Get your greens at area farmers tailgate markets now! Tailgates from Asheville City Market (ACM) to Jackson County Farmers Market, Madison County Farmers & Artisans Market to Weaverville Tailgate Market, and French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market (FBFC) to West Asheville Tailgate Market and North Asheville Tailgate Market have opened outdoors for the season with all kinds of leafy greens. We’re talking arugula, chard, herbs (like cilantro and oregano), kale, lettuces, mustard greens, pak choi, and spinach.
While shopping, grab some green (i.e. plant starts) for your garden—from veggie starts to berry bushes to perennials. There are two plant days planned: April 23 3-6 pm at Historic Marion Tailgate Market (their season begins May 14) and April 20 8 am-1 pm at Asheville City Market. At ACM, expect spring planting and re-potting demos plus the opportunity to ask questions of Master Gardeners and the Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society.
Spring onions and scallions can be found from farmers and artisan food producers now. Rio Bertolini’s (Asheville City Market Downtown and South) has a special spring onion pasta. Ramps are also ramping up (the cross between an onion and garlic can be wild-harvested or cultivated on forestland). FBFC Wednesday Tailgate Market reports that ramps will abound and notes they’re sure to be sustainably harvested. Speaking of wild foods, Asheville City Market has a new vendor this year: Asheville Wild Foods Market. The booth offers up tons of local wild edibles and is staffed by foraging experts.
They say that April showers bring May flowers, but the rain is bringing April blooms, too. Full Sun Farm offered stems of ranunculus in reds, oranges, pinks, and white at North Asheville Tailgate’s opening last Saturday. Expect more flowers to come.
Along with greens and plant starts, nothing says spring like asparagus and strawberries—both of which are still a bit of an unknown when it comes to which markets will have them and when. Farmers report asparagus is beginning to be harvested and may be available this week/weekend, and some farmers have limited quantities of strawberries. The berries were spotted at ACM this past weekend and are expected at the FBFC market this Wednesday (April 17) and beyond. Baby beets and turnips are also beginning to arrive in limited amounts.
One remnant of fall and winter does remain: sweet potatoes. Flying Cloud Farm (Asheville City Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market) will offer the storage crop until they run out. Of course, local meats, cheeses, eggs, honey, savory and sweet treats, and handcrafted artisan items can also be found.
Yancey County Farmers Market, Transylvania Tailgate Market, and Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market all open for their seasons this Saturday, April 20.
To learn more about market events/find a market schedule, visit our farmers market calendar or browse our online Local Food Guide. Also check our post “Tailgate Tents Going Up” for a list of openings.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
