Fresh cut, local flowers are beginning to return to markets, signaling the arrival of spring with their array of beautiful colors! You can find tulips, poppies, ranunculus, anemones, edible flowers, flower seedling starts, and more at markets this week! Look for bouquets and flower products from vendors like Blazing Star Flowers (River Arts District Farmers Market), Full Sun Farm (North Asheville Tailgate Market), and Carolina Flowers (Asheville City Market). 
 
Want to take home fresh flowers every week? Flower Farms also offer CSA shares! Full Sun Farm offers a weekly flower CSA, starting mid-May through the fall, which includes your choice of a weekly bouquet available for pick up at North Asheville Tailgate Market, and the River Arts District Farmers Market starting in May. Flower CSA shares are the perfect way for flower lovers to enjoy a wide variety of gorgeous blooms throughout the season, from snapdragons in spring, to dahlias in the fall. Other farms offering flower CSA’s include Blazing Star Flowers (River Arts District Farmers Market), and Flying Cloud Farm. 
 
Why stop at decorative flowers, when edible flowers are available at markets as well! You can find edible viola flowers from Blazing Star Flowers. These blooms are not only pretty to look at, but have a subtly sweet flavor that makes a welcome addition to any salad. When crystallized, edible violas are also a unique (and yummy) way to adorn baked goods! To crystallize your edible flowers, start by removing the stems and cleaning off any dirt or residue. In a small bowl whisk one egg white with a few drops of water until the mixture is frothy and smooth. Using a small paint brush, gently coat the petals with the egg white, then dust the flower with caster sugar, and leave on a parchment paper-lined tray or wire rack to dry for at least 45 minutes. Once your flowers are dry, they can be used to decorate cakes or other baked goods! 
 
While a bouquet of cut flowers can brighten up any space, it’s only a matter of time before they become wilted and are thrown away. If you plan on frequenting farmers markets this spring for a regular flower purchase, try getting creative with flowers after they’ve passed their prime to reduce waste! Drying flowers is easier than it looks, and the dried petals can be used for a variety of purposes. Start by stripping any excess foliage, then cutting the stems to the desired length, leaving about 6 inches. Use a rubber band or twine to tie the stems together, then hang upside down in a dry, dark space for two to three weeks. Use your dried flowers as decor, include them in a potpourri mixture, or even incorporate the petals into homemade paper! 
 
At markets now you’ll also find beets, radishes, turnips, cabbage, kale, spinach, salad greens, winter squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes and more! Markets are also stocked with a variety of meats, cheese, rice, pasta, pastries, drinks, and prepared foods. Find more details about farms and markets throughout the region, including winter hours, in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide.