Life’s a peach at area farmers markets! Things are peachy keen at WNC tailgates! (We couldn’t settle on just one saying.) The summer stone fruit has officially arrived—along with some relatives—and will stick around through the rest of the season.
In fact, it’s a veritable orchard around Asheville. Pick up pints of peaches as well as cousins plums and nectarines from Creasman Farms. Find Creasman at Asheville City Market, Black Mountain Tailgate Market, and Montford Farmers Market. McConnell Farms has got peaches and plums, too; shop McConnell’s offerings at Asheville City Market Downtown and South, North Asheville Tailgate Market, and West Asheville Tailgate Market. Of course, berries still abound from these and other farm vendors. Find blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries now. Berries and peaches can be frozen, so stock up to enjoy on a snowy day months away.
Peaches aren’t the only sweet find at markets these days. More and more jars (and bears!) of this season’s honey harvest can be found. Osada Bee Farm offered a nice selection at North Asheville Tailgate Market last weekend, and French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market says to be on the lookout for the sweet stuff there.
Other sure signs of summer are also springing up, from beans to potatoes: look for Yukon Golds and even a few fingerlings. And, keep your eyes out for small quantities of early tomatoes. Vendors like Gaining Ground Farm (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market) have cherry tomatoes. Holly Spring Farm and Nursery (Flat Rock Tailgate Market, Mills River Farmers Market) reports their ‘maters are showing color in spite of the recent rain; they’re offering green tomatoes and a few Early Girl tomatoes now.
Whether you’ll use summer fruits and veggies in a salad, as a side, or as your meal’s star, you can also pick up local cheeses, eggs, breads, meats, seafood, and other proteins to complete your dish.
Asheville City Market Downtown’s annual summer $5 for $5 EBT/SNAP promotion is under way. This and each Saturday through August 31, the first 50 SNAP customers who make a minimum purchase of $5 in SNAP tokens will receive a free $5 bonus token. Jackson County Farmers Market will offer a SNAP promotion beginning July 20. Also this Saturday, July 13, North Asheville Tailgate Market celebrates their 34th anniversary with special festivities.
To learn about market events/find a market schedule, visit our farmers market calendar or browse our online Local Food Guide.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
