ASAP’s Weekly Farmers Market Report - August 4, 2023

Fresh at Farmers Markets

: [link removed]
 
Okra has made its long-awaited return to farmers markets! Okra has long been a staple among Southern cooking, and although the vegetable can be a bit polarizing outside the South, it is a cherished piece of the region’s history. You can find okra this week from Gaining Ground Farm : [link removed], Flying Cloud Farm : [link removed] (North Asheville : [link removed] and River Arts District : [link removed] markets), Sleight Family Farm : [link removed], Ivy Creek Family Farm : [link removed](North Asheville Tailgate Market), Ten Mile Farm : [link removed] (Asheville City : [link removed] and Black Mountain : [link removed] markets), and Smallholding Farm : [link removed] (East Asheville : [link removed] Market). 

Succotash is a classic summer recipe that uses the best of the season’s produce! Start by boiling two cups of lima beans for about eight to ten minutes, until the beans are tender, then drain and set aside. To a large skillet, add butter and melt over medium heat. Add one chopped small onion, one cup of fresh okra (cut into half inch slices), and one finely chopped garlic clove. Cook over medium heat for about six minutes. Stir in three cups of fresh corn kernels, the lima beans, and salt and pepper to taste, then cook for another five to six minutes. Add three tablespoons of butter, continue to cook until melted, then remove the skillet from heat. Stir in one cup of halved cherry tomatoes, a quarter cup of chopped basil, and enjoy! This dish is also delicious when served chilled for a cool summer salad. You can find the first corn of the season this week from Creasman Farms : [link removed] and Lee’s One Fortune Farm : [link removed]! 

Okra stew, also known as Bamya, is a delicious Mediterranean recipe that combines okra with tomatoes, garlic, peppers, and onion for a quick and delicious meal that you will be coming back to all summer! In a large skillet, heat olive oil to medium heat. Add one small chopped onion, four minced garlic cloves, and two chopped jalapeño peppers, then cook for about five minutes. Add one pound of okra, chopped into rounds, then cook for another five to seven minutes. Season with a teaspoon of ground allspice, half a teaspoon each of coriander and paprika, and salt and pepper to taste, tossing ingredients together to coat. Add one-and-a-half cups of crushed tomatoes, and half a cup of water, then stir to combine. On top of the okra, add one tomato sliced into rounds, and the juice of half a lime, then bring to a boil, turn heat to low and cover the skillet. Serve over rice, with warm pita bread, or even with cooked lamb! 

Pickled okra is an incredibly easy and super delicious way to enjoy okra far past summer’s end! Start by tightly packing two pounds of okra into sterile canning jars, tips pointing up. To each jar, add a whole garlic clove, one teaspoon of salt, one teaspoon of dill seed, and a quarter of a teaspoon of whole peppercorns. Combine one and a half cups each of white vinegar and water, bring to a boil, then pour mixture into each of the jars, leaving a little room at the top. Place lids and rings on the jars, process in boiling water for 10 minutes, then remove. Let the pickled okra sit for at least 4 to 6 weeks for the best flavor!

At farmers markets now you’ll also find tomatoes, watermelon, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, summer squash, potatoes, cucumbers, carrots, beets, radishes, mushrooms, and greens like lettuce and kale. Markets are also stocked with a variety of plants, meats, cheese, rice, pasta, bread, pastries, drinks, and prepared foods. Find more details about farms and markets throughout the region in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide : [link removed].

Connect with ASAP

: [link removed] : [link removed] : [link removed] : [link removed] 
appalachiangrown.org : [link removed] | asapconnections.org : [link removed]
  

ASAP's mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food.
 

: [link removed]

8/10
Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center Field Day 2023 : [link removed]

8/16
Etowah Lions Farmers Market Tomato Festival : [link removed]
 

8/17
2023 ASAP Agritourism Workshop : [link removed]

8/19
Trial to Table – Summer Celebration : [link removed]
 

8/27
HarvestFest : [link removed]

Find upcoming events (or post your own) at
asapconnections.org : [link removed].

News from ASAP

: [link removed]
 

Olivette Community's HarvestFest Is Aug. 27
 
Save the date for the the second annual HarvestFest : [link removed], hosted by Olivette and Chatt Hills Music, benefitting ASAP's Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables : [link removed], and celebrating local farmers. Mark your calendars for August 27. Doors open at 3pm with family games and activities. The Barefoot Movement will kick off the bluegrass beats at 4pm. Farmers get pampered in a VIF (Very Important Farmer) section. Tickets are $25 (kids, farmers, and farmer families are free), available here : [link removed]. Ticket proceeds—as well as wine and beer sales—will go toward Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables.



ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) - 306 W. Haywood Street - Asheville - NC - 28801

Subscribe to this newsletter:
[link removed]
Unsubscribe [email protected]:
[link removed]
Change your preferences:
[link removed]
Forward to a friend:
[link removed]
Report this email as spam:
[link removed]

This email was sent using MyNewsletterBuilder.com.