There’s not much better than strolling through the farmers market on a beautiful summer day—but the heat can sneak up on you quickly! With a little planning, you can stay comfortable while shopping and talking with your favorite farmers and market goers. We have rounded up some summer market shopping tips to ease your time in the sun.
One way to quicken your shop is to make a shopping list. Check your fridge and pantry before you go and plan your meals around what you have and what’s in season at markets. Protect yourself from the sun by applying sunscreen, wearing lightweight clothing, and putting on sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. Take shade breaks under trees or vendor tents. If the heat is just too much, remember that Weaverville Tailgate Market has vendors inside the Weaverville Community Center along with outside. Keep a cooler in your car with ice packs so you don’t have to carry it around but it’s there for you for your drive home. For an instant cool-down, you can also keep a damp washcloth in your cooler to wear during or after your market visit. Shop early for those Saturday markets and leave your furry friends at home for the afternoon markets–asphalt and turf can get up to 150 degrees when it’s hot out! It might be a good idea to bring a bottle of water with you to stay hydrated, though many market vendors like Immortal Juice (Black Mountain and North Asheville markets) have cold juices and drinks for purchase. You can also find cold-brew tea blends from Asheville Tea Co. (North Asheville Tailgate Market) and Asheville DiviniTea (Weaverville Tailgate Market). But one of the best tips of all? Choose hydrating foods that naturally keep you hydrated.
Some of the most hydrating foods you can find at markets now are cucumbers, tomatoes, summer squash and zucchini, lettuce, celery, peppers, and peaches. Quench your thirst with the first watermelons from Two Stones Farm & Mill (North Asheville, West Asheville, and River Arts District markets), but only a couple more weeks and you’ll be able to find more melons from Sleight Family Farm (North Asheville Tailgate Market) and Lee’s One Fortune Farm. Of course, all produce has water content, but these listed consist of over 90 percent water! Shop from produce vendors like Olivette Farm (Asheville City and East Asheville markets), Wild East Farm (Black Mountain and River Arts District markets), and Tiny Bridge Farm (Asheville City and West Asheville markets), among many more.
Keep the most water in your foods by eating them raw. This summer rice wrap roll is a delicious way to enjoy your veggies uncooked. Kids can help with these too, from choosing which veggies to include, tearing apart herbs, and even (for older kids) wrapping the rolls. Start by grating or peeling your carrots, peppers, and cucumbers into small pieces or ribbons. Separate your lettuce into single leaves and tear or chop herbs into small pieces. Prepare your rice paper wrapper by filling a shallow dish with water. Carefully put one wrapper into the water—be sure it is fully submerged. Wait about 30 seconds, until the wrapper is soft, and lift the wrapper from the water and place it on a clean surface like a cutting board or plate. Assemble the summer roll by placing one leaf of lettuce in the center of your soft spring roll wrapper then add vegetables and herbs. You can also add cooked rice noodles and/or poached shrimp, shredded cooked chicken, or batons of tofu for protein. Carefully fold in each of the sides of the spring roll as if you are wrapping a present. Lift the bottom fold over the vegetables, and then lift the top fold over to secure and cover the spring roll. As you cover the vegetables with the wrapper, tuck the vegetables into the wrapper so your roll is tight. Enjoy with dipping sauce of choices such as a peanut sauce or carrot-ginger dressing.
Also spotted at markets in recent weeks: blueberries, blackberries,raspberries, fennel, garlic, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, beets, greens, mushrooms, and much more. 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 in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org.
Photo Credit: Caleb Johnson, www.calebkaleido.com