Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week

A trip to your neighborhood farmers tailgate market this week is sure to be fruitful—fruits from berries to nectarines are ripe for the picking!
Creasman Farms (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market) is back at markets after bringing their apples last fall. Now, they’ve got nectarines. They expect peaches in the coming weeks.

Blueberries have been spotted from many vendors around WNC: Aardvark Farm (Asheville City Market, Yancey County Farmers Market), Earthlife Farm (Asheville City Market downtown and South), and Full Sun Farm (Montford Farmers Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market), just to name a few. Blackberries and raspberries can also be found now. Jonas Cove Garden Cooperative offered them both at East Asheville Tailgate Market last week. They shared that berries are peaking right now; depending on weather, berries should stick around through the end of summer.
For a special treat, try wineberries, spotted recently from Highgate Farm (East Asheville Tailgate Market, Madison County Farmers & Artisans Market, Weaverville Tailgate Market). The sweet-tart raspberry relative is only in season for two to three weeks, mid-June to mid-July, so try some soon!
You can also find local berries in use by baked goods vendors. Farm & Sparrow (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market), for example, has created blueberry chevre sage pastries and croissants with raspberries.
There are even more signs of summer. Beans, summer squash, and cucumbers are abundant. The first sweet corn of the season even popped up last week at the Historic Marion Tailgate Market. And, markets are teasing with tomatoes, offering limited quantities of small cherry tomatoes and larger varieties. ‘Maters will be in full force soon.
Celebrating 4th of July at your grill? Pick up hot dogs, ground beef, and drumsticks, (all on sale) from Hickory Nut Gap Farm at West Asheville Tailgate Market Tuesday. Also find Hickory Nut Gap at Asheville City Market and North Asheville Tailgate Market.
On Thursday, July 5, from 2 to 6 pm, Oakley Farmers Market will feature a fairy bubble wand activity for children. On Saturday, July 7, at Kids Corner Market at Asheville City Market, ASAP will help kids use a bicycle blender to make fresh smoothies (9 am-12 pm).
To learn more about market events and find a market schedule, visit our online farmers market calendar or browse our online Local Food Guide.