zucchini

Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week

cucumbers

With a heat wave gripping most of the Eastern United States this week, it’s too hot to cook! Luckily, we’re entering the season of chilled soups and gazpacho. These dishes are essentially vegetable smoothies to eat from a bowl—or even drink from a glass if you prefer! They require no heat to prepare, but pack … Read more

Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week

summer squash, photo by Camilla Calnan Photography

Zucchini and yellow squash season is only just getting started, but we can’t help but get excited about these as the start to summer produce. The tender baby varieties that are available right now are great for eating raw in pasta or salad. Look for summer squash from Full Sun Farm (North Asheville and River … Read more

Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week

zucchini

Father’s Day is Sunday, and what’s a better way to celebrate than by cooking up some fresh, seasonal produce from local farmers markets! We’re finally seeing an abundance of zucchini squash as spring comes to an end. Whether you prefer to grill, roast, or sauté your zucchini, there’s no wrong way to enjoy this delicious … Read more

Chef Melinda Aponte’s Zucchini Lasagna

Melinda Aponte of the YWCA of Asheville and Hannah Jeske of R Farm

Melinda Aponte is the nutrition coordinator for the YWCA of Asheville’s Early Learning Program. She’s worked with several local farms to provide the children with fresh, healthy meals daily. She is pictured on the left with farmer Hannah Jeske of R Farm. I’m sharing this recipe because it’s so homey. There’s something about a casserole—lasagna … Read more

Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week

summer squash

Summer is around the corner, and our favorite seasonal squash is starting to make an appearance at farmers markets! Look out for some of the first harvests of zucchini and yellow squash from Full Sun Farm at North Asheville and River Arts District markets and from Velvet Morning Farms, at Asheville City Market.  There are … Read more

Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week

cucumbers at farmers markets

As summer gets closer, we are starting to see more exciting arrivals at area farmers markets!  Cucumbers made their seasonal debut at farmers markets this week, with Thatchmore Farm (West and North Asheville markets), Velvet Morning Farms (Asheville City Market), and Ivy Creek Family Farm (Weaverville and North Asheville markets) offering an early harvest of … Read more

Chef J Chong’s Sweet & Sour Pork and Veggie Stir-Fry

Chef J. Chong

Chef J Chong—originally from Toronto, but now calling Asheville home—is passionate about bringing Cantonese food to WNC. She sells dumplings and sauces at local farmers markets, leads cooking classes, and offers private dinners. J believes that food is medicine and food brings people together. J is a proud and vocal Asian queer activist for LGBTQ+, … Read more

Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week

blueberries

These are giddy days at farmers tailgate markets. New summer produce is popping up everywhere, and there is a joyful sense of abundance. (Or an overwhelming experience, if you’re trying to decide what to buy first!)
This past week saw the first pints of early-season blueberries, including from Gibson Berry Farm and Flying Cloud Farm (River Arts District Farmers Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market) and Ivy Creek Family Farm (Weaverville Tailgate Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market). Cherries, too, made their first appearance, from Lyda and Sons Orchard (Weaverville Tailgate Market) and Full Sun Farm (River Arts District Farmers Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market). Pies are certainly the iconic way to enjoy these summertime berries, but they can also pair extremely well with the vegetables sitting alongside them.

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Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week

Unique to area farmers tailgate markets are the moments that shoppers share with farmers and each other when they express enthusiasm for a new produce item: that excitement of finding your favorite fruit that has finally arrived at market; of finding a new variety of veggie that you hadn’t known existed; of finding a food your family cooked for you as a kid. For some folks, summer squash — particularly zucchini — can elicit such an exchange.

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