ASAP’s Weekly Farmers Market Report - September 22, 2023

Fresh at Farmers Markets

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If you haven’t tried a pawpaw yet, now is the chance! This lesser known fruit has a taste most similar to tropicals like mangoes and bananas, but is native to the Eastern United States! The easiest way to enjoy pawpaws is by cutting in half, removing the seeds, then scooping out the flesh to eat by itself.  You can find pawpaws from Creasman Farms : [link removed] (Asheville City : [link removed], Black Mountain : [link removed], North Asheville : [link removed], and West Asheville : [link removed] markets) and Wild Goods (Asheville City and East Asheville : [link removed] markets), but they won’t be around for long so act fast!

The fruit can make for an easy replacement for bananas or mangoes in any recipe, and tastes delicious when baked into a bread or blended into a smoothie. This sweet pawpaw jam recipe is a great way to enjoy its unique flavor, and will let you enjoy the often ephemeral fruit (they’ll only last for a few days in the fridge!) for a bit longer. Start by removing the seeds and scooping out the flesh of seven or eight pawpaws, then mashing the pulp with a fork or a blender until smooth. Transfer the pulp into a large mixing bowl, then mix in one cup of sugar, a quarter cup of lemon juice, a tablespoon of lemon zest, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Transfer the pawpaw mixture to a large saucepan over medium heat, and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low and let simmer until it thickens and achieves a jam-like consistency. Remove from heat, let cool, then enjoy!

Muscadines made their way to markets last week as well! Muscadine grapes are another fruit native to the Southeast, and have long been cherished by North Carolinians for their sweet, tart flavor and soft texture. Although they are a grape, the muscadines you find at farmers markets this week are a little different than the kind you’re used to seeing in an average grocery store. Muscadines are noticeably bigger in size, with a thick skin and large seeds inside. While muscadines and scuppernongs (the white grape variety) are often used to make wine, they can easily be enjoyed when eaten by themselves, added to a charcuterie board, baked into a pie or cake, made into a jelly, or even roasted with a bit of balsamic vinegar and fresh thyme! For now you can find muscadine grapes from Lee’s One Fortune Farm : [link removed] (Asheville City, Black Mountain, East Asheville, North Asheville, River Arts District : [link removed], and West Asheville markets), but expect more farms to have them in coming weeks! 

At farmers markets now you’ll also find corn, apples, Asian pears, eggplant, 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 : [link removed].

Connect with ASAP

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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.
 

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9/23-9/24ASAP's Farm Tour : [link removed] 9/23Rooted in Compassion: A Benefit for Elderflower Care Community : [link removed] Farm Tour attendees get $20 off. 
9/28
WNC AgOptions Information Session : [link removed] 
9/29-10/29
Fall Festival and Corn Maze at Eliada Home : [link removed] 
9/30
Sow & Grow Fest : [link removed] 
10/1
Farm to Fork in the Garden : [link removed]

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

News from ASAP

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ASAP's Farm Tour Is This Weekend!
You can still get a pass online! : [link removed] Passes are $35 until Friday at midnight and go up to $45 the weekend of the tour. All passes must be purchased online. There are no on-farm cash sales during the tour.

Local Food and Farms in the News

Garden & Gun : [link removed] magazine named The Utopian Seed Project's Chris Smith one of its 10 Champions of Conservation. “If the seed supply dries up, farmers can’t grow and chefs can’t cook,” Chris says. “Sustainable seed systems are foundational to a sustainable food system.” You can hear more from Chris at the Franny's Farm/Utopian Seed Project stop on ASAP's Farm Tour : [link removed] this weekend!



Elderflower Care Community, a future assisted living facility providing an enriched aging experience, is launching with a benefit event at Franny's Farm on Saturday. “Our mountain communities have always been innovative and collaborative, and we hope this event will be a catalyst for Elderflower Care Community to build a strong alliance with our partners," says founder Annie Spindler in the Mountain Xpress : [link removed]. The event follows the ASAP Farm Tour and Farm Tour attendees receive $20 off the ticket price.



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

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