Ready to up your egg dyeing game this spring? Whether you are decorating eggs as part of an Easter tradition or to celebrate other springtime rites, farmers tailgate markets have lots of options. Shop for an assortment of sizes—from tiny quail eggs to giant goose eggs—for a unique basket.
If you visited Asheville City Market this past week, you may have sampled goose eggs cooked by guest chef Michael Gentry. They were from Myseanica Family Farm, which also offers an array of microgreens, veggies, and textiles. Goose eggs are about twice as large as chicken eggs and have much harder shells. If you’re cooking with goose eggs, you can replace two chicken eggs in a recipe with one goose egg. Hard boiling will take a few minutes longer, about 15 minutes. Place in ice water to cool thoroughly before peeling. After your egg hunt, we highly recommend turning goose eggs into giant deviled eggs!
Duck eggs fall in between chicken and goose eggs in size. You can replace three chicken eggs in a recipe with two duck eggs. For hard boiled, cook for 12 minutes. Like goose eggs, duck eggs have a higher yolk-to-white ratio and a stronger flavor. Look for duck eggs from Headwaters Market Garden at Asheville City Market.
Quail eggs fall at the other end of the spectrum. These tiny speckled gems don’t really need added decoration, but you can dye them for a colorful, marbled look. Quail eggs cook very quickly—three and a half minutes for hard boiled. Cool the eggs in ice water, then gently roll them on the countertop to crack the shell. Look for quail eggs from The Wild Way Farm at North and West Asheville markets.
Of course, standard chicken eggs are widely available at all markets as well. Wondering if you can dye brown eggs? Yes, you can! You can get vibrant, jewel-toned eggs using regular food coloring or natural, food-based dyes. (Pictured are brown eggs from Dry Ridge Farm dyed using food coloring and vinegar.) If you want to try your hand at natural dyes, look for beets, red cabbage, onion skins, and turmeric root.
At farmers markets now you’ll also find carrots, parsnips, turnips, radishes, winter greens like kale, spinach, mustards, and bok choy, as well as tender lettuce and baby greens. Markets are also stocked with a variety of meats, cheese, rice, pasta, pastries, drinks, and prepared foods. Find more details about farms and markets throughout the region in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide.
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Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables
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ASAP’s Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables supports access to fresh, healthy food in the community as well as increases sales for farmers and food businesses. The program is a little different this year with SNAP dollars matched with tokens that can be used only for fresh fruits and vegetables.
Here's how it works: As a SNAP customer, you swipe your EBT card for $20, then receive that $20 in SNAP tokens as well as an additional $20 in Farm Fresh Bucks. SNAP tokens may be used for produce, meat, cheese, eggs, dairy, bread, and plants. Farm Fresh Bucks are limited to fresh fruits and vegetables.
ASAP’s Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables is currently available at four markets:
More markets will be added as the season continues (find details updates here). Other types of SNAP incentive programs are offered at many other farmers markets throughout the region as well, though details vary by market. You can search for SNAP incentives and markets near you at
appalachiangrown.org. |
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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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The Mountain Xpress features Asheville City Market's return to North Market Street downtown. “After the past two years of things being in constant flux, we’re excited to regain a sense of normalcy with ACM’s return to downtown,” says farmer Joe Evans. “ACM is a mainstay of Asheville’s agricultural and food-focused community, connecting consumers to local food in transparent and accessible ways.”
The Mountain Xpress also features several new culinary businesses that have connected with customers at Asheville farmers markets. “I love the markets,” says Beth Kellerhals of Good Gravy Bakes. “People have been so receptive. They come for the biscuits, but they’ll also try whatever scone I throw at them. I made a Hong Kong milk tea scone, and people were like, ‘I don’t know what that is, but I’ll try it.’ I love that spirit.”
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