Seafood isn’t something particularly local to the mountains of Western North Carolina, but farmers markets can still be a chance to find good fish choices to enjoy alongside more locally grown fare. Asheville City Market-Winter offers a few possibilities.
Fresh at Farmers Markets
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 what’s in season.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Fruit can be hard to come by in the winter if you’re shopping locally in Western North Carolina. Apples are a rosy-hued exception, and they continue to be available from storage through most of the season. Creasman Farms (Asheville City Market-Winter, Transylvania Farmers Market) usually has ten or so varieties, ranging from the crunchy-tart Arkansas Black to the sweeter, juicier Pink Lady.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Can you give your loved one a locally grown Valentine’s Day bouquet, even in midst of winter? Yes, you can!
Carolina Flowers returned to Asheville City Market-Winter a few weeks ago and has anemones, hyacinths, paperwhites, and amaryllis. The farm offers vases of flowers as well as bulbs, which means your gift will last longer than a traditional cut-flower bouquet. Enduring living-plant gifts can also be procured from Finally Farm, which has an assortment of potted succulents in many sizes.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
As winter sets in and people around you fall prey to colds, flu, and other ailments, you might be thinking about ways to shore up your immune system. Besides giving you a chance to stock up on fresh, local fruits and vegetables—always a health booster—winter farmers markets are an opportunity to explore a variety of fermented foods.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
It pays to be an early bird at Asheville City Market-Winter, which often sees a line forming outside the doors of the Asheville Masonic Temple on Saturdays before the 9am opening. Some specialty or sought-after products are in short supply, and often sell out before market’s end.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
The belief that the winter months are a time of culinary asceticism has certainly been debunked by the early markets of 2019. An abundance of produce has lined the booths, including assorted lettuces and salad greens; darker greens like Chinese broccoli, spinach, kale, collards, and bok choy; jewel-toned radishes and sweet potatoes; buckets of apples; and more. With such a wealth of options, there is opportunity to branch out and try a few meal-time variations.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
After a stretch of unseasonably warm days, wintry temperatures have returned. Meanwhile, New Year’s resolutions may have you vowing to eat your leafy greens. All of this points clearly to one recourse: make soup.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
The winter season is fully upon us and most year-round farmers tailgate markets have moved indoors. You’ll find an abundance of storage crops, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, turnips, winter squash, cabbage, and apples. Farms with greenhouses and tunnels will have salad mixes and other lettuces, radishes, and dark leafy greens. And you’ll find meats, eggs, bread, cheese, baked goods, artisan crafts, and more!
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
The final holiday farmers markets of 2018 are upon us. The last Saturday markets of the year fall this weekend (December 15), and this coming Tuesday and Wednesday (December 18 and 19) are the last weekday markets. This is your chance to grab any last-minute holiday gifts from local farmers and artisans and to fill your pantries with local food items to get you through until January. To find holiday markets throughout other regions, visit the Farmers Market Closings and Holiday Dates.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Sure, holiday farmers markets are focused on gifts right now, but market shoppers still want to get groceries each week. What produce and gifts can you expect to find at area farmers tailgate markets now?