ASAP’s Weekly Farmers Market Report - March 22, 2024

Fresh at Farmers Markets

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As spring creeps in, farmers markets will start to have new vegetables that invite shoppers to try something new. Spring alliums—including scallions, spring onions, and green garlic—are among the first to mark the new season! These versatile vegetables lend a fresh, peppery flavor and can spice up almost any dish.
 

Stir fry is a classic Asian dish that’s known for its rich, bold flavors, and its colorful blend of vegetables and can easily be customized to personal preference. To begin, select your assortment of vegetables. Traditionally, stir fry includes carrots, mushrooms, bean sprouts, scallions, broccoli, and cabbage, but you can customize it to what’s currently being offered at the market, including kale, chard, turnips, fennel, or radishes.
 
Once you’ve selected your vegetable assortment, chop them up into bite-sized pieces. Heat a wok (a deep, round-bottom cooking pan) or a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add one tablespoon of oil and sauté vegetables for two or three minutes or until tender. In a small bowl, whisk together one-third cup of  soy sauce, three cloves of garlic (minced), two tablespoons honey, two teaspoons sesame oil, one-half cup of chicken or vegetable broth, and one tablespoon cornstarch until you get a thick consistency. Add the mix to the vegetables and mix together until all the vegetables are marinated. Serve the stir fry on top of rice and enjoy! 
 

You can find scallions from Highgate Farm : [link removed] and Lee’s One Fortune Farm : [link removed] (River Arts District : [link removed] and Asheville City : [link removed] markets). Lee’s One Fortune also has Chinese broccoli and broccoli rabe. Look for carrots from Stump Farms (Asheville City Market) or Smallholding Farm : [link removed](Weaverville Tailgate Market : [link removed]). Get mushrooms from Black Trumpet Farm : [link removed] (River Arts District and North Asheville : [link removed] markets) or The Forest Farmacy : [link removed] (Asheville City Market). Want to add meat to your stir fry? Find pork from Sugar Hollow Farm : [link removed] (River Arts District Farmers Market) or Dry Ridge Farm : [link removed] (Asheville City Market) or chicken from Wild East Farm : [link removed] chicken (River Arts District Farmers Market). 
 

Markets are also stocked with a variety, 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 : [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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3/30

North Asheville Tailgate Market Seed Swap! : [link removed]

Beacon Spring Town Square : [link removed]
 

4/3
Traditions in Agriculture presents: Building Community Around Food and Medicine : [link removed]
 

4/13
Introduction to Pollinators : [link removed]
 

4/19-4/20
Spring Plant Sale at Eliada Farms : [link removed]
 

4/19-4/21
Growing In The Mountains Spring Festival : [link removed]

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

News from ASAP

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Farm to School Funding 
The application deadline for last round of our Growing Minds farm to school funding for the 2023-24 school year is March 30.K-12 schools and early childhood education centers in Western North Carolina may apply for funding for new or expanded projects, including school gardens, farm field trips, farmer classroom visits, and local food served in meals, snacks, or taste tests. Mini-grant amount will be dependent on project scope and funding availability. Read more about eligibility requirements and apply. : [link removed] 
Pictured: student at Donald S. Collins Early Learning Center in Black Mountain.

Local Food and Farms in the News

Edible Asheville's "Appalachia Rising" : [link removed] story features Long Family Farms and the garden kits they  distribute to Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian families. “Each Cherokee Tribal Garden Kit has 10–15 varieties of seeds," says Nancy Long. "Some are things known to be Cherokee, like candy roaster squash and tan pumpkins, and others are regular things like cucumbers and tomatoes,” she says. “We provide 900 kits to encourage members to plant gardens, grow and be self-sufficient.”



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

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