Area farmers tailgate markets offer a chance to truly taste the rainbow this week.
Cauliflower can be found in three shades now; but, it may be the last week for these colorful cruciferous veggies, so snag them up! Look for traditional white from a variety of vendors. Find purple cauliflower from Paper Crane Farm (Asheville City Market, West Asheville Tailgate Market), and look for Cheddar cauliflower, which is, of course, yellow, from Cane Creek Organics (Asheville City Market and Asheville City Market South, Flat Rock Tailgate Market).
You can also brighten up your dinner plate with multi-colored carrots. Ten Mile Farm (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market) has been offering up four hues: purple, yellow, white, and orange. Each has its own flavor: orange are the sweetest, while the other colors offer a deeper, earthier flavor. Yellow carrots offer unique floral notes, and purple ones have a bit of a bite.
Beets and Swiss chard are also still available this week in a multitude of shades. Find bunches of chard with multi-colored stems and bunches of beets with multi-colored tops—from yellow to orange to red to purple. Even look for violet and green Violet Jasper tomatoes from Fiddlesticks Farm (Oakley Farmers Market).
Of course, it’s not just veggies that stand out at markets now. More and more summer fruits are coming in—from bright red and blue berries to peaches and red-orange nectarines.
Local meat producers have lots of variety ready to accompany colorful produce and ready for summertime barbeques and gatherings. Vandele Farm (Oakley Farmers Market), for example, will offer Boston butts for pulled and barbecued pork this week.
On Wednesday, June 27, Laurey Masteron of Laurey’s on Biltmore Avenue in Asheville, will lead a live cooking demonstration across the street at the French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market. Also on Wednesday, at 10 am, Waynesville Tailgate Market will select their first cash giveaway winner; customers can register until the drawing time.
Oakley Farmers Market will feature live music from Joe Hallock on Thursday, June 28, 2-6 pm. At 5 pm, the market will host a workshop entitled “How to Make Sauerkraut.”
At Asheville City Market on Saturday, June 30, Asheville Mural Project will return to Kids Corner Market (9 am-noon) for their popular mural painting activity. Last year’s farmscape can currently be seen in Greenlife Grocery’s cafe.
To learn more about market events and find a market schedule, visit our online farmers market calendar or browse our online Local Food Guide.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
