Fresh at Farmers Markets

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.

Read more

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.

Read more

The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving can be hectic, with one shopping list after another. Knowing that, vendors at area farmers tailgate markets pledge to help you get through this time with ease—and, of course, lots of local food.
Order dessert this week and check an entire course off your to-do list! Take the Cake! Cupcakes A-Go-Go will have a special holiday menu and ordering form Saturday at Asheville City Market. (Find them select Tuesdays at the West Asheville Tailgate Market, too.) Sweetheart Bakery also plans to offer holiday ordering. Owner Aimee Mostwill will make samples available at her market booths this week/weekend (Asheville City Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market, Montford Farmers Market) and share her contact information. She’ll accept orders by phone or email.

Read more

Soup’s on! Area farmers tailgate markets are bubbling with options for your soup pot this week.
Under the weather? Grab all the ingredients for chicken noodle soup! Markets have lots of onions, garlic, shallots, celery, and carrots now. Look for rainbow colored carrots for extra brightness and color sure to help you feel better. Greens are also abundant. Throw in kale, bok choy, or spinach as vitamin-packed additions. Of course, many vendors offer local chicken. Hominy Valley Farms currently has Poussin, a young, tender French-style bird. Find Hominy Valley at Asheville City Market. And, pick up noodles from pasta vendors selling at Asheville City Market and North Asheville Tailgate Market.

Read more

Your pumpkins are carved and ready to light up the night on Halloween, right? That means you deserve to indulge in some pre-made pumpkin treats at area farmers tailgate markets this week—no knives or spoons needed.
At Asheville City Market, try a portable slice of pumpkin bourbon bread from Sweet Life Bakeshop. Or, enjoy pumpkin chocolate chip cake or pumpkin cream cheese coffee cake from Sweetheart Bakery (find Sweetheart at Montford Farmers Market and North Asheville Tailgate Market, too).

Read more