Give the gift of local this holiday season! Farmers tailgate markets have begun their annual holiday markets and they are welcoming the arrival of dozens of new artisan and craft vendors. While you’ll still be able to find some of your favorite seasonal produce, holiday markets can be your one stop shop for unique, thoughtful and locally made gifts for friends, family, and food lovers alike!
If you’re eager to begin decorating your home (or have already started!), look no further than farmers tailgate markets for one-of-a-kind, locally grown and crafted adornments to make this holiday season extra special. For floral decor, Carolina Flowers (Asheville City Market) has stunning dried flower wreaths, bouquets, and ornaments to feature in your home. Blazing Star Flowers will have fresh flowers and dried bouquets to last far past the holiday season (at River Arts District Farmers Market now relocated to AB Tech). Thatchmore Farm (North Asheville and West Asheville markets) and Flying Cloud Farm (North Asheville and River Arts District markets) will also bring their beloved classic holly wreaths. Looking for a locally grown Christmas tree? Country Fields Greenhouse and The Hensley’s will be bringing evergreen trees to the North Asheville Tailgate Market, ready for you to bring home and decorate!
Get ahead on purchasing gifts for your loved ones this holiday season! From foodies, home bodies, self-care enthusiasts, to even the hard-to-shop-for gift recipients in your life, holiday markets have one-of-a-kind offerings for anyone! Can’t decide what to get? Purchase market tokens from your favorite market’s information tent that your loved one can spend on anything. For the gourmets and aspiring chefs in your life, look for sampler kits of locally sourced spices from Well Seasoned Table (North Asheville Tailgate Market), a set of handcrafted, small-batch sauces from Better Thymes (North Asheville Tailgate Market), or a jar of handmade ghee from Goddess Ghee (North Asheville Tailgate Market). Highland Gourmet (West Asheville and River Arts District markets) also offers a delicious, locally made balsamic vinegar perfect for making dressings, roasting vegetables, braising meat, and more! Find local jellies and jams from Imladris (North Asheville Tailgate Market) and Big Briar Botanicals (West Asheville Tailgate Market).
As the temperature continues to drop, everyone can appreciate a warm beverage made from locally sourced ingredients. You can find delicious tea gift sets, holiday seasonal tea blends, and other herbal loose-leaf teas from vendors like Asheville Divinitea (Weaverville Tailgate Market) and Iris Folk Medicinals (North Asheville and West Asheville markets). For those who may prefer a drink on the sweeter side, WilderKin Beekeeping has local honey (Asheville City, West Asheville, and River Arts District markets), infused honey from Sister of Mother Earth (Weaverville Tailgate Market), and Flying Cloud Farm has homegrown and homemade sorghum syrup (North Asheville and River Arts District markets). Roasted coffee beans, whole and ground, from vendors like Bridge and Tunnel (North Asheville, West Asheville and River Arts District markets) will make any coffee lover happy, but also consider gifting any caffeine fanatic in your life with a locally foraged and crafted mushroom brew or tincture from Wild Goods (Asheville City Market, West Asheville, and River Arts District markets) or The Forest Farmacy (Asheville City and West Asheville markets).
For gifts outside the food realm, find handmade pottery, local beeswax candles (from North Star Candle Co at North Asheville and Weaverville markets), watercolor paintings, hand-dyed textiles, greeting cards, herbal and body-care items, and so much more!
Also spotted at markets in recent weeks: winter squash, carrots, beets, lettuce, onions, shallots, brussels sprouts, celery, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, kale, chard, collards, radishes, microgreens, mushrooms, potatoes, sweet potatoes, scallions, 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 at appalachiangrown.org.
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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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Photo Courtesy of The Hop Ice Cream Instagram
The Hop Ice Cream will host its first-ever Community Scoops Day at all locations, giving away over 1,100 scoops of ice cream to the Asheville community. This pay-it-forward initiative allows The Hop to keep spreading joy and connection during challenging times.
Community Scoops began as a way for people from all over to support both The Hop and the Asheville community in the wake of Hurricane Helene and beyond. Through the initiative, supporters purchased scoops of ice cream that will now be gifted to community members who could use a little extra sweetness in their lives.
"We were blown away by the generosity of our customers," said Greg Garrison, co-owner of The Hop Ice Cream. "People from across the U.S. and even other countries came together to make this happen. It’s a testament to the kindness of people as well as the resilience of this community and the folks who love it."
On December 12th, anyone in need of a sweet pick-me-up can visit one of The Hop’s locations to enjoy a free scoop of ice cream. Whether it’s a neighbor, friend, or someone you just met, The Hop invites everyone to help spread the word and share the love.
This day wouldn’t be possible without the contributions of so many individuals who believe in the power of small acts of kindness. It’s proof that even during trying times, the Asheville community remains strong, generous, and united.
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