It’s getting spooky! Here’s the Halloween edition of what’s fresh at area farmers tailgate markets:
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 ASAP’s produce seasonality chart.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Things are cooling down at area farmers tailgate markets. Most area farms experienced frost conditions this past week. Frost can mean trouble for some crops, but for others it is a welcome occurrence — it can sweeten some vegetable varieties, and who doesn’t like their daily dose of vegetables to be sweeter?
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
What’s fresh and exciting this week at area farmers tailgate markets? Cauliflower! Along with its relative, broccoli, cauliflower has two short seasons — one in the spring, and one in the fall. Cauliflower is unique, delicious, and full of nutrition, making it a very special time when it’s at markets.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
With all the dry weather throughout the summer, farmers were hoping for rain, but as the adage goes, “be careful what you wish for.” Farmers have not been affected uniformly by the heavy rains that hit the region last week; each farm has different soil type, elevation/gradient of their fields, microclimate (which affected how much rain they got), and growing practices (raised beds, tunnels, etc). The variation in produce affected by the rain at area farmers tailgate markets this week will vary from farm to farm.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Rice is not commonly grown in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. While we don’t have expansive rice paddies filling the mountain valleys, local farmers are pioneering rice production in our region. This week, farms brought the first of their season’s rice harvest to area farmers tailgate markets.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
It has been a light year for honey, according to apiaries at area farmers tailgate markets. Honey has always been a special, prized treat in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, but on a year such as this — drought-like conditions scattered throughout the growing season — it is even more dear.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
The times, they are a changin’ at area farmers tailgate markets. Some summer varieties won’t be around for much longer, and you should get them while you still can. Fall produce varieties are just now arriving, and we can look forward to them in the coming weeks.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
The very first sweet potatoes have been reported at area farmers tailgate markets. Sweet potatoes are beloved for their flavor and versatility — great in both savory dishes, such as sweet potato au gratin, and sweet dishes, like pies.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
There’s only one month left of summer and it’s starting to show at area farmers tailgate markets. Limited, late summer raspberries are peeking through the abundance of other more prolific produce, fall/winter varieties are starting to appear, and the air in the earliest hours of morning markets is starting to feel increasingly autumn-esque.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
What’s fresh at area farmers tailgate markets this week? With such a diverse and abundant array of produce at markets, it’s hard to include them all! Among vendors’ tables are summer squash, cucumbers, eggplants, potatoes, onions, garlic, okra, tomatoes, peppers, breads, cheeses, artisan products, mushrooms, melons, meats, and more.