As spring nears, vendors are bringing more and more veggies to winter tailgate markets. That means if you’ve been rushing to get there first thing before vendors sell out, you can take a breather this week!
Mountain Harvest Organics‘ booth billowed with greens—chard, collards, and kale—last week at the winter market at the Woodfin YMCA (Saturdays, 10 am-noon). They’ll have more of all three this week, along with napa cabbage. (They offer pork, too!)
Jake’s Farm has been displaying beautiful radishes at Asheville City Market South (Wednesdays, 2-6 pm). They expect to have even more this week and in the weeks to come. Look for the French breakfast radish, which farmer Missy Huger says is the perfect fast-growing crop to squeeze in between seasons and is just resilient enough for the end of winter. The name comes from its traditional use: on top of toast with butter and a pinch of salt to create a tartine. Also look out for Chinese winter radishes—China Rose is one popular variety. They can be on the small side, but they pack a big bite and are perfect for snacking.
Speaking of snacks, be sure to grab a rustic pastry from Smoke Signals Baking at the Y this week. It’s their last Saturday at the market, as they’ve been filling in for Farm & Sparrow who plan to return mid-month. Expect the unexpected when it comes to their bread and baked goods. We hear cress got incorporated last week!
Dawn Creasman of Creasman Farms (at both Asheville City Market South and the Y) takes her family’s apples and makes snacks of apple turnovers and apple butter that can be enjoyed by everyone. They’re sweet but natural treats, so diabetics don’t have to worry about the sugar, she says.
If you’re looking for a vessel for her apple butter, pick up Roots & Branches crackers from Asheville City Market South. They’re baked with extra virgin olive oil and are also the perfect background to local cheeses. After all, March is Get Local cheese month! Spinning Spider Creamery and Three Graces Dairy alternate weeks at City Market (Spinning Spider will be there this Wednesday); Spinning Spider also vends at the Y.
There are more markets: the Madison County winter tailgate happens the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month from 10 am-2 pm (March is their final month). And, there is lots more to be found at all the tailgates beyond what’s mentioned here. Just browse our other winter market reports!
Fresh at (Winter) Farmers Markets This Week
