ASAP's Weekly Farmers Market Report - August 16, 2019

Fresh at Farmers Markets

Your favorite peak summer produce—tomatoes, corn, peppers, melons, peaches, blackberries, beans, okra, eggplant—is still filling the tables at farmers tailgate markets. We have a month or two more to enjoy these items. But there are hints of seasonal change in the air.
 

Figs are a late summer prize available now from Jake’s Farm : [link removed] (Asheville City Market : [link removed], Enka-Candler Tailgate Market : [link removed]) and Lee’s One Fortune Farm : [link removed] (many markets). If your figs are perfectly ripe, you probably want to just eat them as they are, or maybe alongside some creamy cheese from Spinning Spider Creamery : [link removed] (Asheville City Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed]), Three Graces Dairy : [link removed] (Asheville City Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market, West Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed]), or Looking Glass Creamery : [link removed] (River Arts District Farmers Market : [link removed]). If you ended up with a few that aren’t quite as juicy as you’d like, try roasting them with honey and thyme and adding them to a pasta dish or salad. Jake’s Farm expects to harvest figs just for a few more weeks, so get them while you can!
 
Creasman Farms : [link removed] (Asheville City Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market, Black Mountain Tailgate Market : [link removed], River Arts District Farmers Market) started picking early apples in bulk at the tail end of July. Varieties so far include Sansa, Dayton, Ginger Gold, Swiss Gourmet, Gravenstein, Wolf River, Summer Rambo, and Zestar. Creasman brought grapes to markets as well this past week. We’ll see new grape and apple varieties from more farms in upcoming weeks.
 
Winter squash has come on the scene from a few vendors, including spaghetti squash from Ten Mile Farm : [link removed] (Asheville City Market, River Arts District Farmers Market). Roasting this versatile vegetable in the oven for 45-50 minutes (sliced in half with seeds scooped out, drizzled with olive oil) brings out the best of its flavor, but if you’re looking for a very quick and healthy meal, you can also microwave halves in a baking dish with a cup of water for 15 minutes. Either way, spaghetti squash is great with fall-ish seasoning, like cinnamon, nutmeg, and maple syrup, or transformed into a healthy pasta alternative with marinara or bolognese sauce and a cheesy topping.
 
Lee’s One Fortune has Japanese sweet potatoes now as well. These purple-fleshed tubers are delicious roasted or grilled whole, topped with a bit of butte and salt. Also look for sweet potato greens, which can be used similarly to spinach, but are less bitter, and shine in both quick-cooking methods, like stir-fry or sauté, or in braises.
 
Markets are packed with even more produce, such as Asian pears, blueberries, summer squash, potatoes, fennel, carrots, beets, garlic, onions, leeks, lettuce, salad mix, chard, bok choy, cabbage, sprouts, microgreens, and mushrooms, as well as eggs, cheese, meat, seafood, bread, fermented products, baked goods, and more.
 
Area farmers tailgate markets take place throughout the region. As always, you can find information about farms, tailgate markets, and farm stands, including locations and hours, by visiting ASAP’s online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org : [link removed].

Scenes from the
Local Food Experience

: [link removed]

Thank you all of our chef and farmer participants : [link removed], silent auction donors : [link removed], event sponsor Katie Button Restaurants : [link removed], event host New Belgium Brewing Co. : [link removed], and everyone who attended!

Connect with Us

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

8/20
Haywood County Greens Production Workshop : [link removed]
 

8/22
Cherokee County Greens Production Workshop : [link removed]
 

8/27
Western NC Strawberry Pre-Plant Meeting : [link removed]
 
View the full calendar : [link removed] of events.

ASAP on the Air

We love stories about chefs finding their farmer match—like this week's Growing Local rerun : [link removed] with Suzy Philips who connected with Highlands Family Farm for the local lamb she serves at Gypsy Queen Cuisine and Simple Cafe & Juice Bar. 
 
You can listen to all
Growing Local episodes on SoundCloud : [link removed], iTunes : [link removed], or on ASAP's website : [link removed].

Local Food & Farms in the News

Mountain Xpress : [link removed] talks to farmers experimenting with resilient crops in the face of climate change.


Mission Health's My Healthy Life : [link removed] magazine features the workplace CSA partnership between TRACTOR Food and Farms and Blue Ridge Regional Hospital.



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

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