The traditional growing season is coming to an end, but you can still find fresh, local food at area farmers tailgate markets. Though some markets have closed or will soon (heads up: next weekend is your last chance to shop at Black Mountain Tailgate Market), several in Buncombe County offer holiday markets or extended seasons in November and December. In addition to meat, cheese, bread, and seasonal produce, these markets feature local artists and handmade goods like wreaths, artwork, pottery, jewelry, and more.
ASAP Farmers Market: The Saturday morning market at A-B Tech will continue outdoors through the winter with a mix of farm, food, and craft vendors. Market hours remain 9 to noon through Dec. 19, then picks up Jan. 9 to March 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This Saturday, Nov. 14, local health and wellness professionals will join regular market vendors to share resources about how you can stay healthy for the holidays. Special guests include Planting Roots Nutrition, Niki Kordus RMT (Reiki Practitioner), GetBack Foundation, Pisgah Legal Services, AlignLife Chiropractic & Natural Health Center, and Bountiful Cities.
Enka-Candler Tailgate Market: This market ended its regular Thursday market season in October, but will present a holiday market this weekend, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Featuring more than 40 artisan and food vendors, the market will take place outdoors at the A-B Tech Small Business Center on Enka campus.
North Asheville Tailgate Market: The Saturday morning market at UNC Asheville continues through Nov. 21 from 8 a.m. to noon. After that, the Holiday Bazaar takes over in the same location Nov. 28 to Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This annual event features many of the same farm vendors and baked goods, but will add more craft and gift vendors.
River Arts District Farmers Market: The Wednesday afternoon market will continue through the winter at Pleb Urban Winery. Fall and winter hours have been slightly shortened, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Produce, meat, cheese, and bread vendors are rounded out by chocolate, honey, and other sweet products.
Weaverville Tailgate Market: This Wednesday afternoon market, outdoors at Reems Creek Nursery, has shifted its hours from 2 to 5 p.m. through Dec. 23. Alongside farm and food vendors, find pottery, jewelry, body care, and CBD products.
West Asheville Tailgate Market: Instead of moving inside The Mothlight for its annual holiday event, the Tuesday afternoon market will stay outside at 718 Haywood Rd. through Dec. 22. This way the market can accommodate more vendors and keep shoppers safe with social distancing. Hours are shorter now, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Expect the same farm vendors through Thanksgiving, joined by more craft goods in December.
At markets now you’ll find plenty of root veggies, greens, apples, winter squash, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, turnips, and much more. In addition to produce, markets offer an abundance of meats, cheese, bread, eggs, baked goods, and beverages. Find more details about farms and markets throughout the region in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
