Fresh at Winters Farmers Markets This Week

Winter farmers tailgate markets are going strong with farm-fresh local food offerings every week!
One farm vendor who is new to the tailgate market scene is Meadow Cove Farm. Though they have been an active Appalachian Grown™ certified farm selling produce for many years, this is the first year that they have dived into selling at tailgate markets. Setting up a table every week at the Woodfin YMCA Indoor Winter Tailgate Market, they are primarily selling greens they have raised in a greenhouse on their farm in Weaverville. The greens they sell include a salad mix which consists of lettuces, spinach, Swiss chard, and a variety of kale. In the next four to six weeks, they expect to have radishes, sugar snaps, beets, a broader variety of lettuces and greens, and maybe even cilantro. Claudine Cremer, co-owner of Meadow Cove Farm, says, “We’ve been pleased with the turnout of the Woodfin market and it has persuaded us to sign up for a regular tailgate market in Mars Hill this summer.”
When summer does roll around, Claudine and her husband Paul (pictured above) encourage people to come directly to the farm. They want visitors to walk through the fields and pick out exactly what they want, as well as see the alternative energy sources harnessed to run the farm, including several solar systems and rainwater collection that gravity feeds the fields. They are also a part of the WWOOF program, which links people who want to volunteer with organic farms. Claudine invites anyone to apply.
Speaking of the Woodfin YMCA Indoor Winter Tailgate Market, they are welcoming two new vendors: a gluten-free baker, Home Is Where the Heart Is Bakery, and “Tim the Fish Guy,” who is selling seafood caught off of the North Carolina coast and brought in weekly on Fridays.
What else is going on at winter markets? We see the return of the Spruce Pine Farmers Market this Saturday, March 1. The Spruce Pine market only happens the first Saturday of the month through April, and takes place at The Pizza Shop and Dry County Brewing Company in Spruce Pine. At the market, you’ll find vendors offering up grassfed beef, kielbasa, pork, goat cheese, Irish soda bread, eggs, herbal remedies such as deodorants, herbal teas, jams, and jellies.
There are plenty of other winter markets open now. For a list of these markets, visit the farmers market section of asapconnections.org or at our online farmers market calendar.