This week offers several prime opportunities to shop local farmers tailgate markets for holiday gifts, party preparations—or just your weekly grocery needs. East Asheville Tailgate Market’s holiday market and fundraiser is today, from 3 to 6 pm, plus there are still several Saturday morning (Asheville City Market and The Holiday Bazaar) and midweek (West Asheville Tailgate Holiday Market, River Arts District Winter Market, Weaverville Tailgate Winter Market) markets open for convenient shopping.
Markets have lots of fresh produce, including apples, carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, cabbage, kale, spinach, radishes, turnips, brussels sprouts, beets and much more. Fiddler’s Green Farm reports that they will have fresh whole chickens for the last time before May this Saturday at Asheville City Market, so pick one up now. You’ll also find other meats, fish, eggs, cheese, rice, and bread at any market.
As for gifts, there is something for everyone, with options ranging from artisan crafts like woodworking, textiles, art prints, jewelry, and pottery to specialty food items and CBD products. Not sure where to start? Here are a few of our favorites this season.
Dried flower wreaths and bouquets, like those available from Green Toe Ground Farm (Asheville City Market, The Holiday Bazaar), will last through the holiday season and probably until springtime. We bet your mother would love one.
Elderberry syrup lets you give the gift of wellness, with its cold-fighting properties, as well as a tasty treat. Brew Naturals (Asheville City Market, East Asheville Tailgate Market, River Arts District Winter Market, West Asheville Holiday Tailgate Market) offers its own proprietary blend in a 16-ounce bottle or you can opt for a DIY brewing kit, which comes with dried elderberries and spices. Elderberry is a great addition to hot cider, with or without a nip of something stronger, which might appeal to dad.
A small plant or bulb is a classic host gift. You can find succulents in various sizes from Finally Farm (Asheville City Market, River Arts District Winter Market) and paperwhite bulbs from Carolina Flowers (Asheville City Market).
The dark chocolate trios from Conjure Craft Chocolate (East Asheville Tailgate Market, West Asheville Holiday Tailgate Market, River Arts District Winter Market), wrapped in bright papers and tied up with festive ribbon, are perfect as stocking stuffers or for the office gift exchange.
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.
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Our Growing Minds Farm to School team has assembled a list of a few of their favorite winter children's books—great for holiday gift giving or curling up by the fire on snow days. Find these and more food and farm focused children's literature at growing-minds.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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Harold and Nancy Long grow heirloom seeds at their 40-acre farm in Murphy, North Carolina. Hear why they maintain this tradition and how it fits into efforts to support agriculture in the Cherokee community on this week's Growing Local.
You can listen to all
Growing Local episodes on SoundCloud, iTunes, or on ASAP's website.
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Local Food & Farms in the News
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The Asheville Citizen-Times has recommendations on where to send holiday visitors to eat, including many restaurants sourcing from local farms.
The 2020 Asheville Independent Restaurants Passport is a great way to save at acclaimed local eateries, reports WLOS.
Capital at Play rounds up some of the standout cottage industry entrepreneurs of the year, including Fermenti Farms, available at many farmers tailgate markets.
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