***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Market Umbrella receives gift of $25,000 to the Crescent Fund: Hurricane Ida Relief
Funding will be distributed in direct aid to local food producers impacted by the hurricane
***
Media Inquiries:
Cordelia Heaney, Executive Director
(504) 861-4485
New Orleans, Louisiana – October 15, 2021 – Market Umbrella, the local non-profit that operates the Crescent City Farmers Markets and several food access programs, has received a $25,000 contribution from Resy and American Express to their Crescent Fund, a special fund which provides emergency relief to local farmers, ranchers, food producers and fishers who are vendors at area farmers’ markets and also supply ingredients to many New Orleans restaurants. Longtime supporters of the Crescent City Farmers Markets, Chefs and Restaurateurs Emily and Alon Shaya and Nina Compton helped to facilitate the donation.
“Resy and American Express have a long track record of supporting communities in need and supporting its chef partners, and we are happy to be able to make an impact by contributing to the Crescent Fund,” said Hannah Kelly, Vice President of American Express Dining Access & Benefits.
“Emily and I have made the Crescent City Farmers Market an integral part of our daily lives in New Orleans,” said Chef Alon Shaya of Pomegranate Hospitality. “Not only do we count on the incredible farmers and artisans to supply our restaurants, we also count on them to nurture us during our daily meals at home. We are happy to be able to support them in their time of need.”
With over 65 local food producers in their network, Market Umbrella has been able to ascertain that producers have collectively experienced over $1.6 million in damages as a result of Hurricane Ida including crop loss, equipment and property damage, lost sales, and lost wages for employees. To date, the Crescent Fund has garnered a total of over $118,000 in support from over 300 donors including other notable contributions from the Greater New Orleans Foundation, Fidelity Bank, and JV Foods along with commitments from community fundraisers being hosted by restaurants across New Orleans such as Commander’s Palace. Funds are being distributed directly to affected food producers so that they can return with their products to markets and restaurants as soon as possible.
“I made my first trip to The Crescent City Farmers Market within weeks of moving to New Orleans almost seven years ago,” said Chef Nina Compton of Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro. “Since then the farmers, craftsmen, and vendors have become valuable to me at my restaurants and at home. Ida dealt them a devastating blow and I’m looking forward to these good folks receiving this much needed aid.”
The Crescent City Farmers Market and local New Orleans restaurants have maintained a symbiotic relationship for over 25 years - with market vendors supplying restaurants with the finest local, fresh produce, seafood, meats, dairy, and more and restaurants providing in-kind and financial support to Market Umbrella, the non-profit that operates the Crescent City Farmers Markets. In addition to filling local restaurant menus, market vendors are also proud to fill up local pantries. Crescent City Farmers Markets accept the largest amount of SNAP dollars of all farmers markets in the state of Louisiana, and this year will distribute over $125,000 of matching incentives for SNAP shoppers - keeping these federal and private donor dollars circulating within the local economy. The goal of the Crescent Fund is to support recovery of the New Orleans local food system by getting vendors back to market so that they can continue facilitating access to fresh, nutritious food for the New Orleans community - both at home and at their favorite local restaurants.
“In New Orleans, chefs are our rock stars,” said Cordelia Heaney, Executive Director of Market Umbrella. “Crescent City Farmers Market vendors provide the highest quality foods that chefs use to create phenomenal dishes that draw people from all over the world to our city. There is an essential connection between chefs having access to freshly harvested and heirloom-variety produce and artisanal foods through the markets and their ability to continue to offer innovative and exciting meals for diners, and we are so grateful for the support of Chefs and Restaurateurs Emily and Alon Shaya and Nina Compton and American Express and Resy to help vendors impacted by Hurricane Ida and highlight the importance of area food producers’ contributions to our city’s unique food culture.”
Recognizing the impacts of COVID-19 on independent restaurants across the country, American Express and Resy have made several commitments to support restaurants since the beginning of the pandemic, including COVID-safe, heated outdoor experiences like The Yurt Villages for American Express Card Members and American Express Winter Patios in partnership with Major Food Group. To aid the restaurant industry, Resy also provided 100% relief on all Resy fees for 15 months and was the first reservation platform to introduce fee relief, in early March 2020. This gift to the Crescent Fund exemplifies their commitment to supporting vibrant local restaurant scenes and food systems as the South Louisiana area recovers from the destruction of Hurricane Ida.
To contribute to these relief efforts through Market Umbrella’s Crescent Fund, click here or text IDACCFM to 44-321.
###
About Market Umbrella & The Crescent City Farmers Market
Market Umbrella is the nonprofit parent organization for the Crescent City Farmers Market, celebrating over 25 years of serving the greater New Orleans area. Market Umbrella works to directly connect New Orleans consumers with regional farmers, fishers, and food producers; provides community education related to nutrition and healthy eating; and offers a robust array of food access programs. Our work supports Southeast Louisiana foodways and culture, serves as a small business incubator and supporter of the local economy, and provides food access programs to help all New Orleanians have greater access to fresh, local foods. The Crescent City Farmers Market operates weekly farmers markets in the New Orleans area, hosting over 60 local small farmers, fishers, and food producers, and more than 100,000 shoppers annually. While the pandemic has shifted the market experience, Market Umbrella has pivoted around new approaches for engaging the community, including walk-up and drive-thru markets, at-home food box delivery, and food access programming. For information, visit marketumbrella.org or call (504) 861-4488. Facebook: Crescent City Farmers Market / Twitter: @ccfmtweets / Instagram: @crescentcityfarmersmkt
About RESY
RESY is a hospitality technology platform that powers restaurants around the world and a consumer-facing reservation platform for passionate diners. Since its inception in 2014, Resy has created best-in-class software that elevates dining experiences and connects restaurants to a growing network of highly-engaged diners, with the powerful backing of American Express. Resy is a go-to destination for restaurant discovery, exclusive access, original content, and chef-driven culinary events. The amazing world of restaurants is just a few taps away in the Resy app and at Resy.com.
