Summer treks on with its humidity, high temperatures, and sweltering afternoons and what better way to cool down than with a chilled treat from farmers markets. Beyond a diversity of produce, markets are stocked with refreshing treats and ingredients to make your own at home. Whether you’re having trouble getting your kids to eat more
As the first cool breezes of late summer begin to whisper through the mountains, we’re reminded that fall and the school year are just around the corner. Now is the time to soak up that late summer goodness, especially with this past week being National Farmers Market Week! While we are always celebrating farmers markets,
Green beans are fresh for the picking at markets now! For many through the ages, beans of all kinds are more than food. They are a symbol of resilience, self-sufficiency, and the close-knit communities that have preserved them and kept them alive for generations. Poke around Appalachia and you’ll be sure to find some heartening
Markets are heating up this week with plenty of new pepper varieties to spice up your cooking! This pepper cornucopia includes shishito, jalapeño, Anaheim, poblano, bell, sweet peppers, and more. Look for peppers from Sleight Family Farm (North Asheville), Gaining Ground Farm (North Asheville and River Arts District markets), Olivette Farm (Asheville City and East
Summer officially begins today, and it sure does feel like it! If you too don’t have central air or are just wanting to keep your house from heating up more than it already is, chilled soups are the way to go. These dishes are essentially vegetable smoothies to eat from a bowl—or even drink from
Father’s Day is right around the corner, and what better way to celebrate the father figure in your life than by cooking up some seasonal produce and fresh meats from local farmers markets! Since Sunday is Father’s Day, we’re going to lean into the stereotype and devote this column to grilling. Grillable veggies like summer
With the changing of the seasons–even week by week this time of year–we get to witness and taste the ripening of each fruit, one ripening as another is ending. While strawberries still have a few more weeks, the short yet sweet season of cherries is here! Cherries are both easy to preserve and delicious eaten
A lot of firsts are coming in season–broccoli, cauliflower, more cucumbers, and the first zucchini, summer squash, and new potatoes! These are crops that highlight the shoulder season so well with a mix of abundant spring crops and beginnings of early summer ones we have all been waiting for. The flowering heads of broccoli and
With warmer weather and longer days, it’s time for more outdoor activities—and let’s be honest, we could all use a little more play and whimsy in our lives! Grab some blankets, pillows, tea cups, embellished napkins, and an array of decor to charm your loved ones with a tea party or picnic inspired by the
While ramps have finished up for the season, markets are full of spring alliums like green garlic, garlic scapes, onion scapes, leeks, green onions, chives and more! The onion and garlic family—also known as edible alliums—are a fond flavor for humans and have been used in cooking and as natural medicine for thousands of years.