The winter season is fully upon us and most year-round farmers tailgate markets have moved indoors. You’ll find an abundance of storage crops, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, turnips, winter squash, cabbage, and apples. Farms with greenhouses and tunnels will have salad mixes and other lettuces, radishes, and dark leafy greens. And you’ll find meats, eggs, bread, cheese, baked goods, artisan crafts, and more!
If your local farmers market has closed up shop for the winter, it might be a great time to take a road trip and discover a new market. In addition to Asheville City Market (Saturdays, 9am-noon at the Asheville Masonic Temple), winter markets in the area include Black Mountain Winter Market (Saturdays, 10am-3pm), Boone Winter Farmers’ Market (1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, 9am-noon), Columbus Winter Tailgate Market (Saturdays, 9-11am), Franklin Farmers “Winter” Tailgate Market (Saturdays, 10am-noon), Jackson County Winter Farmers Market (Saturdays, 10am-1pm), Rutherford County Winter Farmers Market (3rd Saturday of each month, 9am-noon), Spruce Pine Farmers Market Indoor Winter Market (1st Saturday of each month, noon-4pm), Transylvania Farmers Market (Saturdays, 10am-noon), and Nourish Knoxville’s Winter Market (every other Saturday, 10am-2pm).
Area farmers tailgate markets take place throughout the region. As always, you can find information about farms, tailgate markets, and farm stands, including locations and hours, by visiting ASAP’s online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org.