Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week

Winter farmers markets are great go-to stops for ingredients to make warming soups and stews.

At Asheville City Market, buy premade bone broth from Buncombe Broth, or make your own, using bones from Dry Ridge Farm. Sleight Family Farm has dried chiles, which are great ground up and added to turn up the heat. Rather turn up the sweet? Apples are wonderful for mixing into soup bases by blending in a food processor or boiling and mashing. Visit Creasman Farms to pick up a bushel. Ten Mile Farm has dried beans that will take your chili to the next level.
Spruce Pine Indoor Winter Farmers Market takes place every first Saturday of the month, and is open this weekend! Take a trip up to Mitchell County to visit the market, and make a day of it, by visiting a local attraction such as Little Switzerland or Grassy Creek Falls.
Asheville City Market, Saturdays 9 am-noon, in the Masonic Temple downtown.
YMCA Winter Market, Saturdays 9 am–noon, in the parking lot of the Woodfin YMCA.
The YMCA is also hosting a South market, held Wednesdays 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM in the YMCA in the lobby of the Reuter Family YMCA in Biltmore Park.
This week, consider exploring a market outside of Asheville. Here are just a few nearby to choose from:
Black Mountain Winter Market, Saturdays 11 am–2 pm, inside of the heated pavilion at the intersection of Ridgeway and Sutton in downtown Black Mountain.
Spruce Pine Indoor Winter Farmers Market, First Saturday of the month noon—4pm, in the Community Room of Spruce Pine Main Street at 167 Locust Street.
Columbus Winter Tailgate Market, Saturdays 9 am-noon, at 322 E. Mills St. in Columbus, NC.
Franklin Farmers Winter Tailgate Market, Saturdays 10 am-noon, on the 200 block of E. Palmer St. in Franklin, NC.
Winter farmers markets take place throughout the region. As always, you can find information about farms, tailgate markets, and farm stands, including locations and hours, by visiting ASAP’s online Local Food Guide.