After a two week hiatus, everyone was happy to be back at area farmers tailgate markets to find familiar faces, favorite farmers, and fantastic winter fare! And boy, markets were bustling- many vendors had lines at their tables, and everyone was exceptionally excited.
This past Saturday marked the first day that the YMCA Indoor Winter Tailgate Market was in their new location at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. Vendors were set-up in two large, open spaces downstairs. New Moon Herbs Farm had fresh turmeric and Meadow Cove Farm had fresh and dried shiitakes and you could find everything from cheeses to meats, and breads to juices!
Asheville City Market moved indoors for the season and was full of the familiar faces of vendors and year round customers. The produce variety was surprising for a winter market with more than 15 types of fruits and vegetables to choose from, including fresh lemongrass from Jake’s Farm and frozen heirloom tomatoes from Paper Crane Farm, both perfect for winter soups. Breads, goat cheese, and meats and crafts rounded the market out to make it worth the trip through the cold.
Spruce Pine Farmers Market had their first market on January 3, with baked goods, fresh eggs, knitted items, and herbal products. Their next market will be held on February 1, where you’ll find even more local products, including goat cheese and locally raised meat.
Also on Saturday, January 10, Jackson County Farmers Market kicked off their Annual Seed Order, an opportunity for market shoppers to buy seeds in bulk to get group discounts. They will be taking orders again on Saturday January 17 for seeds, along with seed potatoes, sweet potato slips, onion starts, and leeks. Visit their website or their market this Saturday for more information.
Transylvania Farmers Market will start this Saturday from 10am-12pm in their same location off East Main Street behind Comporium at the corner of Johnson & Jordan Streets. There will be farmers selling eggs, local meat, and winter vegetables.
Mark your calendars: This Wednesday is Winter Sun Farms’ monthly pick-up market at Blue Ridge Food Ventures, 9 am-1 pm and 4 pm-7 pm. Find eggs, milk, and more for sale, in addition to the bounty of the CSA share. You can stop by to purchase from the vendors at the market, even if you aren’t signed up for the CSA. Additionally, you can still sign up for the CSA, if you’d like to but haven’t already.
For more information about winter farmers tailgate markets in our region, visit our 2015 Winter Farmers Markets page. 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
