Now that Thanksgiving is over, farmers tailgate markets have begun their annual holiday markets! This month, we’re welcoming the arrival of dozens of new artisan and craft vendors at holiday markets. While you’ll still be able to find some of your favorite seasonal produce, holiday markets can be your one stop shop for unique, thoughtful and locally made gifts for friends and family!
If you’re eager to begin decorating your home (or have already started!), look no further than farmers tailgate markets for one-of-a-kind, locally grown and crafted adornments to make this holiday season the most special one yet. For floral decor, Carolina Flowers (Asheville City Market) has stunning dried flower wreaths, bouquets, and ornaments to feature in your home. You can find them at Asheville City Market. Blazing Star Flowers will have fresh flowers and dried bouquets to last far past the holiday season (at River Arts District Farmers Market). Thatchmore Farm will also bring their beloved classic holly wreaths to the North Asheville Tailgate Market. Looking for a locally grown Christmas tree? Country Fields Greenhouse will be bringing evergreen trees to the North Asheville Tailgate Market, ready for you to bring home and decorate!
Get ahead on purchasing gifts for your loved ones this holiday season! From foodies, home bodies, self-care enthusiasts, to even the hard-to-shop-for gift recipients in your life, holiday markets have one-of-a-kind offerings for anyone! For the gourmets and aspiring chefs in your life, look for sampler kits of locally sourced spices from Well Seasoned Table (North Asheville Tailgate Market), or a set of handcrafted, small-batch sauces from Better Thymes (Asheville City, North Asheville, and River Arts District markets). Highland Gourmet (West Asheville Tailgate Market) also offers a delicious, locally made balsamic vinegar perfect for making dressings, roasting vegetables, braising meat, and more! A good set of knives is another essential for any kitchen dweller. Treat the cook in your life than with a gift certificate to Karasu Edge Works (Asheville City Market) to bring some new life to their culinary endeavors!
As the temperature continues to drop, everyone can appreciate a warm beverage made from locally sourced ingredients. You can find delicious tea gift sets, holiday seasonal tea blends, and other herbal loose-leaf teas from vendors like Asheville Tea Company (North Asheville Tailgate Market) and Appalachian Divinitea (West Asheville Tailgate Market). For those who may prefer a drink on the sweeter side, Rayburn Farms (Asheville City Market) also has delicious hot cocoa blends. Roasted coffee beans and grounds from vendors like Notorious Coffee Roasting Company (Asheville City and Weaverville markets) will make any coffee lover happy, but also consider gifting any caffeine fanatic in your life with a locally foraged and crafted mushroom brew from Wild Goods (Asheville City Market).
At farmers markets now you’ll also find winter squash, apples, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, turnips, radishes, mushrooms, herbs, and greens like spinach, kale, and bok choy. Markets are also stocked with a variety of plants, 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.