Fresh at Farmers Markets

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.

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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!”

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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.

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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.

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