Fresh at (Indoor & Outdoor!) Farmers Markets This Week

The seasons collide this week as indoor winter markets continue and the first outdoor markets of spring open their, well, tents!
The indoor market at Asheville City Market South in Biltmore Park Town Square continues Wednesday (2-6 pm). It’s the farewell market for Creasman Farms and their apples; they’ll return to Asheville City Market in downtown this summer with peaches, blueberries, and more. Jake’s Farm will bring more greens—lettuce, kale, collards, and mustards—and they’ll have turnips, too. Blue Meadow Farms will take a break this week but return next Wednesday with radishes and kale mixes. They’re looking forward to offering garlic scapes soon!

Saturday is the final day of the Winter Tailgate Market at the Woodfin YMCA (10 am-noon). Coordinator Diane Saccone is hoping to celebrate the official end of winter by hosting the seasonal market outdoors, but that all depends on the weather. Expect usual vendors offering produce, meats, and baked goods, and expect newcomers, too. She’s opening the final tailgate up to even more growers and food entrepreneurs.
The Leicester Farmers Market kicks off the traditional tailgate season with the first spring opening on Saturday, March 31, from 9 am-2pm. Fittingly, it’s also their very first market.
“It was obvious to us that the Leicester area needed its own farmers market,” says John Bennett, market manager and owner and operator of Beulah Farm. He shares to expect nearly 20 vendors offering early-season produce like lettuces, as well as meats, eggs, baked goods, and cheeses. The Leicester Garden Club will be on hand, too, selling plants and sharing information, and there will be exciting grand opening giveaways. The new market will run twice weekly, Fridays 4-7 pm and Saturdays 9 am-2 pm.
The French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market will be the next to spring up, with a soft opening on April 4 from 2 to 6 pm; they plan to be in full swing with their complete set of vendors by May.
Can’t wait until next week’s report to find out which other tailgates are opening early this spring? Find out now with our NEW online farmers market calendar (it will fill up even more over the coming weeks)!