Father’s Day is right around the corner, and what better way to celebrate the father figure in your life than by cooking up some seasonal produce and fresh meats from local farmers markets! Since Sunday is Father’s Day, we’re going to lean into the stereotype and devote this column to grilling. Grillable veggies like summer squash, spring onions, potatoes, and mushrooms are plentiful right now, in addition to a wide assortment of steaks, sausages, chops, and birds.
If a classic cookout is your jam, ground beef, brats, and kielbasa are widely available. Look for meats from Dry Ridge Farm (Asheville City, North Asheville, and West Asheville markets), Hickory Nut Gap (North Asheville Tailgate Market), Woven Roots Farmstead (Black Mountain Tailgate Market), and Sugar Hollow Farm (North Asheville and River Arts District markets). If you're looking for chicken to grill, check out Good Wheel Farm (North Asheville Tailgate Market) and Dillingham Family Farm (Weaverville Tailgate Market). For burger fixings, Hickory Nut Gap has a new smashburger ground beef blend at North Asheville Tailgate Market, and you can find plenty of head lettuce at markets now along with the first tomatoes from Smallholding Farm (East Asheville Tailgate Market).
Try a grilled potato salad alongside your meats! Root Bottom Farm (West Asheville Tailgate Market) has red new potatoes. Boil potatoes in salted water until just tender. Slice them into quarters and toss with olive oil, minced garlic, and your favorite herb combo. Place them cut-side down on a hot grill, turning a few times, until crispy on both sides. Transfer to a bowl and toss with additional olive oil, lemon juice or cider vinegar, whole grain mustard, more fresh herbs from market, and thinly sliced scallions or spring onions.
Summer squash and zucchini are perfect for grilling too. They soak up the flavor of whatever marinade you choose and skewer easily. As summer squash season kicks off in full force, find varieties like pattypan, zucchini, yellow crookneck and more from vendors like Smallholding Farm, Ivy Creek Family Farm (North Asheville and Weaverville Markets), and Tiny Bridge Farm (West Asheville Tailgate Market). Alternate your squash pieces with spring onion slices for an extra flavor burst.
Peaches won’t arrive in abundance at markets for another few weeks, but you might be able to score some soon from Lyda and Sons Orchard at Weaverville Tailgate Market! If you do, grill them alongside a few local pork chops. Cut peaches in half and remove pits. Grill them cut-side down for about four minutes, until slightly charred. For added sweetness, brush them with a bit of balsamic vinegar. Serve pork and peaches over a bed of fresh arugula.
At markets now you’ll also find strawberries, cherries, the first blueberries, kohlrabi, cabbages, turnips, beets, radishes, carrots, cucumbers, mushrooms, microgreens, a wide variety of tender and hearty greens, many types of fresh herbs like mint and dill, and more. Markets offer an abundance of farm-fresh eggs and meats, including chicken, pork, beef, and lamb. You can also get bread, cheese, pastries, fermented products, drinks, and prepared foods. During springtime, find annual and perennial plant starts for your gardens along with fresh flowers. 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 at appalachiangrown.org.
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ASAP's mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food.
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Passes for ASAP’s 2025 Farm Tour are now on sale! Farm Tour will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21, noon to 5 p.m.
Participating farms will be announced in late June or early July. One pass is good for all passengers in a single vehicle at all farms, both days. Passes are $35 before Sept. 20 and $45 on Sept 20-21.
ASAP’s annual Farm Tour is a chance to experience how food is grown and raised through guided tours, demonstrations, and tastings. The Farm Tour showcases the diversity of working farms in Western North Carolina, including vegetables, livestock, vineyards, orchards, flowers, fiber, and more! This is a family-friendly event and a great outing for visitors of all ages, abilities, and interests. All are welcome.
ASAP’s 2025 Farm Tour is a critical prices of hurricane recovery as it helps the local food economy rebound, strengthens the relationships between farmers and consumers, and encourages tourism from outside of Asheville. Join ASAP in sustaining our farming community.
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