With warmer weather and longer days, it’s time for more outdoor activities—and let’s be honest, we could all use a little more play and whimsy in our lives! Grab some blankets, pillows, tea cups, embellished napkins, and an array of decor to charm your loved ones with a tea party or picnic inspired by the fresh seasonality and wholesomeness of the farmers market. Whether an eccentric afternoon date, a creative outing with the kids, a celebration of a birthday or anniversary, or a relaxed gathering with friends, you are sure to bring people together and create lasting memories.
Farmers markets are teeming with tea party supplies, including tea! While hot tea is a classic, these warmer days may call for something a little more cold and refreshing. Asheville Tea Co. (at North Asheville Tailgate Market) has cold brew herbal tea blends, like Blue Ridge Mountain Mint and Hibiscus Mojito. For iced tea, you can either brew your tea with hot water, let it cool, and pour it over ice, or cold brew your tea in water in the fridge overnight. You can also use the power of the sun! Place tea bags or fresh and washed herbs, like mint, thyme, tulsi basil, and more, in a clear glass jar of water and keep in full sun for three to four hours. Wait to add honey or sweetener until after it steeps in the sun. Find fresh chamomile from New Roots Market Garden (North Asheville Tailgate Market) and fresh spearmint from Bear Necessities (Asheville City and West Asheville markets). For a touch of sweetness, nearly every Buncombe County farmers market has honey, too. Low on time? Pick up a seasonal Strawberry Rose Yaupon tea from Immortal Juice at Asheville City, North Asheville, Black Mountain, West Asheville, River Arts District, and East Asheville markets.
Beyond tea and refreshing beverages, tea parties are all about the finger foods and markets sure have you covered. If you are more the creative type and want to make your own scones or jams, pick up some strawberries for a lovely pop of color and flavor. As we await tomato sandwich season, treat yourself and your guests to some crisp cucumber tea sandwiches–all you need is bread, cucumbers, cream cheese. If you want to get fancy, you can make your own herbed cream cheese by mixing the cheese with chopped dill and garlic scapes. If you want to keep it fancy with minimal effort, pick up a tomato and garlic scape pimento cheese spread from Ali Rae Foods (North Asheville, River Arts District, and East Asheville farmers markets) or a Sunburst Trout Smoked Trout Dip to add to your cucumber sandwiches. Find the first and a variety of cucumbers from Thatchmore Farm (North Asheville and West Asheville markets). If you’re skill looking for ideas, use your muffin pan to whip up some mini quiches made with green garlic, chopped kale, bacon, and more!
If you’re busy focusing on tea party decorations or wrangling the kids, markets are full of pre-made pastries, baked goods, and ready-to-eat items. Make a veggie tray and pick up some Sitto’s Hummus (North Asheville Tailgate Market), Snunny Hummus (River Arts District Farmers Market), or a seasonal ramp cheese from Three Graces Dairy (North Asheville and River Arts District markets) to pair with sliced radishes, turnips, carrots, and cucumbers. For gluten free pastry options, check out Dolci di Maria (North Asheville and Weaverville markets) and Urban Peasants (River Arts District Farmers Market). Dolci di Maria has gluten free quiches, too! For gluten-full options, head to Four Sisters Bakery at Asheville City, Leicester, and Enka-Candler farmers markets.
Top of your tea party decor with fresh flowers from a number of vendors. You might even be able to find handmade ceramic teacups or handwoven and hand printed tea towels, too!
Please note that Biltmore Park Farmers Market reopens at Biltmore Town Square on Thursday, May 29, 3 to 6 p.m. and River Arts District Farmers Market will move back near the river–to New Belgium–beginning Wednesday, June 4.
At markets now you’ll also find strawberries, kohlrabi, cabbages, turnips, beets, radishes, carrots, mushrooms, microgreens, green garlic, garlic scapes, spring onions, scallions, a wide variety of tender and hearty greens, and more. 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. During springtime, find annual and perennial plant starts for your gardens along with fresh flowers. 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.
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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 Mountain Xpress
A former Buncombe County farmers market vendor, Beth Kellerhals, has opened her own brick and mortar on Depot Street in the River Art's District. Beth originally debuted her buttery biscuits at East Asheville Tailgate Market 2021. Beth's bakery and coffee concept, ButterPunk, features biscuit sandwiches, sweet and savory scones, cookies, short- bread, cakes and pies.
Beth shared with Mountain Xpress that, “The day we opened, so many of my market customers came in, and I was teary all day. I really feel the love here.”
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ASAP's own Communications and Engagement Director, Sarah Hart, was interviewed by BPR News on ASAP's recent report on the impacts of Hurricane Helene on farms across the region.
When asked locals should know about the damage to farms and how it might impact them she shared that, "Everything from Helene impacts the web of sustainability of our communities, and farms are an important piece of that. And so whether you're buying local or whether you're not, these are businesses that help to make up our communities. They’re businesses that can make our communities more sustainable and stronger and more able to get through things like Helene."
Read the whole report at asapconnections.org/local-food-research-center.
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