Celebration is in the air this week at area farmers tailgate markets! Fourth of July is around the corner and we’re getting ready to fire up those grills, make some potato salad and coleslaw, and eat succulent summer fruit.
There are so many delicious veggies to put on the grill. Some that are particularly wonderful for grilling are Shiitake mushrooms, which you can find from vendors like Asheville Fungi (West Asheville Tailgate Market and French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market) and Ivy Creek Family Farm (Weaverville Tailgate Market and North Asheville Tailgate Market). Zucchini are also great for grilling, and you can get them from many farms, including Gladheart Farm (Oakley Farmers Market, French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market, and Asheville City Market- South).
For carnivores, you can pick up ground beef for burgers from farms like Hickory Nut Gap Farm, (West Asheville Tailgate Market, Asheville City Market, and North Asheville Tailgate Market). Perhaps you prefer ground lamb to make burgers. If so, try Highlander Farm, found at the Oakley Farmers Market. For those that don’t eat red meat, Dry Ridge Farm (French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market, Asheville City Market, and Asheville City Market- South) has wonderful chicken for the grill. No Evil Foods (West Asheville Tailgate Market, Montford Farmers Market, Asheville City Market, and North Asheville Tailgate Market) has incredible vegan sausage for all the vegetarians and vegans out there.
Now is the time to break out your favorite coleslaw and potato salad recipes. The Farm (Henderson County Farmers Market and Saluda Tailgate Market) will have red, white & blue potatoes, so you can make an extra festive potato salad! If you’re looking for celery to add, you can get it from Gaining Ground Farm (Montford Farmers Market, Asheville City Market, and North Asheville Tailgate Market). Cabbage is in season as well; get it from farmers such as First Blossom Farm (French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market). In the mood for homemade mayonnaise for your slaw and salad? You can use local eggs from vendors such as Brittain Farms at West Asheville Tailgate Market and Mills River Farmers Market.
Though watermelon is the poster child for summer festivities, they won’t be at markets until late summer. If you’re looking for delectable summer fruit for this Fourth of July, pick up peaches and plums from Creasman Farms (Montford Farmers Market, Asheville City Market, and Black Mountain Tailgate Market), and blueberries from Thatchmore Farm (West Asheville Tailgate Market and North Asheville Tailgate Market) and Aardvark Farm (Montford Farmers Market and Asheville City Market).
Don’t forget that this Wednesday, June 2, will be the first River Arts District (RAD) Farmers Market! All the same vendors will be there, at the same day and time as the former Montford Farmers Market, just in a new location- All Souls Pizza parking lot at 175 Clingman.
For a complete list of Appalachian Grown™ certified tailgate markets browse our online Local Food Guide or online farmers market calendar.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
