Not too long ago, our local farmers, artisans, craftspeople and music-makers got together to create one of the treasures of our sustainable community here in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
They formed the Mountain Tailgate Market Association(MTMA) in 2002. Their collaborative effort with sustainable agriculture as its seminal force brings more than fresh food, artisan crafts of the area's farmers, artists, bakers, food processors, and other products made by local vendors.
The weekly tailgate markets they conceived now bring a sense of community --the chance to spend time with your neighbors delighting in your "green roots" . This seems to be something that everyone cherishes.
(logo courtesy of MTMA)
As a member of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, I receive a NEWSLETTER-each week telling me what's available and what to anticipate. This week, I am sharing the What's Fresh List with you along with a link to the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project so that you can get the newsletter, too! Have FUN!
PLEASE NOTE: Bookmark this page, and please do CHECK BACK often as
I will update this feature on my BLOG with the latest news and photos.
What's fresh this week?
There's so much in season we can only hit the highlights. Summer's here, and the tomatoes are slowly getting bigger, juicier, and more varied. Potatoes, too, are here in all their glory, with the Wednesday Greenlife Market reporting new potatoes in "red, white, and blue." Raspberries and blackberries are here: Black Mountain, Wednesday Downtown, North Asheville, and Riceville report having them in stock - if you get there before they sell out. Cucumbers, cabbage, and onions are abundant now: stock up for your pickling and canning needs. Market shoppers' kitchens are filling with the aroma of pesto as fresh basil is blended with nuts, oil, cheese, and garlic to make the traditional Italian sauce. It's hard to grow great onions in our clay soil, but Full Sun Farm had stunning yellow onions at the North Asheville and French Broad Food Coop markets this past week.
As always, enjoy farm-fresh cheeses, eggs, meats, jams,
and salsas. Some of our region's best bakers sell at market,
as do beekeepers, now in the midst of summer honey harvest season. And if you look hard enough, you might just find something quite unusual, like a pint of quail eggs, an orchid plant, or stoneground grits made from heirloom corn. Find out the source for each of these items, and a list of "who grows what where," below or at BuyAppalachian.org/tailgate.php.
Buncombe
Black Mountain Tailgate Market
Where: 500 Montreat Rd. (Hwy 9 N. at exit 64 off I-40), yard of UU Congregation. Black Mountain, NC
When: Sat 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Fresh This Week: Cantaloupe, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, daikon, leeks, tomatoes of all sizes, green beans in addition to yellow and purple beans, potatoes, onions, snow peas, summer squash, peppers, cucumbers, spinach, Red Russian kale, various lettuces and salad mix, mesclun mix, arugula, fresh herbs including basil, cilantro, mint and parsley, tomato and pepper plants, 3 kinds of basil plants, cornmeal and grits, honey, farm fresh eggs, pasture raised natural beef and chicken, baked goods including bread, muffins, brownies, foccacia, fresh cut flowers, homemade jams and jellies, wooden bowls, beeswax candles, greeting cards, soaps, emu-based lotions, hats, aprons, pottery, jewelry and more.
No charge for stimulating conversation. Free hugs.
Unlimited laughter. (logo courtesy of MTMA)
French Broad Food Coop Saturday Tailgate Market
Where: 76 Biltmore Ave. next to the French Broad Food Co-op. Asheville, NC
When: Sat 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Fresh This Week: Greens, lettuces, broccoli, turnips, garlic, radishes, fresh shiitake mushrooms green beans, beets, zucchini, yellow squash, new potatoes, cucumbers, onions. Vegetable and flower starts, perennials and annuals. Delicious baked treats including sticky buns, muffins, scones, turnovers, freshly baked pies, breads from a wood fired brick oven, and foccacias. Beautiful flower bouquets, sustainably-raised pork and beef, fresh eggs and wonderful goat cheeses. Shop for an entire meal here and top it off with a jar of honey for the table or a box of delicious, locally produced artisan chocolates. Come early for a good selection, enjoy a cup of coffee and hang out to listen to the live music. Thanks for supporting local growers and producers.
Greenlife Tailgate Market on Wednesday Afternoon
Where: Under the locust trees, next to the parking lot. Asheville, NC
When: Wed 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Fresh This Week: Lots of really fresh wonderful produce! Lettuces, fresh herbs, green onions, arugula, kale, chard, bok choi, green garlic, red, white and blue new potatoes, summer squash, cabbage for cole slaw, potted herbs, beautiful cut flowers, as well as edible landscape and bedding plants. Farm fresh local eggs, goat cheese and much more. Come check us out!
North Asheville Tailgate Market
Where: Located in the parking lots behind Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company, 675 Merrimon Avenue. Asheville, NC
When: Sat 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Fresh this week: Don't miss: pastured raised beef, pork, lamb and chicken, pasta, salad dressings, hot jams, raspberry jams, eggs, goat cheese, herbal soaps, flower bouquets, cutting boards, pickles, raspberries, salsa, sunflowers, bees wax candles and herbal crafts. Live music every Saturday. Lots of vegetables: green beans, heirloom tomatoes, cauliflower, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes, snap peas, carrots, beets, cucumbers, summer squash, broccoli, turnips, eggplants, onions and leeks. Greens still: head cabbage, salad blend, kale, chard, collards, endive, dandelion, braising mix, napa cabbage and head lettuce. Herbs: basil and parsley. Plants: evening primrose, medicinal herb plants, shade plants, orchids, blueberry bushes, sweet potato plants and potted plants. Baked goods such a fried apple pies, cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip pound cake, bread and some wheat free baked goods.
Riceville Community Tailgate Market
Where: in the parking lot of the Riceville Community Center, next door to the Riceville Volunteer Fire Department Asheville, NC
When: Sat 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Fresh This Week: Summer's tomatoes and corn have arrived! You'll also find blackberries and raspberries, green beans, garlic, onions (green and red), potatoes, cucumbers, beets, carrots, daikons, summer squash, chard, kale, basil and other fresh herbs, plant starts, cut flowers, pasture raised beef and pre-order chicken, fresh eggs, heirloom stoneground grits and cornmeal, homemade fudge, cookies and fresh coffee. Also enjoy the work of local artisans and the food and plant knowledge of local chef Michael Gentry.
Sunday Afternoon Greenlife Tailgate Market
Where: Grassy area off parking lot of Greenlife Grocery Asheville, NC
When: Sun 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Fresh This Week: Vegetable, herb and flower plants, breads and other baked goods, cut flowers, edible flowers, herbal products. Lettuce and greens, summer squash, onions, bok choy, turnips, swiss chard, basil, and kohlrabi.
Wednesday Afternoon Downtown Tailgate Market
Where: 76 Biltmore Avenue, in the parking lot next to the French Broad Food Coop; across the street from Laurey's Catering. Asheville, NC
What: The Wednesday Afternoon Downtown Tailgate Market features all organic vegetables, fruits and berries, honey, freshly baked breads and desserts, goat cheese, jams, vinegars, farm fresh eggs, natural meats, fresh fish and seafood.
When: Wed 2:00 PM - 6:30 PM
West Asheville Tailgate Market
Where: Market is located on the grassy area at the rear of parking lot for West End Bakery and Haywood Road Market. West Asheville, NC
When: Wed 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Fresh This Week: Stock your kitchens with local farm fresh foods! Farmers offerings this week: tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, squash, chard, mustard greens, radishes, lettuce & braising mixes, beets, garlic, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, fresh herbs, leeks, jams/jellies, eggs, pork, shitake mushrooms, fresh goat cheese, fresh pasta and chocolates. You will also find body care products, herbal salves and plants for landscapes plants. Live music.
Haywood
Canton Tailgate Market
Where: At the town hall in the municipal parking lot on Park Street Canton, NC
When: Tue 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Thu 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Pigeon Valley Market
Where: On Pigeon Rd. and Market St. in the parking lot on the left-hand side of Cold Mountain Market.
When: 8am-Noon
Henderson
Henderson County Tailgate Market
Where: 100 N. King Street (between First and Second Avenues) in downtown Hendersonville. Hendersonville, NC
When: Sat 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Hendersonville Curb Market
Where: Church St.(US 25 South), directly across from the old courthouse Hendersonville, NC
When: Tue/Thu/Sat 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Madison
Madison County Farmers & Artisans Market
Where: Mars Hill College. Off dormitory drive, near Pittman dining hall. Mars Hill, NC
When: Sat 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Fresh This Week: mixed lettuces,spring greens,onions,beets,mushrooms,kohlrabi, basil,radishes, beans, red potatoes, swiss chard, eggs and herbs. goat cheese, breads, vinegars,dipping oils, desserts. Live music every week.
Rutherford
Rutherford County Farmers' Market
Where: From Business 74 Highway turn onto Fairgrounds Road. Rutherford County Farmers' Market is approximately 1/4 mile on the right (white pole barn). Spindale, NC
When: Tue/Fri 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Fresh This Week: Onions, new potatoes,green beans,blackberries, squash, cucumbers, cabbage, bell pepper, carrots, honey, herb plants and flowers are available from the Farmers' Market.
Yancey
Yancey County Farmers' Market
Where: Hwy 19E at South Main Street. Burnsville, NC
When: Sat 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Fresh This Week: Arugula, beets, broccoli, carrots, collards, garlic, green beans, green onions, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, onions, peas, potatoes, salad greens, salad mix, summer squash, swiss chard, turnips, eggs, plants, shrubs, honey, jams and jellies, fresh baked goods, country crafts.
HUNTING AROUND FOR RESOURCES? Take your"peck" from the following links
Tailgate Markets
CSA's
U-Pick
Restaurants
Bed & Breakfast
Appalachian Spring Cooperative
Appalachian Sustainable Development
Appalachian Voices
Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL)
The Canary Coalition
Dogwood Alliance
Madison Farms
Organic Growers School
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
USDA Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
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