Your pumpkins are carved and ready to light up the night on Halloween, right? That means you deserve to indulge in some pre-made pumpkin treats at area farmers tailgate markets this week—no knives or spoons needed.
At Asheville City Market, try a portable slice of pumpkin bourbon bread from Sweet Life Bakeshop. Or, enjoy pumpkin chocolate chip cake or pumpkin cream cheese coffee cake from Sweetheart Bakery (find Sweetheart at Montford Farmers Market and North Asheville Tailgate Market, too).
But don’t relax too much when it comes to holiday planning. Local turkeys are going fast. This past Saturday, East Fork Farm (North Asheville Tailgate Market, Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market) reported only 30 left. They plan to have a signup sheet out at markets as long as turkeys remain, so act now.
Or, think outside of the box this year and opt to feature another local protein at your Thanksgiving table. Many meat, tempeh, and seafood vendors will stick around markets through the end of the year.
Of course, turkeys and pumpkins aren’t the only signs of the season. Keep your eyes peeled for late-season apple varieties, such as Pink Lady, Fuji, and Granny Smith. Look for baskets of chestnuts ready for roasting by an open fire. And, even though a chill is in the air, pick up produce like greens, onions, potatoes, and fennel.
The Flat Rock Tailgate Market will celebrate the seasonal harvest and their final regular-season market with a Harvest Festival Thursday October 27 from 3-6 pm. The event will feature tasty samples and a scarecrow making activity. (They will open for a special holiday market in December.)
On Saturday, October 29, Black Mountain Tailgate Market will host their Harvest Fair from 9 am until 1 pm. (The fair is their final regular-season market; they will offer a special holiday market in November.) The free event will feature hands-on activities, including goat milking, corn shelling, and hay rides. Attendees can also watch demonstrations on topics from garden tool maintenance to mozzarella stretching.
Also on Saturday, celebrate Halloween at North Asheville Tailgate Market with children’s face painting, a costume contest, and more from 8 am until noon. The market continues through the end of November, with special holiday markets in December. Asheville City Market South recently announced they will also continue through November, with close to 20 vendors.
Find more end-of-season and holiday market information in future updates, as well as posted here later this week!
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
