Summer is sweet and so are many of its crops. Satisfy your sweet tooth with local goods from area farmers tailgate markets! Stock the fridge with snacks such as honey, berries, grapes, baked goods, melons, and more!
Get your blueberries now, because they’ll only be around for a couple of weeks longer! You can find your last blueberries from many farmers this week and next week, including Sleight Family Farms (French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market) and Gibson Berry Farm (North Asheville Tailgate Market, Sundays on the Island in Marshall, and Weaverville Tailgate Market).
Honey is attracting market-goers the way flowers attract bees. Dave Cowart, of Dave’s Raw Honey, and Jon Christie, of Wild Mountain Apiaries have recently joined North Asheville Tailgate Market. You can also find Dave at the French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market, and Jon at Asheville City Market every other week. If you discover yourself in Clay or Cherokee counties, stop by Hayesville Evening Market or Cedar Valley Farmers Market for spring wildflower and sourwood honey from Stockbridge Farms.
Over the last few weeks, later summer fruits have gained a growing place at vendors’ tables. Grapes are available now from farms such as Synchronicity Farm (Oakley Farmers Market), Mitchell Farm (Cowee Farmers Market), McConnell Farms (Asheville City Market, Asheville City Market – South, and North Asheville Tailgate Market), and Creasman Farms (River Arts District Farmers Market, Asheville City Market, and Black Mountain Tailgate Market).
Melons are in full swing now with many different varieties available in all shapes and sizes. Try some from First Blossom Farm (French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market and Asheville City Market), Full Sun Farm (River Arts District Farmers Market, and North Asheville Tailgate Market), and Mountain Harvest Organics (North Asheville Tailgate Market). In addition to classic melons look for unique varieties such as Korean melons and Moon and Stars watermelons.
There are only two more weeks of Growing Minds @ Market, which provides a space at the market for children and families to engage in fun projects focused on local food and farms. Visit Asheville City Market on August 23 for activities with community partner, Asheville GreenWorks, and on August 30 for activities with partner, Girl Scouts. In celebration of ASAP’s Farm tour, there will be one additional Growing Minds @ Market on September 13 – a special event featuring Marcia Kummerle of Good Fibrations and Claudia Muse of Amusing Farms. Join these farmers at the market to learn finger knitting and other fiber related crafts and then visit them the next weekend at their farms on the tour.
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
