Late summer and the turn of the season brings delicious offerings like muscadines, the last of the pawpaws, and finally — the awaited return of fall greens like kale, collards, romaine, and more. While summer crops are still in abundance, head to Buncombe County farmers tailgate markets to see and taste the changing of the season for yourself.
Muscadine grapes are another fruit native to the Southeast, and have long been cherished by North Carolinians for their sweet, tart flavor and soft texture. Although they are a grape, the muscadines you find at farmers markets this time of year are a little different than the kind you’re used to seeing in an average grocery store. Muscadines are noticeably bigger in size, with a thick skin and large seeds inside.
Muscadines and scuppernongs (the white grape variety) are often used to make wine, but they can easily be enjoyed when eaten by themselves, added to a charcuterie board, baked into a pie or cake, made into a jelly, or even roasted with a bit of balsamic vinegar and fresh thyme! For now, you can find muscadine grapes from Lee’s One Fortune Farm (Asheville City, Black Mountain, North Asheville, River Arts District, West Asheville, and East Asheville markets) and Tuckers Garden (West Asheville and North Asheville markets) but expect more farms to have them in coming weeks!
While we featured pawpaws a few weeks ago, this may be your last chance to snag this seasonal native fruit. Creasman Farms had pawpaws this past week at Asheville City, North Asheville, Black Mountain, and West Asheville markets and you may still find some at the East Asheville Tailgate Market from other vendors.
Have you missed some of your usual leafy greens? Many tender greens like lettuce and spinach have a harder time growing in the heat and prefer cooler temperatures to germinate and flourish. Some even get sweeter the colder it gets! Find an array of fall greens coming in — collards, kale, head lettuce including romaine, mustards, mazuna, arugula and more. Find collards and romaine from Seven Seeds Farm at Asheville City Market and find the first harvest fall harvest of kale from Flying Cloud Farm at River Arts District and North Asheville markets.
One variety of green in season right now is sweet potato greens, the abundant vines sprouting from the more commonly consumed tuber part of the plant. Though sweet potato greens are common in Asian or African cooking, they aren’t widely utilized in the U.S. These greens have a softer texture than collards or kale when cooked and lack the sharp flavor of spinach or Swiss chard. You can easily use them in recipes that call for spinach or other cooked greens.
To make sauteed sweet potato greens, start by trimming the leaves and smaller stems from the thicker main stem, if they are still attached. Wash and dry them. Get sweet potato greens from Lee’s One Fortune Farm or try this dish with other greens available from farmers right now — note that different greens may need longer cooking times. In a frying pan over medium heat, add two to three tablespoons of butter or ghee (ghee can be found from Goddess Ghee at the North Asheville Tailgate Market), one diced onion and two chopped garlic gloves. Cook for a few minutes until translucent then add the sweet potato leaves and small stems by the handful, letting each batch wilt slightly before adding more. Add a little water or broth, about one fourth cup, and a tablespoon of honey if you like a slightly sweet flavor addition. Add salt to taste and cook the greens until they are completely wilted, about 5 – 10 minutes.
Also spotted at markets in recent weeks: pawpaws, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, cucumbers, okra, beets, cabbage, carrots, kohlrabi, green beans, kale, mushrooms, eggplant, okra, potatoes, onions, scallions, peaches, plums, nectarines, melons, early apples, Asian pears, sweet corn and fresh herbs. Markets offer an abundance of farm-fresh eggs and meats, including chicken, pork, beef, and lamb. You can also get bread, cheese, pastries, fermented products, drinks, and prepared foods. Find more details about farms and markets throughout the region, including hours and location, in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide.