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.
As spring nears, vendors are bringing more and more veggies to winter tailgate markets. That means if you’ve been rushing to get there first thing before vendors sell out, you can take a breather this week!
Mountain Harvest Organics‘ booth billowed with greens—chard, collards, and kale—last week at the winter market at the Woodfin YMCA (Saturdays, 10 am-noon). They’ll have more of all three this week, along with napa cabbage. (They offer pork, too!)
It’s getting more and more difficult to tell a winter farmers market from a regular-season market these days. First, there’s the confusing weather. “Usually this is roasting season, but with this weather, I’m not sure what kind of season this is!” said Stephen Robertson, owner/operator of East Fork Farm, at last Saturday’s winter market at the Woodfin YMCA (weekly, 10 am-noon). Then, there’s the fact that the off-season markets have everything!
Spring is still one month away, but you can hear about and even see it now at winter tailgate markets. Farmers and vendors are abuzz with their plans—sharing with each other and shoppers—and they’re starting to bring in new goods representative of the new season!
At Asheville City Market South (Wednesdays 2-6 pm), it seems like Jake’s Farm’s greens are getting brighter and greener every week in anticipation. Currently, salad mixes, spinach, herbs, peppers, and radishes keep their greens company. But, farmer Missy Huger shares they’ll soon bring micro greens, scallions, and beets, followed later (once spring sets in) by broccoli and cauliflower.
Valentine’s Day was definitely the theme of winter farmers markets last week—think handmade jewelry, crafts, and desserts galore, including giant chocolate hearts bearing the quintessential phrase Be Mine. Though the holiday and its special sweets will have come and gone before this week’s markets arrive, there will still be lots to swoon over!
Market favorites Rio Bertolini’s—who offer fresh pastas, sauces, and pizza dough—came back for good last week to Asheville City Market South’s winter tailgate (Wednesdays 2-6 pm). For their return, they brought several new flavors of raviolis, including pea and pancetta and parsnip and chestnut. Be on the lookout for exciting new fillings this week and every Wednesday. You can also find Rio Bertolini’s at the Winter Market at the Neighborhood Y at Woodfin (Saturdays 10 am-noon).
This week, winter tailgate markets are the places to pick up sweets for your sweetie—Valentine’s day is just around the corner, after all!
At Asheville City Market South on Wednesday (2-6 pm), the Chocolate Lab plans to offer up their signature chocolate roses (above), along with an assortment of artisan truffles. They also plan to debut their new chocolate hearts, filled with options like peanut butter, coconut, and mixed nuts. Sweet Monkey Bakery unveiled their decadent “Sweetheart Tart” at market last month. The puff pastry—filled with tart cherries, chocolate, and crushed walnuts—will return, along with a lemon-lavender triple berry quick bread. Does your lover love apples? You never know what Creasman Farms will bring! Last week, it was apple sauce muffins made not only with their apples but local honey, too.
Yes, the calendar does say it’s the middle of winter. But, looking at the fresh produce available at tailgates now, you’d think it was spring or summer here in Western North Carolina!
Asheville City Market South’s indoor winter market (Wednesdays from 2 until 6 pm at Biltmore Park Town Square) continued their grand opening last week with several new—and excited!—first-time participants, two of which brought produce galore. Blue Meadow Farms offered beets, broccoli, and a variety of greens. Jake’s Farm offered greens, too, along with Certified Organic turnips, sweet Cubanelle peppers, and herbs. Both vendors will bring more produce this week. Creasman Farms returned last week and will return again this Wednesday, February 1, with their picked-to-perfection apples. They also make fresh-baked apple pie, apple turnovers, and apple muffins. But if they’re what you’re after, you’ll want to get to market early. Last week, the sweet treats sold out before you could say, “Yum!”
Asheville City Market South‘s indoor winter market kicked off with a bang last week. Nine vendors took part in the grand opening…
Three Graces Dairy offered up a wide variety of flavored goat’s milk cheeses, as well as aged sheep’s milk, cow’s milk, and all the blends in between. Roots & Branches offered the perfect cheese vessel: artisan handmade crackers, including flavors like Kalamata olive. They had fresh-baked breads, too, as did Sweet Monkey Bakery, who even brought their scrumptiously soft whole wheat bagels.
When life hands you the end of the local tailgate market season, make a delicious holiday meal, homemade applesauce, and more!
Holiday markets have a wide selection of meats that can be the star of your feast. East Fork Farm, for example, offers pasture-raised lamb, chicken, rabbit, and even duck. And despite recent snows, side-worthy produce can be found, too. Vendors like Gaining Ground Farm are still offering fresh broccoli, chard, kale, Brussels sprouts, turnips, and radishes.
Thinking beyond the holiday? Stock up on late-season local apples from vendors like McConnell Farms. They’re perfect for a big batch of homemade applesauce that’ll keep well and remind you of warmer days once winter has fully set in.
Late-season veggies, meats, and cheeses? Check! Christmas trees and wreaths? Check! Handcrafted gifts like soaps and jewelry? Check! Area holiday markets have it all. So, bundle up and shop ’til you drop at these tailgates! Of course, we’d love if you shared your finds and photos in the comment section below.
So, you picked up your holiday decorations at area farmers tailgate markets last week. If you didn’t, don’t fret; trees and trimmings still abound! This week, get all the gifts on your list. After all, what present could be better than one that’s locally grown, made, or crafted?
For your favorite local foodie, think artisan meats and cheeses. At the 9th Annual Holiday Bazaar, which kicked off last Saturday at the site of the Montford Farmers Market, follow your nose to the free sausage samples from Foothills Family Farms. In addition to sausage, they’ve got their famous salami, a perfect hors d’oeuvre for your holiday celebrations—especially when paired with local cheese. Keep an eye out for cave-aged cheeses made by Victor Chiarizia and his Blue Ridge Mountain Creamery from the milk of grassfed Jersey cows. You can also find Victor’s cheeses at Asheville City Market, along with his handmade glassware ornaments in both locations.