ASAP's Weekly Farmers Market Report - February 3, 2023

Fresh at Farmers Markets

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Whether you’re hosting a Super Bowl get together, or are just looking for new ways to entertain guests this time of year, winter farmers markets have plenty of amazing local meat options to switch up your regular party offerings. With less produce variety this time of year, now is the time to see what meat vendors have to offer! 

Want to get creative with your Super Bowl shareables? These lamb sliders are a creative twist on a football Sunday favorite. In a large bowl, combine half a pound of ground lamb, a quarter cup of minced shallot, two tablespoons each of freshly chopped mint and parsley, one tablespoon of salt, one teaspoon of pepper, one teaspoon of ground cumin, one clove of minced garlic, and a sprinkle of paprika. Divide the mixture into 9 equal potions, and form patties with your hands. Transfer the patties onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes. Make your tzatziki by combining a cup of plain Greek yogurt, half a cup of grated cucumber, one tablespoon each of finely chopped dill and mint, two teaspoons of lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Heat a grill pan or grill to high heat and cook the slider patties for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Add lettuce, tzatziki and feta to the bottom buns, and more tzatziki and some pickled onions to the top bun. Assemble your sliders and serve! You can find ground lamb for this recipe from Crow Fly Farms : [link removed] and Warren Wilson College Farm : [link removed] at Asheville City Market : [link removed]. 

Ropa vieja, a Cuban beef recipe, is an easy and delicious way to wow your guests using a slow cooker. To your slow cooker, add one cup of beef broth, six ounces of tomato paste, a fourteen ounce can of diced tomatoes, one and a half teaspoons of salt, a quarter teaspoon of pepper, a teaspoon each of oregano and ground cumin, half a teaspoon of ground turmeric, and one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and stir. Add two pounds of beef flank steak or chuck roast and flip it around in the sauce to coat it. Lastly, add two diced bell peppers, one diced white onion, one cup of Spanish olives, and three whole garlic cloves, then mix the contents together. Cover and cook on low for 9 hours, or on high for 5 hours, without opening the lid while cooking. Shred the meat with two forks in the slow cooker after it’s done cooking. Serve with yellow rice or tortillas to make tacos! You can find beef for this recipe from Dry Ridge Farm : [link removed] at Asheville City Market. 

You can also find plenty of pork options at farmers markets right now, which is a great opportunity to make these simple pork lettuce wraps. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add one tablespoon of freshly chopped ginger and two cloves of minced garlic, and cook for a few minutes until fragrant. Add one pound of ground pork and cook for 5 minutes until no longer pink. Add a quarter cup of hoisin sauce and one tablespoon of sriracha, and stir until combined. Separate the leaves of one head of romaine lettuce (or any lettuce variety of your choice), and spoon the cooked pork into the leaves. Add grated carrot, sliced scallions and sesame seeds to serve. Sugar Creek Meat : [link removed] sells ground pork, in addition to a variety of pork cuts and sausage options, at the River Arts District Farmers Market : [link removed]. 

Area farmers tailgate markets take place throughout the region, even in the winter. 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 : [link removed].

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

2/6
Backyard Beekeeping with Ashley English : [link removed] Farm Boot Camp: Vegetable Production : [link removed]

2/7
Fermentation Club : [link removed]

2/11
ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference : [link removed]

2/13
Small Farm Boot Camp: Small Fruit Production : [link removed]

2/16
The Basics of Growing Fruits & Berries : [link removed]
 
Find upcoming events (or post your own) at
asapconnections.org : [link removed].

News from ASAP

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Save the Date for ASAP's CSA Fair!ASAP's annual CSA Fair : [link removed] will return March 10, 3:30 to 6:30, at the YWCA of Asheville. This free, family-friendly event is a chance to meet farmers and learn about CSAs (or Community Supported Agriculture)—where you sign on for a "share" of a farm's harvest and get a weekly box of fresh produce or other farm goods. Participating farms—which all offer pickup locations in Buncombe County—will be announced later this month. Ready to sign up for a CSA now? Use ASAP's online tools to find CSA farms : [link removed] throughout the Appalachian Grown region.

Local Food & Farms in the News

Fermenti—well known to farmers market shoppers—opens its first brick and mortar Saturday, Feb. 4. The shop will sell its sauerkraut, kimchi, and other fermented products, as well as fermentation kits and spice blends. The shop will also host a Fermenting Club, for conversation among fellow fermenters. “I want to showcase other local fermenters, ferments, tools, artisans and food makers who utilize ferments in their products,” says owner Meg Chamberlain. Read more in the Mountain Xpress. : [link removed]

Edible Asheville : [link removed] features another former farmers market vendor, DJ's Pickles, and his relationship with R Farm. Farmer Hannah Jeske was able to convince DJ's co-owner Don Paleno to try pickling bamboo shoots. “Bamboo shoots aren’t the easiest to market,” she says. “A lot of people don’t know what to do with them.”



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

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