Fresh at Farmers Markets

Now that you’ve had a few weeks to fill up on asparagus and strawberries, a few other new produce items are here to provide more variety at May markets.

Early alliums are popping up, including scapes, which you can find from Highgate Farm (West Asheville Tailgate Market, Weaverville Tailgate Market, Black Mountain Tailgate Market) and green garlic from Olivette Farm (Asheville City Market, Asheville City Market – South). Green garlic is baby garlic taken straight from the ground, without the curing process normally seen with garlic. It has a more subtle flavor than mature, cured garlic, but still adds a crisp, springtime garlic flavor to dishes!

Flying Cloud Farm (North Asheville Tailgate Market, River Arts District Farmers Market, Asheville City Market) brought a few of their first heads of broccoli to markets this past Saturday! Broccoli has two seasons — spring and fall — and will only be around for a few weeks each time, so grab it up while it’s here!

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Tasting the first local strawberry of the season can feel like an enchanted experience — bursting with flavor, strawberries are spring’s sweetest treat, and they’re now at tailgate farmers markets across the region.

In Asheville, strawberries can be found from McConnell Farms and Bear Necessities Farm (both out at Asheville City Market and West Asheville Tailgate Market, with McConnell also at North Asheville Tailgate Market) and Flying Cloud Farm (River Arts District Farmers Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market, and Asheville City Market).

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This upcoming week, all of the markets in Buncombe County will be open for the season! Four Asheville-area markets will open:

River Arts District Farmers Market: May 3, Wednesdays 2:00–6:00 pm
Oakley Farmers Market: May 4, Thursdays 3:30–6:30 pm
East Asheville Tailgate Market: May 5, Fridays 3:00–6:00 pm
Black Mountain Tailgate Market: May 6, Saturdays 9:00 am–12:00 pm

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Markets are ramping up in multiple senses of the word. More markets and vendors will be in attendance throughout the coming weeks with an increasing abundance of spring fare such as asparagus and rhubarb. And, ramps are in season and available from some farms.

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Trees are blooming and budding, farms are transplanting seedlings, and outdoor farmers tailgate markets are here!

The past week’s market openings have been festive. Media outlets throughout Asheville celebrated the opening of the season as market-goers excitedly browsed and mingled with fellow shoppers, farmers, and other vendors. Below are the next week’s market openings, which will continue to be full of the fresh spring energy and unique flair of each market:

Asheville-area:
West Asheville Tailgate Market: April 4, Tuesdays 3:30–6:30 pm
Asheville City Market – South: April 5, Wednesdays 12:00–4:00 pm

Throughout WNC:
‘Whee Market: April 4, Tuesdays 4:00–7:00 pm
Columbus Tailgate Market: April 8, Saturdays 8:00 am–12:00 pm
Rutherford County Farmers Market: April 15, Saturdays 8:00 am–12:00 pm
Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market: April 15, Wednesdays and Saturdays 8:00 am–12:00 pm
Ashe County Farmers Market: April 15, Wednesdays and Saturdays 8:00 am–1:00 pm

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Area farmers tailgate markets will begin to open outdoors this week! The list includes Asheville City Market’s new location on North Market Street in the heart of downtown Asheville. Here are the markets that will open Saturday, April 1:

Asheville
Asheville City Market: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
North Asheville Tailgate Market: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Outside of Asheville
Madison County Farmers & Artisans Market: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Lenoir Downtown Farmers Market: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Henderson County Tailgate Market: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Transylvania Farmers’ Market: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Jackson County Farmers Market: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
What can you expect from these first outdoor markets in April?

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Spring is here, which is exciting and inspiring, but for local farmers, the cold snap we had a couple of weeks ago isn’t fading from memory like it’s wont to do for the rest of us. The effects of two days of super cold weather and snow have varied between farms based on their microclimates, what they’re growing, and how they’re growing it. 

One of the many amazing aspects of area farmers tailgate markets is that you get to hear the stories behind the food — the challenges, triumphs, and steadfast resilience of the folks and farms where our food comes from.

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This past week’s weather makes talking about the start of spring, only a few days away from now, feel jarringly out of place. But the season of rebirth is almost upon us. What does that mean for area farmers tailgate markets?

March and April can be the sparsest months for farmers markets. Stored crops such as potatoes, cabbage, and beets have dwindled; main-season produce has just begun to be planted; and even greens — which can be grown year-round — are less abundant because many produce farmers are focusing their time on planting and cultivating what will be harvested later in the year.

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Spring is just around the corner, and outdoor markets will be opening back up soon. (My, this “winter” has flown by!) Check back in throughout March and April as we let you know which markets will be opening up and where they’ll be held. As for this week, it’s still winter, and indoor markets are still in full swing!

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