Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week

There’s a stretch of weeks in the summer when the widest range of veggies are available, and we’re entering that abundant period now! Area farmers tailgate markets have nearly any summer veggie you’re looking to find.

There will still be more new veggies to arrive throughout the season, and some vegetables like broccoli or tender salad green prefer cooler temperatures and so will be sparse during this time. But for the majority of summer produce, this is their time to shine. The list is exhaustive: apples, beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, celery, collards, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, fennel, flowers, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, okra, onions, peas, peppers, potatoes, summer squash, tomatoes, tomatillos, and more.

What are some of the newest additions this week?

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The first sweet corn is here from McConnell Farms (North Asheville Tailgate MarketAsheville City MarketWest Asheville Tailgate Market)! Get the grill going and melt your butter, for corn-on-the-cob time is upon us.

The earliest of this year’s apples are also available from McConnell Farms. They’re Yellow June apples, and they’re great for snacking or cooking with.

As the daily temperature continues to rise, tender salad greens become more scarce. They wilt in the heat, and so they’re harder to cultivate. With that said, there are still farms with salad greens for sale, but fewer. If you’re a salad-all-year-long kind of person, let these farmers know you’re grateful for their commitment to salad-growing.

Hearty, dark leafy greens grow more willingly this time of year. Collards and swiss chard are both around, and the heartiest of all, cabbage, abounds.

There are a range of cabbages around including both red and green varieties. If you’re looking for a more whimsical-feeling cabbage, try arrowhead cabbage. You kind find it from Paper Crane Farm (Asheville City Market and West Asheville Tailgate Market), as well as other farmers around town. For a more traditional cabbage, give savoy cabbage a go, which you can find from Highgate Farm (Black Mountain Tailgate MarketWeaverville Tailgate Market, and West Asheville Tailgate Market). Or, for a more familiar cabbage, try a Tendersweet variety from Full Sun Farm (North Asheville Tailgate Market and River Arts District Farmers Market).

Each week farmers have a wide array of fruits and vegetables. In addition to produce, you can always find a range of meats, cheeses, eggs, breads, baked goods, value added items, fresh flowers, and other treats!

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.

(Prepared by Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.)