Fresh at (Winter) Markets This Week

Winter farmers tailgate markets are heating up! This Saturday marks the second Woodfin YMCA Indoor Winter Tailgate Market (10 am-12:30 pm). The first market was a big success. New Moon Herbs Farm’s produce included sweet potatoes, kale, and lettuce. Ivy Creek Family Farm had turnips, mushrooms, arugula, and more. Cheese vendors like Three Graces Dairy and Blue Ridge Mountain Creamery offered up their specialties. There were apples, ginger, greens, carrots, sprouts/microgreens, meats, crafts, cheese, and baked goods.

The market will happen weekly throughout the winter at the Lofts Reynolds Village at 51 N. Merrimon Avenue, adjacent to the Woodfin YMCA.
The first winter Asheville City Market downtown kicks off this Saturday, January 11, from 10 am to 1 pm at the regular market location (161 S. Charlotte St.) only inside the Public Works Building. Expect lots of vendors from the market’s regular season including produce from farms like Kay Farm and Blue Meadow Farms; meats from Dry Ridge Farm; as well as cheeses, eggs, baked goods, and pottery.
Other winter markets happening this week include mini-markets that are affiliated with Blue Ridge Food Ventures’ Winter Sun Farms CSA. 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 produce during the winter!
Mini-farmers markets will happen at the CSA pick-up locations throughout the winter season. Blue Ridge Food Ventures will host one mini-market this Wednesday, January 8, 9 am-1 pm and 4-7 pm. Farmers at Blue Ridge Food Ventures will include River View Farms from Arden selling pork; Wright’s Meats with beef fed with spent yeast from local breweries; and poultry and eggs from Brittain Farms.
Other Winter Sun Farms pick-up sites include the Grow Down Home Farmers Market in Black Mountain and the site of the Flat Rock Tailgate Market. Throughout the winter season, the mini-farmers markets will offer local products such as eggs, pasture-raised meats, wild-caught salmon, fish cakes, tempeh from local soybeans, and more.
For a list of winter markets, visit the farmers market section of asapconnections.org; also find winter markets listed at our online farmers market calendar.