It was a Friday afternoon when Tou Lee from Lee’s One Fortune Farm found out that the Saturday market had been cancelled because of the COVID-19 restrictions placed on public gatherings that day. All spring, Tou and his wife and farming partner Chue Lee grew vegetables like bok choy and broccoli raab to get ready … Read more
Tou Lee walks through the rice field at Lee One’s Fortune Farm in Marion, North Carolina. There was a big storm last night and the bottom of the rice plants are submerged in water and mud. “Be careful where you walk,” he calls out. “It won’t go up to your knees, but it might get … Read more
Tou Lee walks through the rice field at Lee One’s Fortune Farm in Marion, North Carolina. There was a big storm last night and the bottom of the rice plants are submerged in water and mud. “Be careful where you walk,” he calls out. “It won’t go up to your knees, but it might get … Read more
Get creative with your cooking by using green coriander seeds! Lee’s One Fortune Farm started selling the delicacy this week. Green coriander is essentially unripe coriander seeds produced from overwintered cilantro plants. While not as common as the dried coriander seed you find in the spice aisle, green coriander can lend a unique twist to … Read more
As summer gets closer, we are starting to see more exciting arrivals at area farmers markets! Cucumbers made their seasonal debut at farmers markets this week, with Thatchmore Farm (West and North Asheville markets), Velvet Morning Farms (Asheville City Market), and Ivy Creek Family Farm (Weaverville and North Asheville markets) offering an early harvest of … Read more
Pollen-induced spring allergies have seemed particularly high in our region this year. Many of us are searching for miracle cures to stop the sneezing. Farmers markets right now offer a few traditional herbal or food-based remedies for allergic reactions that might just work for you. (And even if they don’t, they’re delicious!) It might seem … Read more
Mother’s Day is Sunday and farmers markets are full of treats for the mother figures in your life—or to treat yourself! Fresh cut, local flowers are bringing a riot of color to markets right now. Look for peonies, ranunculus, poppies, snapdragons, and more. You can find bouquets from Blazing Star Flowers (East Asheville Tailgate Market), Carolina Flowers (Asheville City … Read more
Farmers tailgate markets often provide entertainment in the form of musicians or even, on occasion, dancers or flash mobs. But sometimes the performance can come from the farmers. This week, stop to watch for a few minutes as Tou Lee of Lee’s One Fortune Farm demonstrates how to peel fresh bamboo shoots at his booth. You can … Read more
Things are ramping up at farmers tailgate markets! We’ve spotted several much-anticipated spring fruits and vegetables in the past week, including the first strawberries, asparagus, and, yes, ramps. Ramp mania has been going strong for several years, from foragers who fiercely protect their secret patches to chefs who dream up creative ways to use them. … Read more
Farmers tailgate markets are readying tents for a new season with a few shifts in location and hours coming up over the next few weeks. Below is a rundown for what to look for at Buncombe County markets, but you can also find opening dates for markets across the region at asapconnections.org/farmersmarkets. At these early spring … Read more