ASAP’s Weekly Farmers Market Report - August 11, 2023

Fresh at Farmers Markets



We’re already about halfway through summer (if you can believe it!), and each week more new produce arrives at farmers markets! Last week, vendors arrived with a bounty of sweet corn. You can find corn from Creasman Farms (Asheville City, Black Mountain, North Asheville, and West Asheville markets), Lee’s One Fortune Farm (Asheville City, Black Mountain, East Asheville, North Asheville and West Asheville markets), Gibson Berry Farm, McConnell Farms (both at North Asheville Tailgate Market), Smallholding Farm (East Asheville Tailgate Market), and more vendors within the coming weeks!

This delicious chilled sweet corn and bell pepper soup is a great way to beat the summer heat! Start by cutting the kernels from four ears of sweet corn. Scrape the liquid and remaining pulp from the cobs into a separate bowl. Melt two tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium high heat, add two chopped bell peppers and one chopped yellow onion, then cook for about four minutes. Stir in two-and-a-half cups of corn kernels, two minced garlic cloves, a teaspoon of salt, and half a teaspoon of black pepper. Continue to cook for another four minutes. Add one-and-a-half cups of water, and the reserved corn pulp, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for another four minutes. Transfer the contents of the pan to a blender, add a few tablespoons of olive oil, and process until smooth. Pour through a mesh strainer into a bowl, discard the solids, and stir in a teaspoon of white wine vinegar. Chill for at least four hours before serving. Sprinkle the remaining half cup of fresh corn kernels on top of the soup, and enjoy!

This classic cajun side dish is packed with flavor, and will easily complement whatever you’re grilling out this summer! Slice the kernels from four ears of corn, making sure to get the corn’s juices into the bowl, and set aside. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat, then add the corn, one chopped yellow onion, one chopped red bell pepper, one chopped jalape�o pepper, one tablespoon of cajun seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for about 10 minutes, until ingredients start to soften and caramelize. Add a quarter cup of chicken or vegetable stock and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, then add half a cup of heavy cream and simmer for another two minutes. To make this dish vegan, just add another half cup of vegetable stock. You can also throw in other seasonal vegetables like tomatoes or okra, or even add in some cooked chicken or ham to make this a main dish!

This corn salad combines some of the season’s best produce for an incredibly simple and delicious salad! To a large bowl, add two large, chopped heirloom tomatoes, one diced peach, and one cup of fresh corn kernels. Toss these ingredients together with any vinaigrette dressing and a bit of salt, then top with some feta and black pepper and serve!

At farmers markets now you’ll also find peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, blackberries, blueberries, summer squash, potatoes, cucumbers, carrots, beets, radishes, mushrooms, and greens like lettuce, kale, and bok choy. 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.

Connect with ASAP


appalachiangrown.org | asapconnections.org

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


Upcoming Events

8/16Etowah Lions Farmers Market Tomato Festival

8/172023 ASAP Agritourism Workshop

8/19Trial to Table – Summer Celebration

8/27HarvestFest
Find upcoming events (or post your own) at asapconnections.org.

News from ASAP


�Recorrido en espa�ol!

El Tour de la Granja de ASAP (23 y 24 de septiembre) ofrecer� visitas guiadas en espa�ol a tres granjas:

The Utopian Seed Project: S�bado, 1 p.m.Montgomery Sky Farm: S�bado, 3 p.m.,
Tomas C. Farms: Domingo, 3 p.m.

M�s informaci�n sobre el Tour de la Granja de ASAP en espa�ol.

ASAP's Farm Tour (Sept. 23-24) will offer guided tours in Spanish at three farms. More information about the Farm Tour is available in Spanish.


Local Food and Farm in the News

Mountain Xpress featured J Chong in its chef interview series. "We are very fortunate in this area to grow so much produce, and I think the farmers here do a fantastic job of growing everything possible," said J. "But right now we’re into summer turnips, specifically hakurei turnips, which are Japanese. They’re smaller, they’re white and their stems are beautiful and green and leafy. I don’t think enough people eat turnips because at the farmers markets, I’m standing beside farmers with turnips on their table. People are constantly like, 'Oh, what are those?'"

WLOS featured Gospel Ice Cream, a vendor at River Arts District and Asheville City markets. Says owner Disco: "I get to the market on Wednesday at the end of three days in the kitchen that are really tiring or work, and by myself so I come to the market, and I think that I'll be exhausted by the end of it and then every time by the end of the market I feel so energize being fed by the energy of people coming."



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.