ASAP | From Here | Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

The first sweet potatoes always arrive later than the first winter squash. Once that initial squash makes an appearance, it’s only a matter of weeks before the sweet potato does, and for fans of these tubers, those weeks are a countdown.

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ASAP likes to share stories of people who help us fulfill our mission and contribute to growing our local food movement. This month in celebration of the start of the school year, we’ve spoken with Amanda Fox, the Student Support Specialist at Emma Elementary School about using their school/community garden (maintained in collaboration with their neighbor, Emma Family Resource Center), to grow food with their students. Hear how Amanda’s students react to gardening and trying new things, and how the community uses the garden too!  Read the rest of this entry »

Winter squash is beginning to take center stage at area farmers tailgate markets, along with the cooler temperatures and crisp, fall-like weather. 

There’s already a range of squash varieties. Kabocha, Delicata, Butternut, and Acorn are all here, ready to be roasted. These squashes have so much flavor, you need not add more than butter and a sprinkle of salt. And don’t forget the seeds – all of these squashes have great seeds for roasting. Remove them from the meat of the squash, clean them, and roast at a low temperature until they’re dry and crisp. Add butter and seasoning to make a great snack!

Two particularly exciting varieties to check out are Spaghetti squash and a Honeynut squash, which look like baby Butternut squash. Ask anyone who has tried them – they’re absolutely delicious! These squash are especially sweet, making them great for dessert ingredients for pies and other fall treats. Find Spaghetti squash and Honeynut squash from Wendy Town Farms at West Asheville Tailgate Market, as well as from other farms throughout the area. 

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.

Long, hot summer days are fading into cooler evenings and the first hints of fall. That means a new crop of late-summer fruits at area tailgate farmers markets, even as you savor the last of the berries and peaches.

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Of course, there is an abundance of food at area farmers tailgate markets. But that isn’t the only cornucopia — people and a sense of community abound at markets as well. There is something fulfilling and wholesome about seeing the same faces week after week, year after year. As a visitor or newcomer, you’re sure to be welcomed with smiles, conversations, and ready answers to questions. Food certainly makes markets, but they would be nothing without the extraordinary people who grow, raise, produce, preserve, bake, and bring all that food to us.

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As it starts to feel increasingly more like late summer, preserving the flavors of summer looms larger in many minds. There are folks who are fantastic at preserving all season long — starting with jam from the first strawberries. And then there are others that do it inconsistently — some pickled beans here, some frozen peaches there. Of course, not everyone takes part; some folks prefer to buy fresh each week throughout the whole year, only eating summer’s bounty at the point it’s harvested.

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Area farmers tailgate markets are full of delights to discover. On any given week, you can find locally grown and locally made treats that can surprise you, make you smile, and give you something to look forward to cooking or preparing when you get home.

Flowers. More and more produce farmers are growing and selling flowers at farmers markets. It’s a way for them to diversify their market offerings and attract pollinators to their farm. And for shoppers, it’s an opportunity to bring home something fresh and beautiful to decorate your home with each week, as well as an additional way for you to support local farmers.

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Though there’s plenty of “back-to-school” talk, summer is still in session. There are two weeks left until most kids in the area go back, and that leaves enough time to pack in last-minute swimming excursions and grilling. At area farmers tailgate markets, local farms have all the goods to have a great cookout!

Pick your protein: farmers have locally raised meats including beef, pork, chicken, turkey, rabbit, lamb, and trout. Of course, the meat is the main event for a cookout, but let that not distract you from the classic summer side dishes that turn the meat into a full meal.

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Tomato sandwiches can be a surprisingly contentious topic. There are the traditional minimalists who say that there is only one, true tomato sandwich: store bought white bread and mayonnaise, a thick-cut raw beefsteak tomato, and a pinch of salt. But, if you’re daring, there are many variations of the tomato sandwich worth giving a try, and with ingredients from area farmers markets, you might find the tomato sandwich that’s just right for you.

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Vegetables at market aren’t just good for making meals — they’re also great for snacking. Stop by farm vendors at area farmers tailgate markets to discover your new favorite mid-afternoon bites. Read the rest of this entry »