Fall Will Be Late | September 20, 2021

Fresh & Local:

Fall Will Be Late

If you are a regular at the Crescent City Farmers Market, you know that the cooler temps of fall bring the return of crisp leafy greens, persimmons, the first of the satsumas and soon we’ll see the brassicas - broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc. Unfortunately, the damage caused by Hurricane Ida has not only ruined many of our farmers' ability to harvest late summer crops, but has also destroyed fall harvest’s first plantings back as well. Late summer crops, like eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes, were largely destroyed or damaged by the severe winds and flooding during the storm. As farmers work to assess and repair the damage caused by the storm, they must also reseed and completely replant many of their fall crops, which will put them weeks behind their normal schedule. Until these replanted crops reach maturity, produce offerings at market will remain limited. We encourage our community to continue to support the market by shopping with our vendors who have been able to return and by donating to the Crescent Fund so that we can get our vendors who suffered the most damage back to market as soon as possible.

Picks of the Week:

DSNAP Begins

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) received federal approval to begin the virtual Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP). Due to ongoing concerns related to COVID-19, DSNAP applications will be handled by phone and benefits cards will be mailed to approved applicants.

Residents will be assigned a day, based on the first letter of their last name, to apply and be interviewed for DSNAP. Current SNAP recipients are not eligible for DSNAP benefits. For questions about the DSNAP application process please contact MUSNAP@MarketUmbrella.org.

How to Apply

On their designated day, residents will call the LAHelpU Customer Service Center at 1-888-524-3578 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Translation services are available.

Applicants must select the following menu options during the call:

1st Option - Select Language
2nd Option - Press 6
3rd Option - Press 1

Once on phone with interviewer they will:

1. Verify the applicant’s identity and residency.
2. Obtain information about income, resources and disaster-related expenses.

Residents are encouraged, but not required, to pre-register before calling to apply for DSNAP. Pre-registration is not the same as applying over the phone. All residents must call to apply and interview for benefits in order to be considered.

Most applicants will be told on the phone immediately after completing their application and interview whether they have been approved to receive DSNAP and, if so, the amount of benefits they will receive. Applicants will also receive a letter by mail, confirming the eligibility decision made on their application.

Application Schedule

Some Like It Hot

The weeks after the storm have everyone playing catch-up, and it sometimes feels like there isn’t enough time in the day to get life back in order. If you’re scrambling for a meal we’ve got you covered. As we all work on Ida recovery, markets will host guest prepared food vendors, so come hungry! On Thursdays and Sundays, Hippie Kitchen is coming in hot with delicious items such as a butternut lentil soup and their famous super roll. Additionally, keep an eye out for Friend’s Seafood popping up on Tuesday and Clairly Vegan rounding out the week this Sunday. The preorder window for Sunday is open Wednesday through Friday weekly.

Farmers Feeling the Loss

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, local farmers are struggling to make ends meet because their crops were damaged. “There’s just no way to entirely protect against the elements when you have intense rains and winds,” Cordelia Heany, Executive Director of Market Umbrella said. Charise Poche with Poche Family Farm out of Independence, Louisiana says, “Emotionally it has been difficult. This is our livelihood. Not something we do on the side. Watching things you are invested in get destroyed is emotionally hard.” A special emergency fund has been established to help local farmers. Market Umbrella is collecting donations through the Crescent Fund - a relief fund where all contributions are distributed directly to CCFM farmers, fishers, and food producers. Click here to make a donation to the Crescent Fund today. And watch the full news coverage on this story at WGNO.com.

Photo provided by Cajun Growers in Cut Off, LA - one of the hardest hit regions in the State

Vendor of the Week:

Growers Impacted by Ida Face Difficult Decisions

For many of our growers it is not easy to rebuild after experiencing the damage caused by Hurricane Ida. After having whole greenhouses blown down or fields flooded, many of our farmers south and west of New Orleans are assessing how long it will take to return to market after experiencing severe damage to their farms and homes. For Ann and Greg Sanamo who own Tomott’s Cajun Farm in Larose, LA, there won’t be a tomato season this year. Their neighbors, Tad and Lillie Ledet who own and operate Cajun Growers, a hydroponic farm in Cut Off, Louisiana, are in a similar situation. Typically, Tomott’s and Cajun Growers are able to supply the market with beautiful tomatoes and peppers November through May, but this year neither will have a market season. In an effort to help farmers rebuild, Market Umbrella is collecting donations through the Crescent Fund - a relief fund where all contributions are distributed directly to CCFM farmers, fishers, and food producers. Click here to make a donation to the Crescent Fund today and help vendors recover and return to market.

Recipes of the Week:

New Orleans Bread Pudding

As our community works to rebuild post Hurricane Ida, there will be fewer fresh produce options at the markets for weeks to come. However, bread and eggs are still readily available, so why not make some bread pudding to help recover?

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!