It’s a family affair at farmers markets these days! The Three Sisters—beans, corn, and squash—can be found now. Called sisters historically because they share a season and help each other grow and thrive, these three plants were the principal crops of Native American groups. Farmers still companion plant these crops today.
Asheville City Market
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week + What Recent Rains Mean for Farms
What’s fresh at markets this week? What isn’t! These days, summer favorites like beans, bell peppers, cabbages, eggplants, potatoes, and tomatoes are joining an already seasonal abundance of greens, summer squash, berries, and peaches.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Life’s a peach at area farmers markets! Things are peachy keen at WNC tailgates! (We couldn’t settle on just one saying.) The summer stone fruit has officially arrived—along with some relatives—and will stick around through the rest of the season.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Get berry excited, because berries are here! While only a few markets and vendors have had them up until now, nearly every area tailgate should have berries ripe for the “picking” this week.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Summer is officially here! Although the season’s full bounty has yet to arrive to area tailgates, produce ambassadors have been dispatched from the fields to tantalize taste buds and tell of what’s to come.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Catch the beet at area farmers tailgate markets this week! The root veggie has arrived with the summer and will stick around into fall and early winter.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Shell peas, and snap peas, and snow peas, oh my! All types of peas were available under “one roof” at Black Mountain Tailgate Market this past Saturday. Find them at many other markets around the region now, too.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
It’s beginning to look a lot like summer at area farmers tailgate markets thanks to June’s arrival! This month marks the true start of the local broccoli season, which lasts into July. Markets from Black Mountain Tailgate Market to West Asheville Tailgate Market report vendors are bringing the cruciferous veggie now. B&L Organic (French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market, West Asheville Tailgate Market) offers broccoli raab or rabe, also called rapini. The veggie’s buds resemble broccoli, but it’s more closely related to the turnip (also available now); use in pastas and stir-fries.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Craving cool, crisp salads now that the mercury is rising? Area farmers tailgate markets are veritable salad bars these days. At Asheville City Market last weekend, produce vendors’ booths were lined with lettuce of all varieties. Oakley Farmers Market’s produce vendors report they’re bringing red leaf and romaine lettuces this week.
*Recipe Added!* Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
Strawberries sold in a snap last week, but don’t worry if you didn’t go home with any. Berries are back again at area farmers tailgate markets! What’s more, they’re super sweet now. With the drenching rains mostly behind us, the sun has gone to work bringing out the berries’ sugars. Speaking of sweet, Mackey Farms (Madison County Farmers & Artisans Market, Weaverville Tailgate Market) offered up strawberry ice cream last week, so be on the lookout.