ASAP's Weekly Farmers Market Report - May 1, 2020

Fresh at Farmers Markets

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Quarantine is taking its toll on all of us. It’s hard to remain cheerful, productive, and even at little bit at peace with life feeling perpetually on hold. We’re not saying that strawberries are going to solve this. But we really think they might help a little. 
 
The first farmers market strawberries we’ve seen this season are from Lee’s One Fortune Farm : [link removed] (ASAP Farmers Market : [link removed], Black Mountain Tailgate Market : [link removed], West Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed], and River Arts District Farmers Market : [link removed]), and we expect more will be here very soon from Bear Necessities Farm : [link removed] (ASAP Farmers Market, West Asheville Tailgate Market) and others. 

Of course, strawberries make a fantastic addition to salads (spinach, goat cheese, and bacon are classic ingredients and all available right now at most markets). But given the state of the world, we suggest going straight for the pure comfort of strawberry shortcake. This well-loved dessert can instantly transport you back to simpler times—and, if you’re not self-isolating with a crowd, it easily portions for one or two. Riff on the traditional by macerating your strawberries with one of the herbs you find at market, such as tarragon, basil, or mint (Bear Necessities has chocolate mint, which is just begging to be part of a strawberry treat) along with sugar and lemon or lime zest. Or try layering your fruit and whipped cream with cornmeal biscuits instead of shortcake. 

Dreaming of your own strawberry patch? Wildwood Herbal : [link removed] (ASAP Farmers Market) still has strawberry plants available, and the time to plant them is now. They’ll grow in containers or in the ground.

Beyond these first strawberries, farmers market produce available now includes lettuces and salad greens, pea shoots, spinach, kale, mustards, bok choy, radishes, turnips, carrots, broccoli rabe, and more. You’ll also find meat, eggs, cheese, bread, beverages, ferments, and prepared foods. Plant starts are abundant, now including warm weather vegetables like tomatoes and peppers, as well as herbs, culinary flowers, and much more. 

North Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed] and Black Mountain Tailgate Market will celebrate their opening days tomorrow morning. Enka-Candler Tailgate Market : [link removed] stars up Thursday afternoon at a new location at the A-B Tech Small Business Center on Sand Hill Rd. (Note that this is a different location than the Thursday morning ASAP Farmers Market at A-B Tech’s Asheville campus.) For a full list of markets open throughout the region, visit asapconnections.org : [link removed]. Find contact information and more details about the region’s farms and farmers markets in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide : [link removed].

Photo of the Month

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Our May photo of the month was taken by Susan Hawthorne, and it has us longing to go picking (clearly we are feeling a little strawberry obsessed). Many u-pick farms have closed their doors to visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic, but some farms are setting up precautions that will allow community members to pick safely. Reach out directly to u-pick farms via ASAP's online Local Food Guide : [link removed] to find out what their plans are this year.

Connect with Us

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appalachiangrown.org : [link removed] | fromhere.org : [link removed]
asapconnections.org : [link removed] | growing- : [link removed] : [link removed]
 
Donate to support local food, strong farms, and healthy communities today! : [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.



Upcoming Events

Information below may have been submitted to ASAP prior to COVID-19. Please check with event organizers directly to confirm.


5/4
: [link removed]’s Social Media Series (webinar) : [link removed]
 

5/5
Making Miso, Tamari, and Soy Sauce : [link removed]
 

5/7
Sierra Club: Wildflowers of Western North Carolina : [link removed]
 

5/9
Keyline Design : [link removed]
 

View the full calendar : [link removed] of events.

ASAP on the Air

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Kids need nutritious food, even more so when schools are closed. Hear how schools in Western North Carolina are embracing local ingredients as part of their meals for kids program on this week's Growing Local : [link removed].
 

You can listen to all
Growing Local episodes on SoundCloud : [link removed], iTunes : [link removed], or on ASAP's website : [link removed].

Local Food & Farm News

The next Chow Chow Festival will be postponed : [link removed] until September 2021, reports the Asheville Citizen-Times. In the meantime, Chow Chow will shift its focus to support farmers, restaurants, chefs, artists, makers and nonprofits severely impacted by COVID-19. 

Posted in the Mountain Xpress, Wild Abundance will offer an online gardening series : [link removed]. Payment is on a sliding scale.



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

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