It’s officially okra time at area farmers tailgate markets! The Southern summer staple has come out swinging in gorgeous greens and reds; it will stick around through the end of the season and likely into early fall.
Asheville City Market
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Corn is finally making an appearance at area farmers tailgate markets, although a little later than normal. According to Creasman Farms (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market), recent dry conditions are to blame. Despite the weather, their booth—along with those of vendors like McConnell Farms (Asheville City Market downtown and South, North Asheville Tailgate Market)—will give you an earful now!
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week (Recipe Included!)
Peppers—hot and not—are popping up at farmers tailgate markets across WNC! From sweet bells to spicy jalapenos, you can find many types and varieties now. Keep your eyes open for unexpected colors, too. Purple bell peppers were spotted from several vendors last week, including Blue Ribbon Farm (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market) and Paper Crane Farm (Asheville City Market, West Asheville Tailgate Market).
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Berries remain bountiful at area farmers tailgate markets this week. McConnell Farms’ tables promise to again overflow with quarts of big, bold blackberries at Asheville City Market South, Asheville City Market, and North Asheville Tailgate Market. Also expect raspberries, nectarines, and peaches at markets around the region. There is another fruit that’s begun to steal the show from berries, though: the tomato!
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
A trip to your neighborhood farmers tailgate market this week is sure to be fruitful—fruits from berries to nectarines are ripe for the picking!
Creasman Farms (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market) is back at markets after bringing their apples last fall. Now, they’ve got nectarines. They expect peaches in the coming weeks.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Area farmers tailgate markets offer a chance to truly taste the rainbow this week.
Cauliflower can be found in three shades now; but, it may be the last week for these colorful cruciferous veggies, so snag them up! Look for traditional white from a variety of vendors. Find purple cauliflower from Paper Crane Farm (Asheville City Market, West Asheville Tailgate Market), and look for Cheddar cauliflower, which is, of course, yellow, from Cane Creek Organics (Asheville City Market and Asheville City Market South, Flat Rock Tailgate Market).
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Crazy about cukes? Then you’ll want to rush out to your neighborhood farmers tailgate market this week. Vendors tables are covered in captivating cucumbers—from slicers to pickling varieties in every shade of green, even white.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Not ready to say ‘so long’ to spring produce? Then head out to area farmers tailgate markets this week and stock up before summer officially arrives!
Garlic scapes will begin waning with heat on our heels. Luckily, the flower stem of the garlic plant can easily be preserved to enjoy throughout the year. Scapes pickle well and make a great pesto, which can be frozen. If going that route, also pick up basil for a batch. The herb is available from many vendors now; Fisher Branch Farm (Asheville City Market) even has three kinds of basil starts if you want to plant yourself.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
It’s the best of both worlds—rather, seasons—at area farmers tailgate markets now! Spring strawberries can still be found among exciting newcomers like mushrooms, summer squash, and sunflowers.
Chanterelles were a crowd pleaser at Asheville City Market this past weekend. In fact, the mushrooms flew out of Paper Crane Farm’s booth fast (see pic above; also find Paper Crane at West Asheville Tailgate Market). Expect to see more chanterelles along with other wild and cultivated mushrooms, from chicken of the woods to shiitakes, at markets this month. June is officially dedicated to mushrooms in ASAP’s Get Local initiative, and local mushroom expert Alan Muskat shares it will be the peak time for favorite wild varieties like chanterelles. Your farmer may grow and/or forage their mushrooms; just ask!
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
The new kids on the block at area farmers tailgate markets now are far from wallflowers! A brand new tailgate has started out strong, new produce offerings can’t be missed, and new vendors are joining in and attracting crowds.
Last week, the newly formed Oakley Farmers Market hosted their soft opening; they will celebrate their official grand opening this Thursday with live music, baby goats, and a children’s activity. Vendor Gladheart Farm (also at East Asheville Tailgate Market and Asheville City Market South) offered up some of the very first zucchinis and cucumbers of the season from their high tunnels. Fiddlesticks Farm, in their first year and also vending at the East Asheville Tailgate Market, caught shoppers’ eyes with their not-often-seen French radish; the variety is GIANT for a radish—reaching almost softball size—and very spicy.