There are farmers coming from all over Louisiana to a stand near students every Tuesday and Saturday. The Crescent City Farmer’s Market is filled each week with families, students, locals and visitors who come to taste and shop for delicious homegrown and prepared food.
The Farmer’s Market celebrated its “Re-10th Anniversary” Sept. 30. It was technically the market’s 11th anniversary, but several people came to the Magazine Street location to make up for last year’s canceled celebration.
The event included the presentation of the first shipment of seafood, vegetables and flowers to the recently re-opened Commander’s Palace. The Vespa Club of New Orleans rode off with the shipment and delivered it to the restaurant.
Before Hurricane Katrina, there were four locations at which the market was held. Now, the market takes place on Tuesdays at 200 Broadway St. at Uptown Square from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Saturdays at 700 Magazine St. in the William. B. Reily parking lot from 8 a.m. to noon.
“It is a great community event,” said Market Manager Erin Eastern. “It’s nice to meet people from the area. It’s a good opportunity to connect with them.”
The Farmer’s Market is part of the Economics Institute, which operates out of the Twomey Center of Loyola. The Economics Institute’s goals are to work for the rights of independent workers, families and small businesses in the New Orleans area, who work in the food and agriculture industry, according to their Web site.
Loyola’s contribution to the market is a part of its Jesuit values of social justice and opportunity for all, their Web site says. The market utilizes these values in their mission, which is to build support for non-corporate businesses to allow them to grow and prosper.
Walking by the numerous different food stands at the market, gossip and laughter can be heard among vendors, volunteers and customers. Shoppers bring their dogs and children, who add to the laid back and welcoming environment.
“It’s nice to talk to people about their food who know what they’re talking about,” said Eastern.
Most of the vendors contact the market and ask to sell their food, and some are recruited from calls made from the market to farms in the areas surrounding New Orleans.
The vendors all have their own distinct products and specialties ranging from Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, shrimp, apples, tamales, sprouts, desserts, cheese, hot sauce and kettle corn.
On most market days there is a Cajun food stand where alligator food products and live crabs are sold. At the Dobie Enterprises’ stand there are samples of the Bloody Mary mix made in Mount Hermon, La.
Each month, a local restaurant features the market’s food for the Tabasco Brand sponsored Green Plate special. For October, Commander’s Palace is serving their food for the Green Plate special, and next month will be the Karma Kitchen.
The market is also vegetarian friendly. All prepared foods sold there are vegetarian. There are no cooked meats at the market – the only meat that is sold is frozen.
Volunteers are welcome at the Crescent City Farmer’s Market, Eastern said. He urges any students or community members who would like to volunteer to call and sign up. All information and updates for the market can be found at their Web site, www.crescentcityfarmersmarket.org.
Sally Tunmer can be reached at [email protected].
Vendors meet to sell everything from fish to flowers every Tuesday and Saturday morning at The Crescent City Farmer’s Market. The market is a project of the Economics Institute and Twomey Center. (Anne Fisher)
