Winter farmers tailgate markets may be smaller than their counterparts during the other seasons of the year, but that doesn’t mean that they’re any less remarkable or exciting! They are still filled with a plethora of delicious farm-fresh products, baked goods, and more! What can you expect to find at winter markets? Read on to find out.
Each week at winter markets, you can find consistency in eggs, breads, meats, cheeses, salad greens, dark leafy greens, and root vegetables such as potatoes, beets, and turnips.
Some weeks have unique items available as well. For example, visiting farmer, Bill Whipple, brings pears and nuts from his farm in West Virginia, as well as from other farmer friends in the region. Find Bill at the YMCA Indoor Winter Market until 11:30 this Saturday, and check out the pecans that Bill brings on behalf of a farmer friend of his in Johnson City, TN, as well as pears, black walnuts, hazelnuts, and hickory nuts from his own farm in WV.
Also at the YMCA Indoor Winter Market this week, be sure to grab popcorn and heirloom green corn grits from Fiddler’s Green. Popcorn-on-the-cob is a great food to cook with kids! Place the cob in a small or medium paper bag and fold or staple shut and heat in microwave until popping sounds slow. Or, pull the kernels off to cook in a pot over the stove. Fiddler’s Green also has dried red pepper flakes which are richly flavored and well-spiced — perfect for adding to almost every dish.
Another new addition to winter markets: salmon at Asheville City Market. Though not local, the salmon is ethically and independently sourced, not to mention absolutely scrumptious.
No matter your food preferences and specific tastes, there’s something at winter markets that’s perfect for everyone. It’s an empowering experience to ask the farmer how something was grown and how to prepare it. Visit the winter markets while you can, because before you know it, the season will be over!
Winter markets take place throughout the region. Check out the “2016 Winter Farmers Markets” page on ASAP’s website on asapconnections.org. As always, you can find information about which farm stands are open and other farms to visit in the winter months by visiting ASAP’s online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
