Just in time for Mother’s Day, strawberries are hitting farmers tailgate markets! We've seen them so far from Lee’s One Fortune Farm and Ivy Creek Family Farm, but by the time you're reading this many more farms will have them. Find the Lees at the ASAP, Black Mountain, West Asheville, River Arts District, and East Asheville markets. Ivy Creek is at the North Asheville and Weaverville markets. Note that North Asheville Tailgate Market is moving to Salvage Station for this Saturday only, due to UNC Asheville’s graduation.
A full pint of juicy, ruby red strawberries to eat all by herself might be all your mother figure wants, but if you’re looking for something more, you’ll find lots of options at markets right now.
For the moms who want to be outside, pack a basket with a few simple market snacks (including those strawberries) and head to your favorite picnic spot—even if that’s just the front porch. High Top Bread Company is a new bakery this season selling naturally leavened breads made with local flours, often with unique flavors like lavender or turmeric. Lane in the Woods Farm & Creamery is a new cow’s milk cheesemaker (you may have seen them at markets previously as Homemade in Marshall, selling raw milk). Find both vendors at East Asheville and Weaverville markets.
Maybe your mother figure would rather bring the outdoors in? Locally grown flower bouquets abound at markets. Expect to find peonies, ranunculus, anemones, and snapdragons right now, in single variety or mixed bouquets. Look for flowers from Full Sun Farm at North Asheville and River Arts District markets; Carolina Flowers at ASAP Farmers Market; and Encompass Farm at East Asheville Tailgate Market.
If breakfast in bed is her luxury of choice, pick up coffee and pastries—and, again, those strawberries. You can get croissants from OWL Bakery (North Asheville) and Simple Bread (ASAP and West Asheville markets). Sweetheart Bakery (ASAP and North Asheville markets) has all the cinnamon rolls, doughnuts, scones, coffeecakes, and muffins you could wish for (including gluten-free items). Find locally roasted coffee beans from Notorious Coffee Roasters (ASAP, River Arts District, and Weaverville markets).
In addition to these treats, farmers markets right now are transitioning even more into spring produce. Thatchmore Farm (West Asheville and North Asheville markets) has early cucumbers available this week. You’ll also find carrots, radishes, spinach, beets, turnips, spring onions, green garlic, mushrooms, and lots of salad greens. Meats, including chicken, pork, beef, rabbit, and lamb, as well as farm-fresh eggs, are also available.
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.
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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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We slipped in some sad news at the end of our Growing Local episode last week: It was the last one. For the past five years, Jen Nathan Orris has produced Growing Local Radio for ASAP. Working with Jen, we've told hundreds of farm and local food stories. We encourage you to go back and explore the archive.
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