Bundle up! With pandemic precaution still critical, winter farmers tailgate markets are mostly staying outdoors (or partially indoors with ample airflow). Though there are fewer of these markets, you can still find a solid mix of seasonal fruits and veggies. Expect to see plenty of storage crops, like sweet potatoes, potatoes, apples, winter squash, turnips, beets, and carrots. Some farms make use of greenhouses or high tunnels to continue producing salad mixes, lettuces, and dark, leafy greens throughout the colder months. Meats, eggs, cheeses, bread, and artisan foods are also widely available.
In Buncombe County, the following markets will continue through winter:
ASAP Farmers Market: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the parking lot beside the A-B Tech/Mission Health Conference Center (16 Fernihurst Dr.). Because the market is staying outdoors for the winter, it will actually be able to include more vendors than the winter version of Asheville City Market inside the Masonic Temple. The 40 vendors will include 8 to 10 produce farms each week as well as multiple options for meat, seafood, bread, cheese, fermented goods, and more. Prepared foods, such as Rio Bertolini’s pasta, dumplings from J. Chong Eats, and pot pies from Barnhouse Kitchen, will also be available.
River Arts District Winter Farmers Market: Wednesdays, 3 to 5:30 p.m., indoors and outdoors at Plēb Urban Winery (289 Lyman St.). Look for produce from Highgate Farm and Lee’s One Fortune Farm throughout the winter along with specialty products like mushrooms from Black Trumpet Farm, bread from Hominy Farm, ferments from Sweet Brine’d and Serotonin Ferments, goat cheese from Spinning Spider Creamery, vegan cheese from Darë, and much more. You can also pick up to-go wine by the can, bottle, or growler from Plēb.
WNC Farmers Market: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., year-round at 570 Brevard Rd. Farmers Truck Shed #1 is designated for farmers who sell only what they grow.
Need more options? Take a winter road trip to visit a market you’ve never been to before elsewhere in the region.
To the south:
Henderson County Curb Market, Hendersonville: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., year-round.
Transylvania Farmers’ Market, Brevard: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon, year-round
Polk County Winter Farmers’ Market, Columbus: 2nd and 4th Saturdays, 9 am-noon, through March 27.
Rutherford County Winter Farmers Market, Rutherfordton: 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, through March 16.
To the west:
Jackson County Winter Farmers Market, Sylva: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., through March 27.
Franklin Farmers Tailgate Market: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon, year-round.
To the northeast:
Boone Winter Farmers Market: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, through April 24.
In South Carolina:
Hub City Farmers Market Winter Harvest, Spartanburg: 3rd Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., through March 20.
The Toasty Farmer, Greenville: Saturdays, 11 am-2 pm, through March 13.
In Tennessee:
Nourish Knoxville’s Winter Farmers’ Market: Alternate Saturdays, 11 am-1 pm, Jan. 9–April 17.
Area farmers tailgate 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.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
