Seeing strawberries? Your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you! The spring staple crop arrived at area farmers tailgate markets this past weekend, about two weeks ahead of schedule.
Strawberries joined fellow season-favorite asparagus at McConnell Farms’ two booths—at Asheville City Market and North Asheville Tailgate Market—selling out quickly at both. It’s possible they may still have a few bunches of asparagus this week, but strawberries are truly spring’s stars now. Jake’s Farm also brought berries to Asheville City Market, and Ivy Creek Family Farm brought theirs to North Asheville. Expect to find strawberries at markets through mid-May.
Their early arrival certainly has to do with the weather, which has been unseasonably warm, cold, and wet all at the same time. But rain early last week didn’t keep folks from heading outside to the French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market, where Old Ground Farm’s bundles of oyster mushrooms were a big hit; farmer Al Wiseman plans to bring more this week plus other mushroom varieties later in the season. And the rain couldn’t bother folks who shopped at Asheville City Market South, which is still indoors. Gladheart Farm brought greens and plans to bring kohlrabi this week, a cold-weather crop said to taste like the stem of broccoli. Wednesday, April 25th, is Asheville City Market South’s last day inside. They move outdoors May 2nd to their regular-season location on the mall at Biltmore Park Town Square. Other markets open outside for the season in May, too. Look ahead to see if they’re in your neighborhood with our online farmers market calendar.
Whatever the weather this week and weekend, area tailgates will offer up a bounty of greens like chard, spinach, and salad mixes. Spring onions are in abundance now. Also look out for green garlic. Green garlic is harvested when the plant is young, resulting in a mild flavor. And, pick up bouquets of spring blooms, like lupine, along with baked goods, cheese, eggs, meats, and home goods.
On Saturday, April 28th, Asheville City Market in downtown will host a drop-off event for hard-to-recycle materials, along with Asheville GreenWorks and Rainbow Recycling, from 8 am-1 pm. Accepted items include: small appliances, laptops, CDs and DVDs, ink cartridges, cell phones, and more. Click GreenWork’s link above for what else is accepted, or for additional information, contact Eric Bradford at 828-254-1776 or eric@ashevillegreenworks.org.
To find out which markets not mentioned are open for the season now, click HERE, or search our online Local Food Guide.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
