The growing season has arrived in WNC and the Southern Appalachians! Look for signs of spring with seasonal specialties found at tailgate farmers markets, featured at restaurants, and purchased at roadside stands.
It is also the time of year to pick up the newest edition of ASAP’s Local Food Guide to help consumers find the best sources for Appalachian Grown™ food.
“The community asks for local food, and ASAP’s Local Food Guide is the best way to find it,” says Molly Nicholie, ASAP’s Local Food Campaign Director. “Inthe guide, you can find nearly 700 local farms, 100 farmers tailgate markets, hundreds of restaurants, grocers and other outlets for food and farm products with an astounding variety of local products.”
This year’s Local Food Guide offers new information, such as which Appalachian Grown tailgate farmers market can accept credit, debit and SNAP/EBT. The guide also includes a look at several multi-generation family farms, celebrating their stories and hearing about why generations continue farming in the Southern Appalachians. Other new features include area restaurants committed to sourcing local food, along with listings of grocers, artisan food producers, B&Bs and farm lodging, wineries, and more.
The 2015 Local Food Guide can be picked up hot off the press at ASAP’s booth at the Mother Earth News Fair, April 11–12, at the WNC Ag Center. ASAP is a supporting partner of the fair and we will be joined there by many Appalachian Grown farms and partner retailers. The latest guide listings can also be found online at appalachiangrown.org. Print copies will be distributed after the fair to locations throughout the region, listed at asapconnections.org. The 2015 Local Food Guide can always be picked up at ASAP’s office: 306 West Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801.