Markets are back! Buncombe County has four weekly year-round farmers tailgate market options this winter. Support farmers and food producers through the slower season and make sure to visit the winter market versions of Asheville City Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market, River Arts District Farmers Market, and Weaverville Tailgate Market.
Though winter markets are smaller, you can still find a good mix of seasonal produce including storage crops, like sweet potatoes, potatoes, and winter squash, plus cold-weather veggies like turnips, radishes, salad greens and dark leafy greens. Meats, eggs, cheeses, bread, ferments, baked goods, and other artisan foods are also available. Here’s what to look for at each market—if you want to be in the know about who and what will be at each market, sign up for their weekly newsletters!
North Asheville Tailgate Market: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., beginning tomorrow, Jan. 10, outdoors in lot P34 at UNC Asheville (275 Edgewood Rd.). The market will welcome back many of their regular season vendors like Black Trumpet Farm, Good Wheel Farm, Spinning Spider Creamery, McConnell Farms, and Dolci Di Maria.
Asheville City Market: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., beginning tomorrow, Jan. 10, on North Market Street between Woodfin and Walnut Streets in downtown Asheville. The market will continue outdoors through the winter, shifting its hours slightly later with the hopes of avoiding the coldest early-morning temperatures. The market will have many vendors continuing from the regular season, like Olivette Farm, French Broad Pastry, and Dry Ridge Farm as well as some new faces. Expect about a handful of produce vendors each week in addition to several meat, artisan food products, and baked goods vendors!
River Arts District Winter Market: Wednesdays, 3 to 5:30 p.m., outdoors at New Belgium Brewing (21 Craven St.). You can find winter produce here from vendors like Lee’s One Fortune Farm and Wild East Farm, along with specialty products like pork sausage from Sugar Hollow Farm, fermented goods from Serotonin Ferments, take-home Pho (a brothy Vietnamese soup) from Pho House, and much more! Pasta & Prana will be joining for the winter season as well.
Weaverville Winter Tailgate Market: Wednesdays, 3 to 6 p.m., beginning Jan. 8, indoors at the Weaverville Community Center (60 Lakeshore Dr.). Regular season vendors like Dillingham Family Farm, Lee’s One Fortune Farm, The Pollina Project, and High Top Bread Co. will be joined by craft, body care and artisan food vendors like Sister of Mother Earth.
WNC Farmers Market: Daily, Farmers Truck Shed #1 is designated for farmers who sell only what they grow.
Need more options? Take a road trip this winter to visit a market you’ve never been to before elsewhere in the region.
To the south:
Columbus Winter Market: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., every first and third Saturday through April.
Rutherford County Winter Farmers Market, Rutherfordton: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., beginning first Saturday in March.
To the west:
Jackson County Farmers Market, Sylva: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., through March.
Transylvania County Farmers Market, Brevard: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon, through April.
To the north:
King Street Farmers Market, Boone: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., through March.
In South Carolina:
Hub City Farmers Market Winter Harvest, Spartanburg: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., every other Saturday, beginning Jan. 10, through March.
In Tennessee:
Nourish Knoxville’s Winter Farmers’ Market: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., through March.
In Virginia:
Abingdon Farmers’ Market: 10 a.m. to noon, every first and third Saturday through March.
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.
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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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Get your early-bird registration rates for the Business of Farming Conference (Feb. 28) and the pre-conference, Rooted in Research: Growing Small Farm Production (Feb. 27), by Feb. 1! Register now to get that discount. Register for both and get $10 off!
The Business of Farming Conference is a chance to learn and network with farmers and ag professionals across the region and gain tools and strategies for improving your farm business. The conference is designed for beginning and established farmers as well as those seriously considering farming as a profession. The pre-conference, Rooted in Research, is in partnership with NC Cooperative Extension.
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A new grocery has opened in Swannanoa, Rite Buy Grocery. Opening just weeks ago, Rite Buy is, "filling a gap left after Tropical Storm Helene damaged infrastructure and delayed the reopening of Ingles, the town’s only major grocery store," according to an article by 828 News Now.
Located at 106 Alexander Place and open Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Rite Buy is focusing on fresh produce, dairy, meat and pantry staples, with an attention to locally sourced products. Find Hickory Nut Gap meats, dairy from local creameries, and more!
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