ASAP's Weekly Farmers Market Report - October 30, 2020

Fresh at Farmers Markets

: [link removed]
 

Halloween festivities are a bit different this year, given that most events that draw crowds have been canceled or reimagined. But there are a few chances to show off your costume at Buncombe County farmers tailgate markets today and tomorrow. You can also pick up ingredients for sweet and salty treats and fun kitchen activities to make together at home with your family or close friends.
 

This afternoon, East Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed] has trick or treating with vendors from 3 to 5:30 p.m. and storytelling on the lawn from 5 to 6:30 p.m. (Groce Methodist Church, where the market takes place, will also have “trunk or treat” set up from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.) 
 

On Saturday, ASAP Farmers Market : [link removed] is offering prizes for decorated face masks (or face masks worked into your costume) and spooky recipes (post them on Instagram or Facebook and tag @ashevillecitymarket). Vendors will also be in costume and you’ll have a chance to vote for your favorites. 
 

Just in time for Halloween, persimmons have arrived at markets. These vividly orange fruits definitely deserve a place in your fall lineup. The fuyu variety available from Lee’s One Fortune Farm : [link removed] can be eaten whole like an apple or sliced to add to salad or a fruit plate. For a very simple and fun treat, freeze persimmons for eight hours (or up to a month). Slice off the top with a serrated knife and eat with a spoon like a pudding cup. Find Lee’s One Fortune Farm at East Asheville Tailgate Market, ASAP Farmers Market, Black Mountain Tailgate Market : [link removed], West Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed], and River Arts District Farmers Market : [link removed].
 

In addition to persimmons, apples, pears, and ginger are great for baking or candy-making projects like fruit leather, pies, cakes, quick breads, cobblers, and more. 
 

Will you be carving pumpkins or other winter squash? (Pro tip: butternut makes a terrific ghost.) Save the seeds for a tasty snack! Rinse well to remove all the pulp and lay on paper towels to dry. Toss with olive oil, salt, and preferred seasonings, then roast in a 300-degree oven for about 20-30 minutes, stirring every 10. Seeds are ready when they are golden and no longer chewy (the’ll get a bit crispier as they dry out). You can also soak or blanch seeds in salted water prior to roasting to better infuse the salty flavor, though you will need to increase the roasting time. For a sweet take, toss toasted seeds in a bowl with melted butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Let cool.
 
So over pumpkins this season? Try your hand at other vegetable carvings! Apples, sweet potatoes, carrots, turnips, and beets are all good candidates for your artistic skills and available at markets now. 
 

You’ll also find a myriad of greens, potatoes, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and much more. In addition to produce, markets offer an abundance of meats, cheese, bread, eggs, fermented products, baked goods, and beverages. Find more details about farms and markets throughout the region in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide : [link removed].

Plan An Appalachian Staycation!

: [link removed] : [link removed]
: [link removed]
Need a quiet retreat from the world? Farms in our region offer many kinds of farm stay experiences. Spend the night at one and savor fall in Southern Appalachians in a new setting. Find farms with lodging and plenty of other ideas for an Appalachian Staycation—complete with pandemic planning tips—on our website : [link removed].

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

11/3
RecordKeeping Systems (LIVE Webinar) : [link removed]

11/5
Sierra Club: Election Update &Trail Mapper Extraordinaire Ken Czarnomski : [link removed]

11/7
“FreshAir” Cheesemaking: On the Path to Cultured Butter : [link removed]
 

11/7-11/8
Appalachia Naturally : [link removed]
 

11/10
Webinar: How to accept SNAP/EBT at your farm or market : [link removed]
 

Production Techniques for High Tunnels: Seminar 2 – Operating Your High Tunnel : [link removed] for Farmers (LIVE Webinar) : [link removed]
 

11/15
Application Deadline: Journeyperson Farmer Program : [link removed]
 

View the full calendar : [link removed] of events.

ASAP on the Air

: [link removed]
 
Community Supported Agriculture was a popular option when the pandemic began in March. Hear why farms saw an influx of members and how they adjusted their CSAs to meet demand on this week's Growing Local : [link removed].
 
You can listen to all Growing Local episodes on SoundCloud : [link removed], iTunes : [link removed], or on ASAP's website : [link removed].

Local Food & Farm News

Read how the expansion of ASAP's Double SNAP initiative is impacting farmers and the community in The Laurel of Asheville : [link removed].
 

Poultry farmers in Western North Carolina continue to meet processing challenges, three years after the closure of Foothills Pilot Plant in Marion, reports the Mountain Xpress : [link removed].
 

NC Cooperative Extension produced two new videos about farmers and restaurants in Jackson Co. : [link removed] and Macon Co. : [link removed] working together to pivot during COVID-19.



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

Subscribe to this newsletter:
[link removed]
Unsubscribe [email protected]:
[link removed]
Change your preferences:
[link removed]
Forward to a friend:
[link removed]
Report this email as spam:
[link removed]

This email was sent using MyNewsletterBuilder.com.