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!”
At the most recent Jackson County Winter Farmers Market, vendors brought greens and beets, too, along with carrots, potatoes, garlic, and onions. What veggies will you find this Saturday, February 4? It’s a surprise, market coordinators say! Their winter market is also held indoors, inside St. John’s Episcopal Church at 18 Jackson Street in Sylva. The market runs every other week (9 am through noon), and parking is available behind the old post office.
Of course, winter markets have much more than veggies now. Look for cheeses, baked goods, and sweet treats—many vendors are already thinking Valentine’s Day. You can also stock up on a variety of meats. Beulah Farm offers grassfed meats at Asheville City Market South; look for different beef and pork cut sales from them each week. At the site of the regular-season Transylvania Tailgate Market, 190 E. Main Street in Brevard, several meat vendors are selling every Saturday, from 8:30 am until noon. Mt. Valley Meats has a variety of pastured options, Cherryfield Farm offers pastured lamb and beef, and Calee’s Coop has pastured pork, sausage, and bacon, along with eggs.
There’s a new winter market on the scene this week, which plans to offer veggies, cheeses, baked goods, and meats, too: The Winter Tailgate Market at the Neighborhood Y at Woodfin. Their grand opening is this Saturday, February 4, from 10 am until noon. The market will be held in the Y’s Multipurpose Room at 40 N. Merrimon Avenue, Suite 101, and will run through the end of March. Vendors including Farm & Sparrow, East Fork Farm, Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Spinning Spider Creamery, and others have signed on. A portion of vendors’ proceeds will benefit the Y’s Healthier Communities Campaign.
Is your neighborhood winter market missing? Tell us!
Fresh at (Winter) Farmers Markets This Week
