Melons have finally made their way to farmers market! There’s nothing quite like a cool watermelon or cantaloupe to help beat the heat and stay hydrated in the summer. You can find cantaloupe from Highgate Farm at Black Mountain, River Arts District and West Asheville markets, and both watermelons and cantaloupe from Gibson Berry Farm at North and West Asheville markets! 
 
While watermelon is easy to enjoy by itself, the fruit is a fantastic addition any salad, blended drink, and dessert as well! Our favorite way to enjoy watermelon this summer is alongside cucumber and crumbled feta in this delicious (and incredibly simple) salad recipe! Combine five cups of chopped watermelon, two diced cucumbers, half of a sliced red onion, then toss together well with dressing. Top with one-third cup of crumbled feta, one-third cup of chopped mint, half of a sliced jalapeño pepper, and a sprinkle of sea salt, and enjoy! 
 
Don’t throw away the rinds quite yet! Instead of tossing the rind aside after slicing up a watermelon, try this roasted parmesan watermelon rind to enjoy the entire melon. Chop up the rind of one watermelon, add to a large bowl, then toss together with two tablespoons of olive oil, a teaspoon of salt, and a bit of ground black pepper. Spread the rind in a single layer onto a baking sheet, then bake at 400 degrees for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Transfer the roasted rind to a bowl. Stir in with one-third cup of parmesan cheese.
 
Much like watermelon, cantaloupe doesn’t need much to make for a sweet and refreshing snack. If you want to get a little more creative with your cantaloupe this summer, try grilling it with a bit of olive oil, honey, and tajin seasoning for an easy dessert or appetizer. 
 
A lesser known summer fruit, but nonetheless delicious, available at farmers markets this week is the ground cherry! Despite their name, the ground cherry is neither related to, or tastes like cherries. This fruit closely resembles a tiny tomatillo, and has a flavor similar to pineapple. While the easiest way to enjoy these are by simply peeling off the husks and eating alone, you can also make a ground cherry jam to preserve it past the summer season. Remove the husks from two pounds of ground cherries, and wash the fruit carefully. In a large pot, combine the ground cherries, two-and-a-half cups of sugar, the zest and juice of one lemon, and the juice of one lime. Bring the pot to a boil, lower heat to medium, and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. In the last 10 minutes, add one whole star anise and three inches of grated ginger, then remove from heat when cooking. Spread your fresh jam on toasted sourdough bread and top with some goat cheese! Ladle the jam into sterile jars and secure with lids. Process at a rolling boil for 10 minutes to can. You can find ground cherries from Bear Necessities Farm at Asheville City and West Asheville markets! 
 
At farmers markets now you’ll also find peaches, nectarines, Asian pears, blackberries, cucumbers, 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.

 

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