Guest market report by Alex Alesi, fall communications intern; go Alex!
Lower temperatures make fall crops feel right on time at area farmers tailgate markets. Root vegetables will abound this week. Keep reading to see what we mean!
Potatoes are sure to be plentiful at area farmers tailgate markets this week. After all, it is officially Get Local potato month! But we’re not talking about the average russet…
Thanks to the mild winter, summer came early this year. So it’s no surprise that markets are already beginning to look a lot like they do in the fall—even though it’s officially still one month away.
One tell-tale sign? Winter squash, which began arriving in relatively large quantities this past weekend. Flying Cloud Farm (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market) offered up many different types: delicata, spaghetti and kobucha. They expect to harvest butternuts soon and say even more varieties will be available before you know it. Varieties of acorn squash have also been spotted from vendors including Aardvark Farm (Asheville City Market, Yancey County Farmers Market).
Expect a bean bounty at area farmers tailgate markets. For example, nearly every produce vendor at French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market reports they’ll offer them this week. And let us spill the beans: many farmers are offering the veggie in bulk now, as they’re doing with tomatoes, so you can put them up for the winter when they can’t be found locally. Not sure if your farmer is offering a bulk deal? Just ask!
If melons make your mouth water, you’ll want to get to your neighborhood farmers tailgate market this week! Watermelons have been spotted from vendors like Ten Mile Farm (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market), and more should be on their way in the next few weeks. Catch cantaloupes now, too, from vendors like Blue Ribbon Farm (Asheville City Market, Montford Farmers Market).
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.
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).
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.
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!
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.