The warmer days are bringing more and more products from local farms at area farmers tailgate markets. Cauliflower, cherries, broccoli, and baby summer squash have been spotted along with strawberries, sugar snap peas, rhubarb, and much much more!
Over at the Henderson County Tailgate Market, you can find all kinds of farm offerings every Saturday morning, 7am to noon, at 100 N. King Street in Hendersonville. For example, Hoot’s Produce based in Flat Rock, has lettuce, arugula, spinach, beets, broccoli, and cauliflower with more vegetables to come as the season goes on. Want herbs? Barry Farms’ selection includes basil, nasturtium, Italian flat-leafed parsley, cilantro, dill, chives, and more. If it’s plants you’re after, Hill’s Farm sells wheat grass, tomatoes, celery, gourds, and herbs such as lime basil and red mammoth basil. In addition to her plants, Melinda Hill, owner of Hill’s Farm, is proud of the upcycled T-shirt from Goodwill that she used to craft a fake crow for her garden to deter birds from eating her hand-planted seed. Also at the Henderson County Tailgate Market, Lila’s Garden, a hydroponic farm in Hendersonville, sells microgreen sprouts, a “super food” packed with the same amount of nutrients in one sprout as in pounds of vegetables. Suggestions for the sprout use includes salad and soups, or you can eat them plain.
New summer favorites have been spotted at Asheville City Market, including fennel and garlic scapes courtesy of Paper Crane Farm (pictured above), Blue Ribbon Farm’s baby summer squash, and sugar snap peas brought to you by Blue Meadow Farms. And, what’s more summery than cherries? McConnell Farms had their cherries this past Saturday, so get your cherry pie recipes ready!
Find fresh spring cabbage at the Historic Marion Tailgate Market, which also reports that broccoli, lettuce, rhubarb, and onions are still plentiful. Marion market vendor Earth Echoes Herbal CSA has herb spreads for sale, with butter and herbs as well as sweet and savory cream cheese spread.
On Tuesdays in Franklin, from 3:30 to 7 pm, the Cowee Farmers Market sets up at the Cowee School (51 Cowee School Drive). Vendors are selling a wide variety of greens, green onions, asparagus, Shiitake mushrooms, eggs, and local greenhouse-grown tomatoes and cucumbers. Flowering plants, vegetable and herb starts, shrubs and other botanical gems are also available.
For a complete list of Appalachian Grown™ certified tailgate markets browse our online Local Food Guide or online farmers market calendar.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
