ASAP's Weekly Farmers Market Report - November 15, 2019

Fresh at Farmers Markets

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For a stress-free Thanksgiving, making a plan and doing as much prep work in advance is the way to go. That means you should start your farmers tailgate market list now, and even get some of the shopping out of the way, rather than wait for the mad rush on the final pre-holiday weekend. (Although if you do find you need to do some last-minute shopping, West Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed] is open on Tuesday and River Arts District Farmers Market : [link removed] is open on Wednesday the week of Thanksgiving.)
 
Potatoes. Could it be Thanksgiving dinner without mashed potatoes? Luckily, these tubers will keep for several weeks after you buy them, so stock up now. High starch potatoes yield the best mashed results and you can always ask your farmer if you’re not sure the best variety to buy. Russet potatoes are a go-to, mashing to perfect fluffiness and soaking up all the butter and cream. Ten Mile Farm : [link removed] (Asheville City Market : [link removed]) will have russets available for the next several weeks. Medium starchy gold potatoes, on the other hand, still mash reasonably well, but maintain their inherent potato flavor. We like these roughly mashed with olive oil and salt. 

Squash and/or pumpkin. Yes, you need to serve pumpkin pie. No, you don’t need to buy a pumpkin. Ask most farmers and they’ll tell you that butternut squash makes the best pie filling. Not only can you buy squash well in advance, you can go ahead and roast it and make puree, which will last in the fridge for up to a week or longer in the freezer. Then when it’s time to make your pies, it’s as easy as using the ubiquitous canned pumpkin. 

Apples. Whether you are including them in the stuffing, slicing them up for a salad, or need another option for pie, you’ll want to have plenty of apples on hand for the holiday. Most varieties will keep for a month or more, many for longer, and they’re cheaper by the bag, so go ahead and buy in bulk. Your farmer can advise you on the best apples for pie vs. fresh eating. Find apples at Creasman Farms : [link removed] (Asheville City Market, Black Mountain Tailgate Market : [link removed], and River Arts District Market) and McConnell Farms : [link removed] (Asheville City Market, North Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed], West Asheville Tailgate Market).

Sweet potatoes. Another vegetable that does just fine with a lengthy stay in the pantry, sweet potatoes find their way onto Thanksgiving tables in many ways, including roasted, glazed, as pie filling, as soup, and, yes, mashed and topped with bruleed marshmallow. 

Bread. Slightly stale bread works best for stuffing and/or dressing, so you’ll want to grab some early on as well. If you get really ahead, you can go ahead and make stuffing/dressing and freeze it, as this is one of the most forgiving dishes to reheat and serve. You’ll find loads of bread options from Simple Bread (Asheville City Market, West Asheville Tailgate Market), OWL Bakery (North Asheville Tagilate Market), J Bread (Asheville City Market), and Walnut Schoolhouse (River Arts District Farmers Market). Need something gluten-free? Look for Urban Peasants at River Arts District Farmers Market.

This week is your last chance to shop Riverside Tailgate Market : [link removed] (Friday, Nov. 21) and Black Mountain Tailgate Market (Saturday) before they close for the season. Find winter and holiday market dates and hours at asapconnections.org : [link removed]. 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].

Registration Is Open

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Registration : [link removed] is open for the 2020 Business of Farming Conference, which will take place Saturday, Feb. 22, at the AB Tech Conference Center in Asheville, NC. 

ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference : [link removed] brings together professional farmers from across the Southeast region to network and share resources to grow their farm businesses. Farmers will learn about marketing, business planning, branding, and management from regional experts and innovative peers. The conference is designed for beginning and established farmers as well as those seriously considering farming as a profession.

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

11/17
Bountiful Garden : [link removed]

11/19
Madison County Garden Club : [link removed]


11/22-11/23
Mid-Atlantic Hemp Trade Show & Conference : [link removed]
 

11/23
Make It! Don’t Buy It! Skill Share : [link removed] Farm Day: Venezia Dream Alpacas : [link removed]

11/25
Health Coverage Enrollment Event : [link removed]

12/5-12/6
2019 NC Food Council Gathering: Cultivating Community Through Food : [link removed]

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

ASAP on the Air

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Farmers tailgate markets are great places to build community, especially as a new resident. In our Growing Local this week : [link removed] we talk to writer Kay West about how she got to know her new home by shopping at markets.

 
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

Our State : [link removed] has a story on the rich history of Sunburst Trout, including a shout out for ASAP!
 
The Mountain Xpress : [link removed] looks at school food pantry programs, including Woodson Branch Nature School's farming program. 

Esquire : [link removed] ranked Asheville's Benne on Eagle number five on its list of best new restaurants in America.

Area leaders met for the Food Waste Solutions Summit this week. Hear more on WLOS : [link removed].



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

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