Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and farmers markets are full of surprises for the mother figures in your life! From flowers, to sweet treats, to ingredients for homemade goodies, farmers markets are the perfect place to find a special something for mom!
A fresh and colorful assortment of local flowers are the perfect token of appreciation for any mom. Farmers markets are beginning to bloom with a dazzling array of peonies, ranunculus, poppies, snapdragons, and more! You can find beautiful bouquets from Blazing Star Flowers (River Arts District Farmers Market), Carolina Flowers (Asheville City Market), Flying Cloud Farm, and Full Sun Farm (North Asheville and River Arts District markets).
Another way to spoil someone special this Mother’s Day is with the various sweets and baked goods you can find at farmers markets. Beeswax and Butter offers a variety of yummy treats, including macarons, cream puffs, and more! Grab a pint (or two) of homemade ice cream from Meadowsweet Creamery for a velvety treat that the whole family can enjoy, including flavors like mango sticky rice, apple stack cake, and more! Freshly baked pastries from market vendors like Flat Rock Village Bakery (River Arts District Farmers Market) and French Broad Pantry (Asheville City and North Asheville markets) make for an easy and delicious addition to any mother’s day brunch.
Want to try making some Mother’s Day goodies at home instead? Make strawberry crumble! Start by adding a stick of salted butter to a 10 inch cast iron skillet, then place in a 350 degree oven until the butter is completely melted, swirling the pan occasionally. Remove from the oven and set aside. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together one cup each of sugar, self-rising flour, and milk. In a separate bowl, whisk together another quarter cup of sugar and two tablespoons of cornstarch. Add two pounds of halved strawberries and a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to the cornstarch mixture, and stir to combine. Pour the matter into the cast iron skillet, then spoon the strawberry mixture and any juices left in the bowl evenly over the batter without stirring. Place the skillet on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 60 to 75 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly. Let cool for at least 15 minutes and serve! Try adding a dollop of that delicious ice cream from meadowsweet creamery if you would like. If you want to score some strawberries, be sure to arrive at market early! You can find strawberries for your crumble from Headwaters Market Garden, Lee’s One Fortune Farm, and Bear Necessities (all at Asheville City Market), as well as Full Sun Farm, Flying Cloud Farm, and others!
At farmers markets now you’ll also find carrots, turnips, beets, radishes, mushrooms, and greens like lettuce, kale, spinach, broccoli rabe, and bok choy. Markets are also stocked with a variety of plant starts, meats, cheese, rice, pasta, bread, pastries, drinks, and prepared foods. Find more details about farms and markets throughout the region in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org.