Farmers tailgate markets are getting ready for a new season with a few shifts in operating hours coming up over the next few weeks. As many farmers make their long-awaited return after a likely hard winter of recovery, this growing season is the time to support the small farms in our region. Below is a rundown for what to look for at Buncombe County markets, but you can also find opening dates for markets across the region at appalachiangrown.org.
At these early spring markets, you’ll begin to find some new and exciting seasonal produce over the next few weeks, including strawberries, asparagus, rhubarb, alliums, ramps, and more! You’ll also be able to source much of the produce we’ve seen through the winter, like cold-hardy greens, salad mixes, turnips, and radishes. As always, you can also get mushrooms, eggs, meat, cheese, bread, and prepared foods. Look out for a wide variety of plant starts at farmers markets within the coming weeks as well!
West Asheville Tailgate Market will reopen at 718 Haywood Rd. on Tuesday, April 1, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Expect more than 40 farmers and makers each week, including vendors like Bear Necessities, Tiny Bridge Farm, Thatchmore Farm and more!
River Arts District Farmers Market will continue its regular season in the same location at AB Tech, 24 Fernihurst Dr. starting Wednesday, April 2, with slightly longer hours, from 3 to 6 p.m. Find continuing vendors like Wilderkin Honey, Lee’s One Fortune Farm, and Sugar Hollow Farm.
Weaverville Tailgate Market will continue its regular season at the same address and time on Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m as they officially start their regular season market next week. The market will move partially outside after being inside all Winter, at the Weaverville Community Center at Lake Louise, 60 Lakeshore Dr. In addition to many of the winter season vendors, several regular season favorites will join the market!
East Asheville Tailgate Market reopens next Friday, April 4, from 3 to 6 p.m., at 954 Tunnel Rd. This market continues to grow, with about 30 vendors each week all season. Look for familiar faces this year like Encompass Farm, Ali Rae’s Pimento Cheese, and Wild Goods Foraging.
Next Saturday, April 5, Asheville City Market will return to its regular season hours of 9 a.m. to noon at the same location on N. Market St. Free parking for customers is available at the HomeTrust Bank lot and at the Family Justice Center lot across from the YMCA at 35 Woodfin Street. Expect more than 40 vendors each week, including many of our favorite vendors from the winter market like Highgate Farm, Dry Ridge Farm, and Olivette Farm, as well as some new additions.
North Asheville Tailgate Market will return to its regular season hours in its current location, parking lot P34, on the UNC Asheville campus next Saturday, April 5, from 8 a.m. to noon. Look for a full lineup of returning vendors like New Roots Market Garden, Sleight Family Farm, and Hickory Nut Gap Farm along with a few new faces. Note that the market will return to its summer location in parking lot P28 from May 17–August 9 before returning to P34 on August 16.
Black Mountain Tailgate Market will continue its Spring Market at its current location, White Horse Black Mountain at 105 Montreat Rd., from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. before taking a short break until May. Beginning May 3, the market will return to its regular location, 130 Montread Rd. with shifted main season hours of 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Find regular vendors like Immortal Juice Co., Blue Ridge Mountain Creamery, French Broad Pantry and more.
The Enka-Candler Farmer’s Market will open for the season in a few weeks from now on Thursday, April 18, from 3:30-6:30 p.m. You can find them outside the A-B Tech Enka Campus at 1465 Sand Hill Rd. Be sure to check in with their social media for vendor updates!
In May, catch the reopening of Leicester Farmers Market on Wednesdays beginning May 7, 3 to 6 p.m., at 2979 New Leicester Hwy. along with Biltmore Park Farmers Market, on Thursdays beginning May 29, 3 to 6 p.m.
Southside Community Farm's BIPOC Farmers Market will host three markets this year on Sunday, July 20, September 14, and December 7, 1 to 4 p.m. at New Belgium brewery in West Asheville.
There are more than 100 markets throughout the Appalachian Grown region, which includes Western North Carolina as well as surrounding counties in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. Many of these markets offer Double SNAP. Find a map of markets and their SNAP incentives at asapconnections.org/farmersmarkets or search location, SNAP access, and more 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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ASAP's 2024 Annual Report is out now! The report looks back on at the past year through the voices of some of the farmers, teachers, and market managers we've worked with. Through these stories, we can see the impact of ASAP's farmer support services, deep engagement with schools, and farmers market programs like Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables.
The report also features Hedge Family Farm and Soil Shine Farm, participants in ASAP's New and Beginning Farmer Working Group; five Buncombe County elementary schools that engaged in a sustained farm to school project throughout the year; and Marion Tailgate Market, Black Mountain Tailgate Market, and Transylvania Farmers Market, all of which were supported through ASAP's farmers market programs. The annual report includes program impact data and a financial overview of the organization.
Find the full report at asapconnections.org/about-us/.
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