan for over 700 years! In the 1800s, the satsuma made its voyage to the New World and has been cultivated in southeastern Louisiana parishes ever since. This loose-skinned citrus is easy to peel and makes a great on-the-go snack for kids and adults alike. While the first of the season are usually green, rest assured that sugar content testing has verified that they’re plenty sweet now, and those sugars will only develop further as the season progresses. Great for juicing, mimosas, glazes and much more, these bright fruit can be stored for up to a month in the fridge.

Come visit L’Hoste Citrus at the Tuesday Uptown Market and the Thursday Mid-City Market for satsumas, lemons, and more citrus as the season progresses!

Welcome Candlestick Bakery

Please give a warm welcome to Summer Vetch, the pastry virtuoso behind the delicious Candlestick Bakery! Baking since 2009, Summer employs seasonal produce and flavors to lovingly handcraft a range of breakfast pastries and sweet treats, many inspired by her time in France! Located in Hammond, Louisiana, Candlestick Bakery puts an emphasis on sourcing ingredients locally. Their pastries are even made with milk from Sinagra, a Family Dairy in Amite! Summer loves the technical nature of laminated pastries and the substantial impact that time & temperature have on ensuring a great final product! She says, “It's so satisfying to see a croissant develop over the course of the three day process and it feels great when you nail it.” 

Visit Candlestick Bakery at the Sunday City Park Market and treat yourself to an incredible pastry. Ask Summer about catering, too!

Perilloux Pumpkin Patch

Get into the Halloween spirit at Perilloux Farm’s annual pumpkin patch! Just a 35-minute trip from New Orleans, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect jack-o-lantern candidate amongst his 15-acre patch. Mr. Timmy and his family welcome you for hayrides and pumpkin picking with classic orange pumpkins, as well as the farm's unique 100-year-old heirloom creole pumpkins. The patch is open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 9 pm, with a $9 entry fee. For weekday visits and more information, call (985) 652-3672. Boo!

Save The Date: Halloween Markets

The Crescent City Farmers Market is brewing up two Halloween markets this year! Mark your calendars for the annual Halloween celebration at the Sunday City Park Market on 10/27 and then stop by the Thursday Mid-City Market on 10/31 before trick-or-treating. Join us for live music, cooking demos, tastings, and more! Stay tuned for the full line-up—it’s going to be spooktacular!

Vendor of the Week:

Amanda’s Fruit Specialties

Amanda’s Fruit Specialties has been bringing fresh juices and popsicles to the market for over 20 years! Growing up in Nicaragua, she ate fresh fruit like papaya, coconut, and mango daily. She wanted to bring those bright seasonal tastes to New Orleans, packing a punch in her juice and frozen fruit bars. Some of Amanda’s most famed specialties include peach lemonade, watermelon lime, ginger lemonade, and her avocado cream frozen fruit bar - a market fave. Catch Amanda at a Tuesday, Thursday, or occasional Sunday market to grab one of these sweet treats!

Recipe of the Week:

Zesty Satsuma Salad

As satsumas make their vibrant debut at the market, it's the perfect time to enjoy a bright and zesty Satsuma Salad! This refreshing dish combines the sweet juiciness of satsumas from L’Hoste Citrus, the rich flavor of honey from Powers Beekeepers, and the aromatic touch of basil from VEGGI Co-op. With these fresh ingredients (all at the Tuesday market this month!), you can whip up a salad that’s as flavorful as it is simple to prepare!