Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week

Area farmers tailgate markets are chock full of fall favorites now—from apples to peppers and winter squash to roots galore; we’re talking beets, carrots, sweet potatoes, and more. But, they also offer seasonal surprises you might not be expecting! Keep your eyes peeled for…
Fresh ginger and turmeric: The spices have been spotted from vendors including New Moon Herbs Farm (Asheville City Market) and Aardvark Farm (Asheville City Market, Yancey County Farmers Market). Both are beauties—fresh ginger has a pink tinge, while turmeric is bright orange. They might just stick around all winter long thanks to greenhouse growing.
Sunchokes: Similar in appearance to fresh ginger, knobby sunchokes—or Jerusalem artichokes—have a nutty flavor. They can be enjoyed raw or cooked and make an especially scrumptious soup. They’ve been spotted recently from Gardens United at West Asheville Tailgate Market.
Romanesco cauliflower: All members of the crucifer family abound now, from broccoli to cabbage, but none stand out quite like Romanesco cauliflower. The variety is lime-green with pointed, spiraled pinnacles; it has been the star of Paper Crane Farm (Asheville City Market, West Asheville Tailgate Market) and Ten Mile Farm’s tables recently (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market).
Muscadines and scuppernongs: Native to the South, these grapes are not your average supermarket find. Look for super-sweet muscadines from farms including McConnell Farms (Asheville City Market Downtown and South, North Asheville Tailgate Market, West Asheville Tailgate Market) and scuppernongs (a large variety of muscadine) from folks like Bee Tree Farm (French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market, West Asheville Tailgate Market).
And that’s not all! Watch out for interesting varieties of greens, including Senposai (a cross between Japanese mustard spinach and cabbage), black Spanish radishes, and popcorn on the cob ready to be popped for snacking.
North Asheville Tailgate Market holds their Fall Harvest Festival this Saturday, October 26; the market runs 8 am-1 pm.
Winter weather may already be settling in some evenings, but markets are still going strong with lots to offer. Note, however, that some tailgates will be moving soon to indoor locations and/or slightly shifting their hours. For example, this Saturday marks the last outdoor Jackson County Farmers Market; their winter market will begin November 2 at the Community Table, 10 am-1 pm. Beginning November 5, West Asheville Tailgate Market will run 2:30-5:30 pm.
To learn about market events/find a market schedule, visit our farmers market calendar or browse our online Local Food Guide.