If melons make your mouth water, you’ll want to get to your neighborhood farmers tailgate market this week! Watermelons have been spotted from vendors like Ten Mile Farm (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market), and more should be on their way in the next few weeks. Catch cantaloupes now, too, from vendors like Blue Ribbon Farm (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market).
Melons are difficult for mountain farmers to grow—soil, moisture, you name it—but our farmers persevere in order to offer up the summer favorites. Keep in mind, though, that means limited quantities. It also means that market melons may look a bit different than those in your local grocery. They can often be much smaller, but they’re just as juicy and sweet.
Speaking of summer, signs of the season remain everywhere you look. Snag sweet corn and summer squash in all sizes and shapes. Peppers abound and tomatoes, too. After all, it is officially tomato month in ASAP’s Get Local initiative. The striking options are endless. Blue Meadow Farms (Asheville City Market downtown and South, West Asheville Tailgate Market) has been offering dark purple Black Cherry ‘maters, which are sweet and robust even in their small package. Fiddlesticks Farm has been bringing Traveler’s tomatoes to Oakley Farmers Market. The variety looks like a cluster of mini tomatoes fused together. Tsalagi Greens has been selling tomato “eggs” at Asheville City Market, packaging theirs for a laugh in dozen egg cartons.
Signs of fall have also been spotted already, like apples from Creasman Farms (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market). That means winter squash and other offerings aren’t too far behind.
On Saturday, August 11, local author Ashley English will lead a cooking demo at the Henderson County Tailgate Market from 9 until 11:30 am. She’ll also be selling and signing her books, including Keeping Chickens, Home Dairy, and her newest: A Year of Pies. Also on Saturday, Asheville City Market’s EBT bonus promotion continues. The first 50 EBT/SNAP customers will receive a $5 bonus market token. At Asheville City Market’s Kids Corner Market, the Girl Scouts will lead a plant snack activity (9 am-noon). The tailgate is also gearing up for a celebration proclaiming Asheville “Bee City USA” the following week, August 18.
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
