Spring’s boldest flavors—from ramps to asparagus and stinging nettles to spring onions—were front and center at area farmers tailgate markets this past week and weekend, and they should be available for your favorite recipes a little longer.
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 what’s in season.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
And they’re off—area outdoor tailgate markets, that is—to a great start (pun intended)! Leicester Farmers Market, the first outdoor market to open this spring, overflowed with beautiful plant starts last weekend. In fact, Finally Farm had almost five tables of starts. Vendors will have lots more this Friday (4-7 pm) and Saturday (9 am-2 pm); the market will continue now two days a week.
Hoping to start a culinary herb garden? Visit vendors like Blue Heron Farm for thyme, parsley, lemon verbena, rosemary, and more. Thinking about planting veggies? Find starts for heirloom tomatoes, peppers, squash, and beans from vendors like Synchronicity Farms. Garden-friendly flowers like marigolds will also be available.
Fresh at (Indoor & Outdoor!) Farmers Markets This Week
The seasons collide this week as indoor winter markets continue and the first outdoor markets of spring open their, well, tents!
The indoor market at Asheville City Market South in Biltmore Park Town Square continues Wednesday (2-6 pm). It’s the farewell market for Creasman Farms and their apples; they’ll return to Asheville City Market in downtown this summer with peaches, blueberries, and more. Jake’s Farm will bring more greens—lettuce, kale, collards, and mustards—and they’ll have turnips, too. Blue Meadow Farms will take a break this week but return next Wednesday with radishes and kale mixes. They’re looking forward to offering garlic scapes soon!
Fresh at (Winter?) Farmers Markets This Week
Even though the weather has been summerlike, local farmers and vendors are still heading indoors for “winter markets” this week. But, talk has definitely turned to spring—and its outdoor markets and bounty. (Can it be three seasons all at once?!)
At Asheville City Market South’s winter market—which runs indoors Wednesdays from 2 to 6 pm through the end of April—farmer Missy Huger of Jake’s Farm is excited to offer spring greens galore. Look for everything from spinach and salad mix to herbs and Asian greens like Bok Choy and Tatsoi.
Fresh at (Winter) Farmers Markets This Week
If apples are, well, the apple of your eye, you won’t want to miss area farmers markets these next three weeks! Creasman Farms has been bringing their apples to both Asheville City Market South (Wednesdays, 2-6 pm) and the indoor market at the Woodfin YMCA (Saturdays, 10 am-noon) all winter long. But, their supplies of the fall crop can’t last forever. Expect them to stay through the end of March—they’ll still have their apple baked goods and apple butter, too. Should they not sell out of Pink Lady and the other remaining varieties by the end of the month, you may find them vending into April. But if they do sell out, you’ll have to wait to see Creasman again until July, when they return to Asheville City Market with their summer crops of peaches and berries.
Fresh at (Winter) Farmers Markets This Week
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!)
Fresh at (Winter) Farmers Markets This Week
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!
Fresh at (Winter) Farmers Markets This Week
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.
Fresh at (Winter) Farmers Markets This Week
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).
Fresh at (Winter) Farmers Markets This Week
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.