As we inch closer to the December holidays and the official start of the winter season, we are drawn to gather around hearths and heartwarming stories, crafts and bright candles, music and mulled beverages, and, of course, nourishing meals. Whether you’re the one hosting a gathering or attending someone else’s holiday festivities, there are plenty of sweet and savory treats available at farmers markets this week to nurture and connect you and your loved ones.
Wow your friends and family with a vibrant, delicious, and locally sourced charcuterie board! A holiday smorgasbord is an easy and delicious way to showcase some locally made, value-added products including cheeses, cured meats, freshly baked bread, jams and jellies, along with still available fresh produce.
Did someone say cheese? Arguably one of the most important ingredients of a charcuterie board, find a plethora of local cheese makers at farmers tailgate markets. Blue Ridge Mountain Creamery (North Asheville Tailgate Market) has a delicious assortment of artisan cheeses, including a classic cheddar, their signature “Ridge Blue” cheese, and even a cheese made with espresso! Find vendors upholding long standing traditions of raising their own herd for cheesemaking. Spinning Spider Creamery (West Asheville, River Arts District, and North Asheville markets) offers a delicious rosemary fig chevre perfect for the holidays and Three Graces Dairy (North Asheville) has a seasonal winter rum raisin chevre. Grassroots Farm and Dairy (North Asheville and West Asheville markets) offers a variety of soft and aged sheep cheeses. For the pimento lovers, find a variety of classic and seasonal pimento cheese dips from Ali Rae Foods at North Asheville and River Arts District markets. For the vegan or dairy-free guests, Darë Vegan Cheese (North Asheville) offers a collection of plant-based cheeses like a balsamic fig wedge and smoked pimento dip that will make you forget there’s no dairy on your smorgasbord!
Pair those delicious cheeses with a loaf or two or some freshly baked bread! Get perfectly baked sourdough loaves and baguettes from vendors like Simple Bread (Asheville City, North Asheville, and West Asheville markets) and High Top Bread Co (Asheville City, North Asheville, and Weaverville markets). For gluten-free gatherings, look for Urban Peasants at River Arts District Farmers Market and Dolci de Maria at North Asheville and Weaverville markets.
A charcuterie board isn’t complete without some umami and a few cured meat selections. Hickory Nut Gap offers a selection of salami and sopressata and Sunburst Trout offers a selection of rainbow trout products like hickory smoked dip, cold smoked filets, and jerky. For those who enjoy the flavors of fermented products, Serotonin Ferments (North Asheville, West Asheville, and River Arts District markets) offers a variety of delicious sauerkrauts and kimchis. Hummus is an easy crowd favorite that you can find locally crafted and in a variety of flavors from Sitto’s Hummus (North Asheville Tailgate Market).
To add a little sweetness or freshness to your board, Windy Hollow Farms (Weaverville Tailgate Market) and Imladris (North Asheville) offer a variety of jams, jellies, and apple butters. Find fresh fruit to slice onto your charcuterie board, like apples and persimmons, from vendors like McConnell Farms (North Asheville Tailgate Market) and Creasman Farms (Asheville City and North Asheville markets). Add a pop of color and freshness with sliced carrots and pink or purple daikon radishes from Wild East Farm (River Arts District Farmers Market) and New Roots Market Garden (North Asheville Tailgate Market). Get creative and arrange your charcuterie fixings to wow your guests and finish off your board with some fresh herb sprigs, like rosemary, and some beautiful handcrafted pottery.
This week ahead marks your last chance to shop at River Arts District and Weaverville markets (Dec. 17). Both Asheville City and North Asheville markets will close out their year on Dec. 20 and West Asheville will wrap up on Dec. 23. This Sunday, catch Southside Community Farm’s BIPOC Winter Market at New Belgium Brewing from 1 to 4 p.m. to support local artisans and food producers of color.
Find an array of fall and winter produce like winter squash, cold-hardy greens like, kale, collards, mixed lettuce, and arugula, flowering brassicas like broccoli and cauliflower, and root crops like beets, carrots, turnips, radishes, potatoes, and alliums. You’ll also find farm-fresh eggs, cheese, bread, pastries, fermented products, drinks, and prepared foods. You’ll also find farm-fresh eggs, cheese, bread, pastries, fermented products, drinks, and prepared foods. 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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Registration for ASAP's Business of Farming Conference is now open!
The annual conference, taking place on Feb. 28, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at A-B Tech Conference Hall in Asheville, NC, brings together professional farmers from across the Southeast region to network and share resources to grow their farm businesses. Farmers learn about marketing, business planning, and financial management from experts and innovative peers. The conference is designed for beginning and established farmers as well as those seriously considering farming as a profession.
Additionally, ASAP is partnering with NC Cooperative Extension to offer a pre-conference day on Friday, Feb. 27, from 1 to 6 p.m., at A-B Tech Conference Center in Asheville, NC titled Rooted in Research: Growing Small Farm Production.
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Want to take it easy this year and get help with your Christmas Feast? Citizen Times compiled a list of where to find restaurants open on Christmas day, catering options ahead of the big day, and local businesses with festive offerings.
Snag The Hop's Yule Log by December 16. Connect with Red Fiddle Vittles and New Stock Pantry for your catering needs. Dine at restaurants, including Gemelli for their Feast of the Seven Fishes.
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