Start your shopping list and get meal inspiration each week with ASAP’s roundup of what’s fresh at farmers markets. Although this report focuses on vendors at Buncombe County markets, many products mentioned can be found at markets throughout the region. Want to get this report in your inbox each week? Subscribe to ASAP’s Weekly Farmers Market Report newsletter. Looking for a yearlong view? Check out ASAP’s produce seasonality chart.
Summer is around the corner, and our favorite seasonal squash is starting to make an appearance at farmers markets! Look out for some of the first harvests of zucchini and yellow squash from Full Sun Farm at North Asheville and River Arts District markets and from Velvet Morning Farms, at Asheville City Market. There are … 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
Get ready! The next few weeks are when we’re going to see the biggest bounty of fresh strawberries at farmers markets. So far we’ve spotted them from Headwaters Market Garden (Asheville City Market), Full Sun Farm and Flying Could Farm (North Asheville Tailgate Market and, starting May 4, River Arts District Farmers Market), and McConnell Farms (North and West Asheville markets). But even more farms will have … 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
Ready to up your egg dyeing game this spring? Whether you are decorating eggs as part of an Easter tradition or to celebrate other springtime rites, farmers tailgate markets have lots of options. Shop for an assortment of sizes—from tiny quail eggs to giant goose eggs—for a unique basket. If you visited Asheville City Market this past … Read more
With sunnier days and rising temperatures, many of us are eager to get our hands in the dirt in our home gardens. In addition to offering an abundance of local food, farmers tailgate markets are also a great place to get plant starts and pick up gardening tips. As markets open for spring and more … Read more