Area farmers tailgate markets have an abundance of appetizing foods to be thankful for, perfect for every component of your Thanksgiving meal.
Whether it be a traditional or unconventional dish, local farmers and food artisans have such a wide array of produce, staples, and prepared goods, that you can let your creative culinary side shine. This Thanksgiving, get local!
Leading up to the meal, appetizers are key to keep your family and friends from getting too hungry. Pick up pickles, cheeses, breads at market to make your spread. Fork Mountain Farm has pickles at the Weaverville Tailgate Market on Wednesday. Stop byNorth Asheville Tailgate Market to find cheese from Three Graces Dairy and Spinning Spider Creamery this Saturday. And get bread from Farm & Sparrow or Simple Bread at the River Arts District Farmers Market and West Asheville Tailgate Market (respectively).
For your holiday centerpiece, perhaps try an alternative to turkey if you didn’t pre-order one. A whole chicken, pork or beef roast are delicious and hearty, and can be found from a number of farmers at each of the area farmers tailgate markets. Or, try a vegetarian or vegan entree from No Evil Foods or Smiling Hara Tempeh at West Asheville Tailgate Market and North Asheville Tailgate Market (respectively).
There are infinite possibilities for local side dishes, with so many vegetables to choose from! Salads, squashes, roots veggies, mushrooms, cornmeal for cornbread, and so much more to discover and incorporate into your feast’s menu.
Pies are the name of the Thanksgiving dessert game. At markets, find sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and apples from local farmers for those seasonal pie delights. Also, Just Ripe Farm at Transylvania Farmers Market has pecans! Rachel Kinard is the farmer behind Just Ripe Farm, in Madison County, North Carolina, but the pecans are grown on Rachel’s family’s land in Greenwood County, South Carolina. Get to market early if you want these goodies, they’re likely to sell quickly!
Many markets are either closing for the season this month, or transitioning to new locations and/or hours. Check ASAP’s list of market closing dates, or the individual market’s listing in their online Local Food Guide.