We’ll have three weekly farmers tailgate market options in Buncombe County this January! Make sure to visit the winter market versions of Asheville City Market, River Arts District Farmers Market, and the Weaverville Tailgate Market for year-round shopping.
Though winter markets are smaller, you can still find a solid mix of seasonal produce. You’ll find storage crops, like sweet potatoes, potatoes, and winter squash, plus cold-weather veggies like turnips, radishes, and dark leafy greens. Meats, eggs, cheeses, bread, and artisan foods are also available. Here’s what to look for at each market:
Asheville City Market: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on North Market Street between Woodfin and Walnut Streets in downtown Asheville. The market will continue outdoors through the winter, shifting its hours slightly later with the hopes of avoiding the coldest early-morning temperatures. The market will have an average of 40 vendors per week, with many continuing on from the regular season, as well as new vendors like Crow Fly Farm, Seven Seeds Farm, and Stump Farm. Expect about a dozen produce vendors each week, in addition several meat and cheese, coffee, artisan food products, and baked goods vendors!
River Arts District Farmers Market: Wednesdays, 3 to 5:30 p.m., outdoors at Smoky Park Supper Club (350 Riverside Dr). You can find winter produce here from vendors like Smallholding Farm and Flying Cloud Farm, along with specialty products like sausage from Headshrink Farm, sweets from Beeswax & Butter, fermented foods from Serotonin Ferments, and much more!
Weaverville Tailgate Market: Wednesdays, 3 to 6 p.m., indoors at the Weaverville Community Center (60 Lakeshore Dr.). Regular season vendors like Lane in the Woods Creamery, Windy Hollow Farm, and High Top Bread Company will be joined by craft and artisan food vendors like Sister of Mother Earth and Blue Ridge Chaga Connection.
North Asheville Tailgate Market will return with its first winter market in February.
Need more options? Take a road trip this winter to visit a market you’ve never been to before elsewhere in the region.
To the south:
Columbus Winter Market: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturdays
Henderson County Curb Market: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays
Saluda Tailgate Market: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., second and fourth Saturdays
Rutherford County Farmers Market: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., first and third Saturdays
Transylvania Farmers’ Market: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturdays
To the west:
Franklin Farmers Tailgate Market: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturdays
Jackson County Farmers Market: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays
The ‘Whee Market, 3 to 6 p.m., Tuesdays
To the north:
Boone Winter Farmers Market: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays
In South Carolina:
Hub City Farmers Market: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., third Saturdays
The Toasty Farmer: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m, Saturdays
In Tennessee:
Mountain Farm & Craft Market: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturdays
Nourish Knoxville’s Winter Farmers’ Market: every other Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., through March.
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 at appalachiangrown.org.