With the arrival of the new season, we welcome the return of farmers markets and the dozens of vendors that come with them! With more than 100 farmers markets across the Appalachian Grown region, more markets will reopen throughout the spring over the coming weeks. Many of these markets offer SNAP incentives and other promotional programs. See a map of farmers markets across the region, including information about location, hours, and SNAP and incentives at asapconnections.org/farmersmarkets.
Of course farmers markets have an array of seasonal produce available, but if you are a home gardener or wanting to grow some of your own food this year, now is the time to get your plant starts from local growers and get started. For plant starts that produce fruits and vegetables, you can even use SNAP and Farm Fresh Bucks to purchase them!
Vendors have started bringing seedlings to markets with more to become available the further we get into Spring. Right now, find cool season plant starts that aren’t as frost sensitive, along with perennial plants like blueberry bushes and other fruit trees. Hogback Ridge Herb Farm (North Asheville Tailgate Market) and B & L Organics (North Asheville, West Asheville, and River Arts District markets) will have veggie and herb starts like kale, broccoli, cabbage, rosemary, thyme, and more. Find more starts from Kindland Farm (Asheville City and Weaverville markets), Plucky Sparrow Homestead (Weaverville and East Asheville markets), and Seven Senses Farm (West Asheville Tailgate Market). Give it another two weeks or so, after the last frost, and Hogback Ridge will have summer veggies starts like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and squash. Starting in May, find Bellyfull Plants Nursery with plenty of warm season starts at Black Mountain Tailgate Market.
As for perennial plants that will keep returning year after year, find a variety of edible trees and shrubs from High Country Nursery (North Asheville and West Asheville markets) including cherries, blueberries, mulberries, honeyberries, elderberries, self-pollinating raspberries and blackberries, figs, paw paws, and more. Bear Necessities Farm has you covered at West Asheville Tailgate Market with more perennial permaculture plants like raspberry and blackberry canes, strawberry plants, honeyberry (similar to blueberry), native plums and elderberries, and medicinal herbs like comfrey and mint.
In the meantime, there’s still time to continue experimenting with some of the winter produce at markets. As you may know, pesto can be made with a number of greens and veggie tops. Instead of tossing the radish or carrot tops, try turning them into a pesto to use with pasta, on toast, or marinated into chicken. Start by separating the greens from one bunch of radishes or carrots. Wash and dry greens, then roughly chop. Place greens along with one chopped garlic clove, one-fourth cup of walnuts, one-fourth cup of Parmesan cheese, and two tablespoons of lemon juice into a food processor. With the motor running slowly add one-third cup olive oil. Add more oil, if desired, to reach the desired consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Find radishes and carrots from vendors like Encompass Farm and Smallholding Farm at East Asheville Tailgate Market.
At spring markets, find a variety of produce including leeks, spring onions, collards, bok choy, turnips, radishes, parsnips, and carrots. You’ll also find farm-fresh eggs, cheese, bread, pastries, fermented products, drinks, and prepared foods. 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.