We’ve been talking a lot about shopping at area holiday farmers tailgate markets for perfect presents. But they are farmers markets after all, and farmers are still setting up shop each week. So, be sure to bring your gift and grocery lists!
- Asheville City Market, Sats 10 am-1 pm through Dec 15 (reopens indoors in Jan)
- Grow Down Home Farmers Market, Sats 10 am-1 pm through Dec 22
- Holiday Bazaar at North Asheville Tailgate Market, Sats noon-4 pm through Dec 22
- Jackson County Farmers Market Holiday Bazaar, Sats Dec 8 and 15, 10 am-1 pm; market continues indoors through spring
- Madison County Farmers & Artisans Market, Sats 10 am-3 pm through Dec 22
- Weaverville Tailgate Market, Weds 2-6 pm through Dec 19
* Times subject to change. For more holiday markets, click here.
If you’re planning to make latkes this week or on the last night of Hanukkah this weekend, you can find local potatoes now, including well-loved Kennebecs. For a different take on the traditional recipe (find one from Dough here!), try using sweet potatoes which abound, or opting for bold purple/blue potatoes, spotted this past Saturday from Firefly Farm at Asheville City Market (ACM).
For warming winter soups, look for celery from Ten Mile Farm at Asheville City Market (one ASAPer reports they’ve never had celery so delicious) and meats from vendors like Hominy Valley Farms Land and Cattle, East Fork Farm and Hickory Nut Gap Farm (both also at North Asheville’s Holiday Bazaar), Mackey Farm (at Weaverville Tailgate Market), and Foothills Pasture Raised Meats (at the Holiday Bazaar and Grow Down Home Farmers Market).
Of course, local winter squash can be found (it’s Get Local winter squash month). Farmers have cured it before it gets to you, so it can stand up to storage and last through the winter months. Also find roots like turnips and greens, and local apples and apple products from vendors like Creasman Farms at ACM and McConnell Farms at both ACM and the Holiday Bazaar.
On the gift front, there’s so much more than we’ve mentioned in past reports. ASAP’s Trish Tripp, the office’s resident artist, is offering up her scratchboard-style prints on their own or on calendars and t-shirts at the Holiday Bazaar. Jackson County Farmers Market reports you can purchase hand painted and personalized Christmas ornaments that will be created while you shop! For the fungi fan, BMS Mushroom Farm offers grow your own shiitake mushroom kits, compete with an inoculated log, stand, recipe and instructions, at Grow Down Home Farmers Market. They can even ship them for you. And, your favorite artisan food producers like Smoking J’s Fiery Foods and Farm (hot sauces, BBQ sauces, salsas) are offering up samplers and gift sets to give your friends and family a little taste of everything they create.
And we’ve only scratched the surface! But don’t delay, only a few holiday markets remain. Check out the sidebar and our online farmers market calendar for details.