Seafood isn’t something particularly local to the mountains of Western North Carolina, but farmers markets can still be a chance to find good fish choices to enjoy alongside more locally grown fare. Asheville City Market-Winter offers a few possibilities.
Jake’s Farm
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
The belief that the winter months are a time of culinary asceticism has certainly been debunked by the early markets of 2019. An abundance of produce has lined the booths, including assorted lettuces and salad greens; darker greens like Chinese broccoli, spinach, kale, collards, and bok choy; jewel-toned radishes and sweet potatoes; buckets of apples; and more. With such a wealth of options, there is opportunity to branch out and try a few meal-time variations.
Fresh at (Winter) Farmers Markets This Week
More veggies and vendors are keeping new winter markets feeling new! Last week, the Neighborhood Y at Woodfin Winter Tailgate Market welcomed Jake’s Farm, as well as eco-friendly cleaning product vendor Shecology (try their laundry soap nuts!). Jake’s Farm will bring their wide variety of produce to Asheville City Market (ACM) downtown beginning this Saturday as well. Speaking of veggies, expect lots of lettuce. At ACM last weekend, Kay Farm’s coolers overflowed with the leafy stuff.
Fresh at (Winter) Farmers Markets This Week
Valentine’s Day was definitely the theme of winter farmers markets last week—think handmade jewelry, crafts, and desserts galore, including giant chocolate hearts bearing the quintessential phrase Be Mine. Though the holiday and its special sweets will have come and gone before this week’s markets arrive, there will still be lots to swoon over!
Market favorites Rio Bertolini’s—who offer fresh pastas, sauces, and pizza dough—came back for good last week to Asheville City Market South’s winter tailgate (Wednesdays 2-6 pm). For their return, they brought several new flavors of raviolis, including pea and pancetta and parsnip and chestnut. Be on the lookout for exciting new fillings this week and every Wednesday. You can also find Rio Bertolini’s at the Winter Market at the Neighborhood Y at Woodfin (Saturdays 10 am-noon).