ASAP's Weekly Farmers Market Report - July 8, 2021

Fresh at Farmers Markets

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There’s so much new summer produce flooding farmers markets this week, we can hardly keep up! The latest summer delicacy is eggplants!  With several farms selling different varieties of the versatile plant, the opportunities for cooking in the weeks to come are endless. 

Look for an assortment of globe, Asian and fairy tale eggplant varieties being sold from Ten Mile Farm : [link removed], Full Sun Farm : [link removed], Flying Cloud Farm : [link removed], and Velvet Morning Farms : [link removed]. Find Ten Mile Farm at Asheville City Market : [link removed] and Black Mountain Tailgate Market : [link removed]; Full Sun Farm and Flying Cloud Farm at both the River Arts District : [link removed] and North Asheville : [link removed] markets; and Velvet Morning Farms at Asheville City Market.

Fried eggplant, tomato, and cucumber salad is a great way to enjoy all of the wonderful produce you pick up at markets this week. You can enjoy this delicious dish as an appetizer or side. Or try stuffing the salad mixture into some pita bread from Hominy Farm (River Arts District, North, and West Asheville markets) for a quick sandwich to go!

Start with two medium eggplants of any variety and chop into small, bite-sized pieces. Place eggplant into a colander over the sink, season with salt, then let sit for 30 minutes to drain. While waiting for your eggplant, purée a half cup of fresh parsley, a half cup of fresh cilantro, one clove of garlic, one small green chile, and a fourth cup of olive oil in a food processor or blender. Season the herbed oil with a pinch of salt and set aside. Whisk together three-fourths cup of plain Greek yogurt, one tablespoon of lemon juice, and another fourth cup of olive oil, and set aside. Once your eggplant is finished draining, heat some vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Fry the eggplant until golden brown, turning often for about five minutes. After the eggplant is done frying, transfer to a paper towel to absorb any excess oil. Chop two or three medium-sized tomatoes and another green chile and slice three small cucumbers. Toss those vegetables with the fried eggplant and reserved herb oil in a large bowl. To serve, add yogurt mixture to the bottom of a bowl or plate, then add salad mixture on top. Tomatoes and cucumbers are widely available at markets now. Get parsley for this recipe from Gaining Ground Farm : [link removed] at River Arts District and North Asheville markets.

Summer flower bouquets are in now, as well! If you’re looking to add a beautiful centerpiece to the dinner table, look no further than your local farmers markets! Look for freshly picked bouquets from vendors like Ivy Creek Family Farms : [link removed] (North Asheville and Weaverville : [link removed] markets), Gaining Ground, Full Sun Farm, and Flying Cloud Farm.

At farmers markets now you’ll also find raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, summer squash, onions, beans, new potatoes, cabbage, carrots, beets, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, and much more. Markets are stocked with a variety of meats, cheese, rice, pasta, bread, drinks, and prepared foods. Find more details about farms and markets throughout the region in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org : [link removed].

School Garden & Taste Test Workshops from Growing Minds

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ASAP's Growing Minds offers training opportunities for educators and community members around farm to school programming. You can look for upcoming workshops in our events calendar : [link removed]. Can't make it to a training in person? We've posted several virtual workshops!Join Debbi and Cameron (pictured) to learn how to offer a local foods cooking demo or get tips on starting an edible school garden. Find the videos on our YouTube channel : [link removed] or look for more farm to school resources at growing-minds.org. : [link removed] : [link removed] 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

7/13-7/14
2022 Southeast Value-Added Dairy Conference : [link removed]

7/14
Farm Fresh for Health Regional Symposium at Perry’s Berry’s : [link removed]
 

7/28
Farm Fresh for Health Symposium at KT’s Orchard and Apiary : [link removed] Your Story: Using Evaluation and Other Tools to Share Your Organization’s Impact : [link removed]

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

Local Food &  Farm News

Edible North Carolina : [link removed], a history and anthology of food in the state, edited by Marcie Cohen Ferris, includes some of ASAP's founding story, as well as the influence of many Western North Carolina farms and chefs. "There's so many good things that have happened here," says chef Mark Rosenstein. "You have the whole local food thing. You have Warren Wilson College. You have ASAP.... Their brilliance is to connect the farmers to the people who eat food. They realized, we don't need to teach the farmers how to farm, let's teach them how to market.... We're one of the few regions in the country to have gained net farmland, because [ASAP] made it viable."

The Mountain Xpress has a feature on Veterans Healing Farm : [link removed] and how it uses farm experiences for healing and skill development for veterans. “There’s something about this place that is just calming,” says farm administrator Megan Landreth. “You come out here, and there’s peace and you can hear the water.”

The Mountain Xpress food news roundup : [link removed] includes Rivera Arts District Farmers Market's move to Smoky Park Supper Club. “Not only will vendors have room to spread out, but shoppers can grab a drink, buy some food, sit at a picnic table or bring a blanket to spread on the lawn, and just enjoy the river. And the shade,” market executive director Lyric Antio says.



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

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