ASAP’s Weekly Farmers Market Report - November 8, 2024

Fresh at Farmers Markets

As the days become chillier, warming up with a comforting soup becomes commonplace. Soups have stood the test of time and are found in virtually every culture. A big pot of soup can feed us for days or be easily shared with friends and neighbors, building connection and care for ourselves and each other. It almost feels like magic to mix endless combinations of locally grown ingredients for nourishment. Find produce galore for all kinds of fall soups – sweet potatoes, carrots, winter squash, potatoes, cauliflower, chicken, fresh herbs and more.

Warm up your home with a fulfilling potato, leek, and broccoli soup – nearly all ingredients can be sourced from every Buncombe County tailgate market right now! This soup is both creamy and chunky, with a rich flavor you’ll be sure to make again and again. Plus, it has the flexibility to meet your dietary needs and preferences, with options to swap out ingredients for vegan and gluten-free options.

For a serving of four, start with two pounds of white or yellow potatoes (about six medium sized potatoes). Peel and cube them so that they are roughly the same size. Heat your soup pot with two tablespoons of either olive oil or butter. For an added elevation, use one of Wild Goods : [link removed] infused butters (found at Asheville City : [link removed], West Asheville : [link removed], River Arts District : [link removed], and East Asheville markets). Rinse and cut the root ends off of two to three medium size leeks. Slice the white and light green parts thinly and add them to your hot oil, sauteing until translucent. Remove thyme leaves from a small bundle of fresh thyme, chop and add to the leeks with salt, pepper, and any other preferred seasonings. Add your cubed potatoes. Chop your broccoli, separating the florets and the stems – add the stems to the pot, keeping the florets aside for later. Add three cups of either vegetable broth or chicken stock. Bring to a boil and simmer until veggies are tender, about 15 minutes. Add a half cup of half-and-half or for a vegan option, add half a wedge of Darë Vegan Cheese : [link removed]’s smoked cheddar or garlic wedge (find Darë at the North Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed]). Use an immersion blender or food processor in batches to puree the soup – if the soup is too thick, add more broth, half-and-half, or non-dairy milk. Once creamy and blended, add the chopped broccoli florets and simmer for another 5 minutes, until the florets are tender. Serve and garnish your soup with fresh thyme sprigs, chives, homemade croutons, crumbled bacon bits, or crumbled feta from Spinning Spider Creamery : [link removed] (North Asheville, West Asheville, and River Arts District markets).


If you are someone who eats turkey for the holidays and are already thinking ahead, pre-order your locally raised turkey from farms in Western North Carolina. To find a comprehensive list of turkey availability, head to our website at asapconnections.org : [link removed] – click on “Discover Local Food & Farms,” then “Local Turkey Availability.” Most of these farms still have turkeys available for pre-order and could use your support! Additionally, Wild East Farm : [link removed] is gathering donations on their website to support families impacted by Helene by getting turkeys onto holiday dinner tables at no-cost.


Now that we have passed into Daylight Savings Time, remember to look out for market time changes and closures for the season. Both West Asheville and River Arts District markets hours are now 3:30 to 5:30. Enka-Candler Farmers Market : [link removed] has closed for the regular season, but will hold its holiday market on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 16 and 17. Biltmore Park Farmers Market : [link removed] will have its last market on Nov. 21st, East Asheville Tailgate Market on Nov. 22., and Black Mountain Tailgate Market : [link removed] on Nov. 23.

Remember that if you qualified for Disaster SNAP, you can use this benefit at farmers markets that accept SNAP—and get an additional $20 to spend on fruits and vegetables at markets participating in ASAP’s Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables : [link removed] program. Visit the market information tent to find out more and to use your SNAP card to get tokens. Find more details about farms and markets throughout the region, including hours and location, in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org : [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]

11/9
Hickory Nut Gap’s 6th Annual Sausage Festival : [link removed]

11/18
WNC Farmer Resource Meeting: Tools for Rebuilding : [link removed]

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

Double your
D-SNAP!

Double your D-SNAP for fruit and vegetable tokens up to $20 per market visit at participating Buncombe County farmers markets. Head to your favorite market's info booth and use your issued SNAP/EBT card. Swipe it like a debit card and get tokens for the amount of money you want to spend.
 

For more information and to find SNAP incentive markets, head to  asapconnections.org/snap : [link removed].

Local Food in the News

Photo Courtesy of The Hop
 

If you missed out on fresh pawpaw season, fret not! The Hop Handcrafted Ice Cream : [link removed] is set to release their seasonal and locally sourced pawpaw ice cream (in dairy and non-dairy options) at all their locations beginning today.

According to Mountain Xpress : [link removed], "Asheville GreenWorks : [link removed] will be at The Hop’s Merrimon Avenue shop 3-6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, with information on the pawpaw tree (its leaves are the sole food source for zebra swallowtail butterfly caterpillars) and pawpaw seedlings for sale."



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

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