Area farmers tailgates are fully stocked to equip your full week’s worth of meals: bread, eggs, chocolate milk, bacon for breakfast; cheese, greens, apples, and all the fixins for leftovers at lunch; and a wide range of roots veggies, squashes, dark leafy greens, and more for dinner. The possibilities are endless!
The first local food folks think about in winter aren’t often fruits, but a wide selection of apples are available from Creasman Farms at Asheville City Market. Make a warm apple pie (great with ice cream) for chilly winter nights; eat ‘em raw with cheese (or on their own) as a midday snack; and, apples are great diced and added into savory meal dishes like soups, roasts, and salads.
Radishes are known (and often desired) for their raw bitter bite. But, roasted at a high temperature (400-425 degrees) for a short time (10-15 minutes), radishes’ spice is mellowed. It’s a great side dish to go with a rack of lamb, a steak, or a pork chop. Or, just as an after-work snack!
For vegetarians, dried beans from Ten Mile Farm are phenomenal protein alternatives to animal products. Try them in stews, chilis, or make a dip such as black bean hummus, and dip fresh, local bread in it!
Asheville City Market vendor, Serotonin Ferments and YMCA Indoor Winter Market South vendor, Ivy Creek Culture, both use local vegetables to create delicious fermented kimchis, krauts, and other tangy treats. These have historically been used in the winter for keeping your immune system strong.
Keep up with your farmers through the winter on social media. Ask them if they use Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram most, and then: follow ‘em!
Most winter markets are every Saturday, but the Spruce Pine Farmers Market Indoor Winter Market is every first Saturday (which is this week). Check out the full list of 2017 winter markets throughout the region.
Area farmers tailgate markets take place throughout the region. As always, you can find information about farms, tailgate markets, and farm stands, including locations and hours, by visiting ASAP’s online Local Food Guide.
Fresh at Winter Farmers Markets This Week
