ASAP's Weekly Farmers Market Report - September 27, 2019

Fresh at Farmers Markets

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With the autumnal equinox behind us, it’s time to get serious about squash. Winter squash varieties have been coming in at farmers tailgate markets for about a month, including butternut, spaghetti, red kuri, jester, and kabocha. But while we adore squash in everything from soups to gratins to salads to desserts, we have to admit that removing the hard outer skin can be a bit tedious. Luckily, there are few options that allow you to leave your vegetable peeler in the drawer and simply eat the skin along with the rest of the fruit. 

 

Delicata is probably the most well known of these. As the name suggests, this squash boasts a delicate skin that can be consumed part and parcel with its flesh. Though it can be stored at room temperature like winter squash, delicata is technically Cucurbita pepo, the same species as zucchini, crookneck, and other summer squash. (Winter squash is generally Cucurbita maxima or moschata.) For a particularly pretty presentation, slice delicata into half-inch rings, scraping the seeds out from the center of each, and roast on a sheet tray with olive oil. Many farms have delicata right now, including Flying Cloud Farm : [link removed] (River Arts District Farmers Market : [link removed], North Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed]) and Highgate Farm : [link removed] (Black Mountain Tailgate Market : [link removed], River Arts District Farmers Market, West Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed]).
 

A less-common variety of tender-skinned squash is the honeynut. It looks like a miniature butternut, but is a darker shade of orange, both inside and out. This tiny squash is a powerhouse of flavor and nutrients like beta-carotene and Vitamin A. Roasting will bring out an intense natural sweetness—just slice in half, scoop out the seeds, and drizzle with a little olive oil. Full Sun Farm : [link removed] has honeynut squash at River Arts District Farmers Market and North Asheville Tailgate Market.
 

Our final no-peel squash option might be more of a matter of taste, but many find the skin of the acorn squash (also a member Cucurbita pepo species) to be fully edible when roasted, particularly early in the season when the squash is at its most tender. It’s widely available at markets, including from Stonecrop Garden : [link removed] (Asheville City Market : [link removed]).
 

Squash that has to travel to the grocery store is often waxed for preservation, which makes the skin less than ideal for consumption, even if it is tender. So this is yet another opportunity to take advantage of farmers tailgate market shopping and the ability to ask farmers about their produce and growing practices. At markets now you’ll also find tomatoes, peppers, corn, beans, cucumbers, beets, carrots, fennel, onions, potatoes, greens, apples, pears, grapes, mushrooms, eggs, cheese, meat, seafood, bread, and so much 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].

Meet Me at the Market

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Last chance! The Meet Me at the Market promotion ends this weekend. You can still meet a friend at a farmers market in Buncombe County today (East Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed], Riverside Tailgate Market : [link removed]) or tomorrow (Asheville City Market : [link removed] or North Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed]) to be entered into a raffle to win $50 in market money. Just visit the market information booth and say, "We met at the market!"

Connect with Us

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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

9/29
Farm Dinner: Abruzzo, Italy to Celo, NC : [link removed]
 
10/3
: [link removed] WNC AgOptions Grant Info Session – Jackson County : [link removed]
 
Sierra Club: Bird Migration and Climate Change : [link removed]
 
10/5
Carolina Meat Conference : [link removed]
 
10/5-10/6
Fall Festival at John C. Campbell Folk School : [link removed]
 
10/8
2020 WNC AgOptions Grant Info Session – Burke County : [link removed]
 
10/12
Homestead Dreams: Design & Plan for Living on Your Land : [link removed]
 
10/14/19-9/14/20
Farm Beginnings Year long Farmer Training course : [link removed]
 
Thru 11/4
Food: The Unlimited Palate : [link removed]
20 percent of proceeds from the Red House Gallery art exhibition will support ASAP's programs.

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

ASAP on the Air

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Savannah and Will Salley from Headwaters Market Garden in Alexander, North Carolina, jumped head first into farming in 2017 and have learned a lot of lessons along the way. Hear how they learned how to grow produce and a farm business in our new and beginning farmer series. 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 & Farms in the News

The Mountain Xpress talks with cider-makers : [link removed] who are sourcing local apples.

The Laurel of Asheville profiles Ricky Manning of Lick Log Branch Apiaries : [link removed], whose products can be found at River Arts District Farmers Market, West Asheville Tailgate Market, and Mills River Farmers Market.

Also in The Laurel, Robert Turner : [link removed] points to some alternatives to the industrialized food system.

WLOS reports that the dry weather : [link removed] has actually been a boon for Henderson County grape growers and winemakers.



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

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