Farmers Market Minute
Farmers Market Minute
Jason Saul
Each week on the Farmers Market Minute, community development specialist and foodie Richard McCarthy explores the variety of people and produce who make up this delicious region's farmers markets -- from uptown to downtown, Covington to Gretna.
The Future is Food
About a decade ago, I was visiting a particularly beautiful part of Kentucky to help a community grow its farmers market. Dinner involved farm-fresh items on a comfortably rustic ranch, and thoughtful dinner discussion was led by original and influential author Wendell Berry. The thrust of his talk was the future. With New Year’s Eve approaching, I’ve been thinking about Berry’s comments. He described how he keeps hearing that future will be about technology or information or some other shiny
Dec 29, 2012
1 min
Johnnie A. Clark, Jr.
I recently learned that Johnnie A. Clark, Jr . had died in his sleep at 90 years of age. For longtime farmers market shoppers, you may recall the retired postman turned farmer, who held court on Saturday mornings among his offerings of cut carrots and greens. A real gentleman, Mr. Clark could also be fire and brimstone when issues of social justice and dignity for ordinary people are at stake. Unfortunately, Katrina ended his farmers market presence, but his legacy is worth emulating: He retired
Dec 22, 2012
1 min
Chanukah
As the Jewish community approaches the final nights of Chanukah, I am reminded of a recent conversation I had with Domenica’s Alon Shaya . Of course, his interpretation of traditional Jewish holiday meals is now legendary. The Israeli-born Alon was browsing market stalls for root crops. He described to me how he had recently catered a kosher wedding, and then stepped forward to say, “The way I see it, Kosher is not only among the original health codes (pre-dating our Health Department by a few
Dec 15, 2012
1 min
Floral Wreaths
Folsom flower farmer Shirley Randon battles the elements each week to harvest and assemble gorgeous nose gays and full-on bouquets of flowers. Knowledge of these challenges makes me appreciate her delicate, hand-crafted, dried floral holiday wreaths. Have you seen them? Whereas contemporary wreaths feature vivid synthetic colors, Shirley’s are beautifully faded by the sun. These are colors we rarely see any more in commerce. Imagine a ring of dried cosmos, bachelor's buttons, sunflowers and more
Dec 8, 2012
1 min
Thursdays Are Different
I spent this past Thursday afternoon zipping from one farmers market to the other. Whereas Saturday markets are altogether larger gatherings with greater choice, our city’s Thursday evening markets offer some surprises. In Mid City at American Can, I was thrilled to find Brussels sprouts on offer: Beautiful, robust Brussels sprouts so fresh I ate a few raw while on site. And then there’s the Marketplace at Armstrong Park that operates alongside Jazz in the Park. There, I found double-yolk eggs.
Dec 1, 2012
1 min
Shop Small
Nestled between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is Small Business Saturday. Originally started by American Express, this national day to shop small and locally fits so nicely with farmers markets. After all, you can’t get much smaller than the family who farms and sells their products directly. If you’re like most Thanksgiving survivors, today you’re not necessarily dreaming of your next big meal. Instead, the theme is eat light. However, while you’re sifting through leftovers and holiday shopping
Nov 24, 2012
1 min
Sandy
If you’re storm damaged like me, you get drawn into every radio interview you hear about Hurricane Sandy: The disbelief, the frustration, and the delays. In every instance, I think to myself: “This sounds oh, so familiar.” Also familiar is what I’m hearing from farmers market organizers in New York. Fishing families were hammered hard; farmers less so. It has also been gratifying to learn that some of Manhattan’s hard edges are softening. Trauma is heeding to people’s need for gentleness. In
Nov 17, 2012
1 min
Fragility Of Citrus
In late October, there are many reasons for which to be grateful. Among them, there is the arrival of Louisiana satsumas. This year, their arrival is bittersweet. By this, I am not referring to their taste. If anything, this might be the sweetest October crop I can remember. However, there will be far fewer Louisiana citrus products on offer at markets, roadside stands and stores than in previous years. Yes, Isaac did a number on our Plaquemines Parish citrus farmers. What might this mean for
Oct 27, 2012
1 min
Farmers Market Minute: Turkish Advice
With cold weather approaching, are you taking care of your skin? Farmers market vendors are always talking about healthy skin. After all, they are always outdoors. Recently, I was spellbound whilst listening to celebrated Turkish cook and Covington Farmers Market vendor Nur Pendaz. In conversation with a young mother, she described how important it is to moisturize ones face with “ghee.” I have to admit: I didn’t see this coming. If you’re not familiar with ghee, it's clarified butter used
Oct 13, 2012
1 min
Sankofa’s new home
You know, one of the benefits of open-air farmers markets is their flexibility and mobility. By contrast, brick and mortar retail is land-locked, and thus unable to respond to changes in neighborhoods. Farmers markets are nimble. They can pack up and relocate to sunnier spots. One market that has tested this theory of itinerant living is the Ninth Wards Sankofa Farmers Market. It began life in 2007 as a monthly free-for-all market in Lower Nine. In 2010, it reinvented itself as a weekly farmers
Jul 28, 2012
1 min
Load more