Even though the weather has been summerlike, local farmers and vendors are still heading indoors for “winter markets” this week. But, talk has definitely turned to spring—and its outdoor markets and bounty. (Can it be three seasons all at once?!)
At Asheville City Market South’s winter market—which runs indoors Wednesdays from 2 to 6 pm through the end of April—farmer Missy Huger of Jake’s Farm is excited to offer spring greens galore. Look for everything from spinach and salad mix to herbs and Asian greens like Bok Choy and Tatsoi.
She’s also excited about the other bold veggies this warm weather will usher in. If there are two more warm weeks, the ground will be ready to plant early corn, she says. And once spring really sets in, she’ll have a bounty of bright red strawberries. Find Jake’s at the South indoor market through March 28. Then, they’ll take their greens and other items over to Asheville City Market in downtown, which opens for the season on Saturday, April 7.
Blue Meadow Farms will also bring spring produce indoors to Asheville City Market (ACM) South this week. They’ll stick around through the end of the winter market, vending April 4 and 18, then head outdoors for the South market’s regular-season location opening on May 2 (on the mall at Biltmore Park Town Square; date and time stays Wednesdays 2-6 pm). Between now and May, they expect to have items like mustard greens, salad mixes, and radishes.
Want to start your spring cleaning/cleansing right away? Bath Salts and Beyond and Green Bee Cleaning are offering tremendous sales for their natural cleaning and cleansing products at ACM South this week. Green Bee Cleaning will offer $2 off of everything, and Bath Salts and Beyond will offer 50% off of all their bath salts.
Don’t forget to snag apples this week before they’re gone. Find Creasman Farms at both ACM South and the winter market at the Woodfin YMCA. This Saturday (10 am-noon) is the next to last week for the special market, which will also have produce, meats, cheeses, and more. Coordinator Diane Saccone shares that she’ll hang posters telling which outdoor markets the vendors will be moving to after March 31.
Saturday is also the final day of the Madison County Indoor Winter Market (10 am-2 pm at the Madison County Extension office). They open at their regular-season location, across from the tennis course on the Mars Hill College campus, on April 7 from 9 am to 1 pm.
Stay tuned to future updates for lots more spring tailgate market opening dates and details, as well as all the info on our coming-soon new online farmers market calendar!
Fresh at (Winter?) Farmers Markets This Week
