Summer may be over for school children across the state, but there’s still plenty of summer left at your regional farmers markets in Asheville, Charlotte, Colfax or Raleigh. Summer favorites like watermelon, corn and tomatoes are still available, but time is running out. Meanwhile, fall produce like apples and grapes are beginning to show up. Read on to see what’s available this weekend at your market:
WNC Farmers Market, Asheville – The WNC Farmers Market continues to have a good supply of fresh, local produce. The corn has become more plentiful, peaches and tomatoes including heirloom varieties are still in good supply. More varieties of our local apples are coming in now like Wolf River, Ginger Gold, Mutsu, and Gala. Even though beans have been scarce this year, there has been a few half runners and snap beans available. Other commodities on the market include many varieties of peppers, cabbage, summer and fall squash, sweet potatoes, onions, potatoes, watermelons and cantaloupes. Also, local grapes including table grapes, concord and a few scuppernongs and muscadines are now arriving. The Retail Shoppes are still full of fresh, local produce and all the jams, jellies, local honey, handcrafted gifts, wines, cheese, fresh eggs and much more available. The Garden Center has a great selection of fall nursery plants to choose from. The homemade ice cream is a great addition to the market at the Ice Cream/Deli Shop and Moose Café is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner with great home cooked meals.
Charlotte Regional Farmers Market, Charlotte – The Charlotte market is offering apples, grapes, peaches, plums, watermelon, beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, peas, garlic peppers, leafy greens, onions, squash, sweet potatoes and tomatoes. Vendors also have a great selection of herbs, cut flowers, honey, various meats, eggs, fresh seafood, baked goods, culinary delights and handcrafted art.
SPECIAL EVENT: On, Saturday, Aug. 29, a number of vendors will be passing out recipes that encourage the date’s theme of “More Herbs, Less Salt.” Visitors can learn how to enhance the flavor of their cooking by using fresh herbs instead of salt.
Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market, Colfax – The Colfax market has heirloom tomatoes, red canning tomatoes in quantity, grape tomatoes, freestone peaches, new potatoes, corn, onions, colorful peppers of all kinds, grapes, watermelons, cantaloupes, string beans, lettuce, kale, eggplant, herbs, purple hull peas, October peas, squash, and blackberries. Vendors also have a great selection of cut flowers, N.C. wines, goat-milk soap, lotions, goat-milk cheese, chicken, beef, fresh eggs, baked goods, bedding plants, shrubberies and trees.
UPCOMING EVENT: Mark your calendars for Saturday, Sept. 12. The market will host the Taste of Carolina Wine Festival. The annual event features tastings from more than a dozen local wineries, as well as live music and other entertainment.
State Farmers Market, Raleigh – There’s still a great selection of summer fruits and vegetables, but more fall produce is beginning to show up including muscadine grapes, pears, a few damson plums, figs, and more apple varieties. The market also has the first new crop of sweet potatoes. There are still a few blueberry vendors, but the crop is almost done for the year.
SPECIAL EVENT: On Friday, Aug. 28, the market will celebrate Seafood Day with free samples of N.C. shrimp, a display of fish species from North Carolina, a mullet toss game for the kids, and specials at Locals Seafood and the N.C. Seafood Restaurant. Download the flier here.