Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week

We’ve got a fall riddle for you: What are sure to make this week a sweet week at area farmers tailgate markets? (Hint: look left or up!)
Yep, sweet potatoes! Nearly every produce vendor should have them. Looking for the self-proclaimed “best sweet potato in town”? Swing by Pisgah View Community Peace Garden’s booth at West Asheville Tailgate Market or French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market. Hoping to buy outside the box? Gaining Ground Farm (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market) offers two purple varieties and one white—in addition to a standard orange variety, of course!
There should also be a little heat this week at markets, even after the cold snap. We’re talking about bold, spicy peppers including cayenne and jalapeno spotted from vendors like John’s Berry Patch at West Asheville Tailgate Market. But do get them while they’re hot; this week is likely the last they’ll be available. Some sweet options should be around as well.
Also spotted at West Asheville Tailgate Market? Mia Chia energy bars made with the new craze, chia seeds! Happy Labrador Farm offers then in date-pecan, apricot-almond, and cranberry-spice.
Greens still abound, and more and more Asian greens are joining the show. If you like all types the same—from arugula to spinach—you may even be able to mix and match! This past weekend, Flying Cloud Farm (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market) let shoppers “mix ‘em up” with pricing per pound.
News from North Asheville Tailgate Market: Credit/debit cards are now accepted, and EBT will be accepted soon. In order to follow the sun and the warmth, the market will move this Saturday, November 3,  to the “upper lot” on the UNC Asheville campus, just five upward-sloping yards away from its usual spot.
Halloween marks the regular-season closing for Waynesville Tailgate Market on Legion Drive. While they won’t host holiday or winter markets per se, they share that a couple vendors may continue into November with greens and potatoes. Wednesday also marks the regular season end for Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market on Pigeon Street. They’ll begin their winter market—which runs Saturdays only—November 3 indoors at the Shelton House Barn on Shelton St. The market will run 8 am until noon likely through the second week in December.
Learn about more closing and holiday/winter market dates with our online farmers market calendar or with this handy chart on our main website, asapconnections.org.