ASAP's Weekly Farmers Market Report - April 30, 2021

Fresh at Farmers Markets

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As temperatures continue to rise, more farmers and others vendors are returning to fill out farmers tailgate markets—and a few more markets are ready to open! Enka-Candler Tailgate Market : [link removed], at the A-B Tech Small Business Center in Enka, opens this Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. Black Mountain Tailgate Market : [link removed] will open next Saturday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to noon. (If you’re looking for a market outside of Buncombe County, here’s a full list of opening dates throughout the region : [link removed].)
 
Local, pasture-raised chicken is something wholly different than what you can find at a grocery store, and a great thing to pick up at the farmers market when you find it available. Fiddler’s Green Farm has whole chickens now at ASAP Farmers Market : [link removed]. Fiddler’s Green selects breeds that are slower growing than the Cornish cross you find from most poultry sellers. While they produce less breast meat per bird, they develop intense flavor and are very tender. Also look for whole chickens from Sugar Hollow Farm : [link removed], which is at North Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed], Black Mountain Tailgate Market, and River Arts District Farmers Market : [link removed], as well as every other week at West Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed].

A single chicken, even a small one, can yield several easy meals. Start by cutting it into quarters, setting aside the carcass. Rub the pieces with olive oil, herbs, salt, and pepper, and roast on a sheet tray with an assortment of spring market vegetables. A few suggestions: carrots from Smallholding Farm (Weaverville Tailgate Market : [link removed], East Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed]), fennel from Gaining Ground Farm : [link removed] (North Asheville Tailgate Market), or asparagus from Root Bottom Farm : [link removed] (West Asheville Tailgate Market). Enjoy the roasted legs and veggies alongside a whole grain like farro or barley. 

For your next meal, shred the cooked breast meat and make tacos or enchiladas. Toss the shredded chicken with your favorite store-bought enchilada sauce (or make your own from dried chilies). Find other toppings, like cilantro, radishes, shredded lettuce, and scallions, at markets as well. Need a little more? Try a bit of fromage blanc from Lane in the Woods Farm & Creamery on top (Weaverville Tailgate Market, East Asheville Tailgate Market). 

Finally, use the chicken carcass to make stock. Spring greens, like watercress, nettles, and sorrel all make lovely, bright pureed soups, and chicken stock adds a satisfying depth of flavor. Look for watercress from Lee’s One Fortune Farm : [link removed] (ASAP Farmers Market, West Asheville Tailgate Market, River Arts District Farmers Market, East Asheville Tailgate Market, and Black Mountain Tailgate Market), nettles from Bear Necessities Farm : [link removed] (West Asheville Tailgate Market and ASAP Farmers Market), and sorrel from Thatchmore Farm : [link removed] (North Asheville Tailgate Market and West Asheville Tailgate Market). 

Farmers Markets right now also have beets, turnips, mushrooms, spinach, kale, and much more. In addition to produce, market vendors have a wide variety of other meats, fish, cheese, bread, rice, prepared foods, fermented products, baked treats, and beverages. 

There are more than 100 farmers tailgate markets throughout the Appalachian Grown region. Find them, as well as farms and other local food businesses, in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide : [link removed].

Farmers Market Cooking Demos

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As part of ASAP’s Farm Fresh for Health initiative, we’re partnering with community health professionals to bring you virtual cooking demos and recipes : [link removed]. These short videos inspire you to cook with ingredients from a farmers market : [link removed] near you! The latest post is from Maddie Culbertson of Mills River Farm Market and the YMCA, making fresh pasta with shrimp and local mushrooms. Past demos include plant-based tacos from Dr. Brian Asbill and massaged kale salad from nutritionist Lauren Furgiuele.

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

5/1-5/2
Asheville Herb Festival : [link removed] 


5/3 & 5/10
Summer Organic Gardening Series : [link removed]
 

5/4
Taxes for Farms : [link removed]
 

5/6
Sierra Club: Solarize Asheville-Buncombe : [link removed] 


Find more upcoming events (or post your own) at fromhere.org : [link removed].

ASAP on the Air

: [link removed] A group of Hispanic farmers is coming together in Henderson County to start the Tierra Fertil Coop. Founding member Delia Jovel shares her journey from growing up in El Salvador to farming in Western North Carolina, and explains the coop’s collective vision for fostering social equity through local food in this episode of 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] &  Farm News

The USDA's expansion of Pandemic EBT, meant to help feed kids over the summer, will also aid farmers who have seen sales increase with ASAP's Double SNAP program. Read more in the Citizen Times. : [link removed]

CSAs have continued their pandemic popularity. The Mountain Xpress talks to several CSA farmers. : [link removed] (Still looking for a CSA? ASAP's CSA guide : [link removed] can help.)

Blueberries are in short supply, reports the Citizen Times : [link removed], but local berries will fill in the gaps starting in June.

Read about Smith Mill Works, a hub for small grower operations and sustainability-minded businesses in the Mountain Xpress. : [link removed]

ASAP's Local Food Guide was featured on WLOS. : [link removed]



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

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