There is no need to buy kale from California this winter- not with all the fresh local food available at the area farmers tailgate markets open throughout the year! Winter greens are grown all over the region in hoop houses, root vegetables and apples can store for months after harvest, and the most delicious local staples like eggs, meat, and cheese are around no matter what the weather. Not to mention artisan food products like baked goods, spice blends, and chocolate. What more could anyone ask for?
Though the traditional growing season is past, there are still farmers tailgate markets that are open all winter long with plenty of produce and other goods to keep your pantry and fridge full of local food. Spruce Pine Winter Farmers Market opened this past weekend, and will continue to be held the first Saturday of the month, January through April inside The Pizza Shop and Dry County Brewing Company from 12 pm to 4 pm. Catch the next market on February 1.
Asheville City Market and the YMCA Indoor Winter Tailgate Market both open this Saturday, January 10. Expect to see familiar faces, as many of the vendors from the summer and fall markets in Buncombe and Madison counties will be sticking around all year at these two winter markets, which will be held every Saturday through March. Asheville City Market will continue inside the Public Works Building (next to the parking lot where the market is held outside in warmer months) from 10 am to 12 pm. The YMCA Indoor Winter Tailgate Market will be at a new location this year, at the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church on the corner of Gracelyn Road and Merrimon Ave. in Asheville from 10 am to 12:30 pm.
Other markets in the region will also open this Saturday: Bakersville Farmers Market at the Bakersville Community Medical Clinic parking lot, from 10 am to 2 pm. This market will only be on the second Saturday of each month until May. Jackson County Farmers Market will be at the Community Table in Sylva, every Saturday through March from 10 am to 1 pm.
In addition to these weekend markets, Blue Ridge Food Ventures will host a small farmers market during the hours of the Winter Sun Farms CSA pick-up on the second Wednesday of each month, including next Wednesday, January 14 from 9 am to 7 pm. Winter Sun Farms is a winter CSA that takes fresh produce from local farms during the growing season, and then preps, packages, and freezes it so that you can get local summer produce during the winter! There are pick-up locations for the CSA throughout Buncombe County and upstate South Carolina. Only the pick-up at Blue Ridge Food Ventures includes an additional farmers market, so even if you don’t participate in the CSA (which you still can!), there are still other goods for sale.
For more information about winter farmers tailgate markets in our region, visit 2015 Winter Farmers Markets. For a complete list of Appalachian Grown™ certified tailgate markets browse our online Local Food Guide or online farmers market calendar.
Fresh at [Winter] Farmers Markets this Week
