Rebecca Collins is passionate about local food. She’s a graduate student at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Asheville where she’s pursuing a degree in Sustainable Studies. When she’s not learning about food, she works at the farmers market in Waynesville where she spreads the gospel of eating local. We caught up with her at ASAP’s Local Food … Read more
The Moreno family’s farming roots stretch back to Mexico where Salvador Moreno Senior herded goats as a young boy. It was a long journey to Hayesville, North Carolina where he and his family now grow and sell produce under the name SMM Farms. His son, Salvador Junior, shares their farm story. “My dad was the … Read more
Pack up your cooler and your sense of adventure for a farmers market road trip this weekend. May 5th is the opening day of the Travelers Rest Farmers Market in South Carolina. It’s about an hour south of Asheville and market manager Valerie Richardson says the nearby outdoor activities make it a good day trip. … Read more
From agriculture to music, Appalachian culture is rich with traditions. The land provides endless inspiration for farmer and musician Barry Bales. He and his family run Bales Farms, a 6th-generation family farm in Tennessee that sells pastured pork and poultry, and grass-fed beef. Barry Bales is also a Grammy-award winning musician. He plays bass and … Read more
Today we’ll take you on trip to a downtown destination where food and community fill the streets of Asheville, North Carolina. Music from the local band Empire Strikes Brass echoes through downtown as farmers, customers, and vendors kick off the outdoor market season. First we hear from Robin Lenner, the events coordinator at ASAP. “I’m … Read more
People come to farming from all walks of life, whether they’re born into a farming family or decide to pursue agriculture as an adult. For Robert Russell, starting French Broad Creamery meant leaving a career in academia. For decades, he taught architectural and urban design at colleges and universities, and ran historic preservation programs in … Read more
Outdoor markets are finally here, and farmers will load up their vans with spring produce, meat, and more for the opening day of Asheville City Market on Saturday, April 7, 2018. Summer veggies are still seedlings, growing inch by inch in the hoop houses of local farmers, but in the meantime, there are other foods … Read more
Sweet tea is a staple of Southern life, but many tea leaves travel thousands of miles before they’re brewed and served to neighbors on the front porch. Much of the tea sold in the U.S. comes from India, Kenya, and China, and leaves from many different tea plantations are often blended together before they hit … Read more
If you look through old books about farming in the mountains of Western North Carolina, you won’t find much mention of popcorn. If a farmer had enough flat land to grow corn, they were more likely to grow varieties that were suited for cornmeal and grits instead of popping. But these days, the crunch of … Read more
Seasonal eating is one of the joys of living in the Southern Appalachians. Community Supported Agriculture, also known as a CSA, lets you celebrate the arrival of each fruit and vegetable. There are CSAs for produce, meat, and even flowers. For produce CSAs, members sign up at the beginning of the season and receive a … Read more