ASAP’s Weekly Farmers Market Report - September 20, 2024

Fresh at Farmers Markets

Head to this weekend’s Farm Tour : [link removed], Sept. 21 - 22 from noon to 5 p.m., and get a behind the scenes look and early taste of what’s to come — heirloom rice grown right here in Western North Carolina. Lee’s One Fortune Farm : [link removed] has been weaving their Hmong food and farming traditions into the foothills of this region for years, sharing their abundance at Buncombe County tailgate farmers markets and with anyone willing to try something new.

A big draw for Tue and Chue Lee (and their large extended family) to settle in this region was the climate and growing conditions that closely resemble the highlands of their home country of Laos. While rice is not commonly grown in the Southern Appalachian region, the hot days, cool nights and numerous waterways for flooding rice paddies make growing their passed down heirloom rice a delicious reality. Find sweet sticky and purple rice from the Lee’s at the Asheville City : [link removed], Black Mountain : [link removed], West Asheville : [link removed], River Arts District : [link removed], and East Asheville : [link removed] markets beginning next week or grab some from their farm during Farm Tour this weekend.

Sweet sticky rice, also known as glutinous rice, is one of the most commonly eaten foods in Laotian cuisine. Despite not containing any gluten, sweet sticky rice cooks up moist and chewy. Traditionally it’s steamed in bamboo (occasionally the Lee’s offers samples of this preparation), but it will work in a rice cooker or stovetop pot as well. It’s a good choice for rice pudding or other desserts like mango sticky rice, but also goes well with curries or can be formed into rice cakes and fried. To make sticky rice (Khao Niew), Chue Lee recommends a one-to-one ratio—one cup of water for one cup of rice. Rinsing and soaking the rice beforehand may give you a better outcome.

If you’re dreaming of a savory yet fresh and crispy rice dish using your market haul, try making this traditional Laotian Nam Khao (Crispy Rice Salad). Combine your cooked and slightly cooled rice with two tablespoons of Thai red curry paste, a small knob of ginger, two cloves of garlic, one shallot, two tablespoons of fish sauce, one teaspoon of black pepper, two teaspoons of brown sugar (or local honey), one egg, and a splash of lime juice. Wet your hands to create small rice balls, using up all the mixture. In a frying pan or fryer, heat a generous amount of canola oil until hot. Gently add the rice balls in batches, frying them for three to four minutes until they are crisp.

Traditionally, this recipe is made with a special fermented pork sausage called Som Moo or Naem, which can be found at local Asian markets, but if you want to keep this recipe local, cook a pound of ground pork with one chopped thai chili. Find ground pork from Dry Ridge Farm : [link removed] (Asheville City, North Asheville : [link removed], and West Asheville markets), Sugar Hollow Farm : [link removed] (North Asheville and River Arts District markets), or Hickory Nut Gap : [link removed] (North Asheville). While the ground pork is cooking, make the salad dressing by combining two tablespoons of fish sauce, two tablespoons of honey, two tablespoons of lime juice, one tablespoon of rice vinegar, one minced clove of garlic, one chopped cilantro stem (no leaves), and one finely chopped Thai chili. Once mixed, stir in one third cup of boiling water and set aside to cool.

To arrange your Crispy Rice Salad, break up the cooled rice balls into pieces using your hands and toss them together with the ground pork, two sliced shallots, two chopped green onions, chopped Thai chilis to your spice level, one half cup of roasted peanuts, and a small bundle of each mint, cilantro, and thai basil, roughly chopped. Pour in the dressing and mix well. This can be served as is with a few lime wedges, or spooned into romaine lettuce leaves.

Also spotted at markets in recent weeks: tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, cucumbers, beets, cabbage, carrots, radishes, turnips, kohlrabi, green beans, mushrooms, eggplant, okra, potatoes, onions, scallions, peaches, plums, nectarines, melons, apples, Asian pears, sweet corn and fresh herbs. Markets offer an abundance of farm-fresh eggs and meats, including chicken, pork, beef, and lamb. You can also get bread, cheese, pastries, fermented products, drinks, and prepared foods. Find more details about farms and markets throughout the region, including hours and location, in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide : [link removed].

Connect with ASAP

: [link removed] : [link removed] : [link removed] : [link removed] 
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.
 

: [link removed]

9/20-9/22
Eliada Fall Festival and Corn Maze : [link removed]
 

9/20
2nd Annual Putting Food By and Other Revolutionary Acts : [link removed]

U-Pick at KT's Orchard : [link removed]
 

9/21
20 Years of Community Gardening Historical Tour : [link removed]
 

Barn Dance with Iliana Rose Cuban Jazz Trio : [link removed]

U-Pick at KT's Orchard : [link removed]
 

9/21-22
ASAP's Farm Tour : [link removed]
 

9/22
Ani & Wanei Culture Fest : [link removed]
 

Dr. John Wilson Community Garden 20th Anniversary Celebration : [link removed]

U-Pick at KT's Orchard : [link removed]

9/23
U-Pick at KT's Orchard : [link removed]

9/24
Organic Crop Management Series. Session 1: Soil Management : [link removed]

9/25
Pricing for Perennials Workshop : [link removed]

U-Pick at KT's Orchard : [link removed]

9/27-9/29
Eliada Fall Festival and Corn Maze : [link removed] 

10/1
Organic Crop Management Series. Session 2: Managing Pests Organically : [link removed]
 

Now - November 2nd
Apples at Hickory Nut Gap : [link removed]

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

News from ASAP

: [link removed]
 ASAP's Annual Farm Tour starts tomorrow through Sunday, noon - 5 p.m. both days. Have you gotten your weekend pass yet? Get your pass here. : [link removed]
 

Experience how food is grown and raised through guided tours, demonstrations, and tastings. See the diversity of working farms in Western North Carolina, including vegetables, livestock, vineyards, orchards, flowers, fiber, and more! This is a family-friendly event and a great outing for visitors of all ages, abilities, and interests. All are welcome.
 

We are still accepting volunteers! If you are interested in helping out on Saturday or Sunday and going on the tour for free the other day, fill out this Volunteer Sign Up Form. : [link removed]



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

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