hendersonville, Tailgate Markets Opening for the Season

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Tailgate Markets Opening for the Season

Nothing says warm weather quite like a visit to the local Tailgate Market. Located in parking lots throughout Western North Carolina during the long spring, summer, and fall growing season, these tiny farmers markets provide a close link between local farmers and consumers. A stroll through any of these markets on a sunny Saturday or Sunday morning or a cool Wednesday evening will confirm that the produce is fresh, perhaps picked only hours earlier. Farmers and their families man each booth and are able to answer any questions a customer might throw their way.

The Tailgate Markets are part of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP), an organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the use of locally grown food. According to ASAP (and common sense), not only does locally grown food taste better as a result of fewer hours between harvest and the dinner table, it is a better product; fresh food loses many of its nutrients quickly, so the longer fresh food sits on a shelf, the less nutrition it has to offer.

ASAP reports that local food supports local farm families. With fewer than 1 million Americans now claiming farming as their primary occupation, the small American farm operator is a vanishing breed. Commodity prices are at historic lows, often below the cost of production. The farmer now gets less than 10 cents of the retail food dollar. Local farmers who sell direct to consumers cut out the middleman and get full retail price for their food, which means farm families can afford to stay on the farm, doing the work they love.

Buying local food also gives city-dwelling consumers the chance to get to know farm families, re-establishing a time-honored connection. Knowing farmers gives insight into the seasons, the weather and the miracle of raising food.

The list of available foods changes each week with the growing season. While strawberries are available early in the growing season, buyers won’t be able to get local corn or melons until later.

There are many Tailgate Markets throughout Western North Carolina. Listed below are some of the markets in the area. For a complete listing of Tailgate Markets in Western North Carolina with dates and hours of operation, visit the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project web site at www.asapconnections.org or www.buyappalachian.org.

Please note that the markets do not have a uniform opening date; while several markets open in early April, others will not open until dates in May. Please check the dates and times for your local market before making the trip.

Asheville City Market
Public Works Building lot, S. Charlotte St.
Asheville, NC - Buncombe County
Sat 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Now Open
Bakersville Farmers Market
In the Bakersville Community Medical Clinic parking lot
Bakersville, NC - Mitchell County
Sat 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Starts May 24, 2008
Big Ivy Tailgate Market
At the Old Fire Station, center of town
Barnardsville, NC - Buncombe County
Sat 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Now Open
Black Mountain Tailgate Market
Unitarian Church, Montreat Rd.
Black Mountain, NC - Buncombe County
Sat 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Starts May 10, 2008
Canton Tailgate Market
At the town hall in the municipal parking lot on Park Street
Canton, NC - Haywood County
Tue 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Thu 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cherokee Farmer's Tailgate Market
Acquoni Road in downtown Cherokee.
Cherokee, NC – Swain County
Fri 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Starts June 13, 2008
Franklin Tailgate Market
West Palmer Street, across the street from the old post office.
Franklin, NC – Macon County
Sat 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Starts June 2, 2008
French Broad Food Coop Saturday Tailgate Market
76 Biltmore Ave. next to the French Broad Food Co-op.
Asheville, NC – Buncombe County
Sat 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Now Open
Graham County Farmer's Market
United Community Bank parking lot
Robbinsville, NC
Sat 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Now Open
Greenlife Tailgate Markets
At Greenlife Grocery, N. Merrimon Ave.
Asheville, NC - Buncombe County
Wed 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Sun 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Now Open
Henderson County Curb Market
Church St. directly across from the old courthouse
Hendersonville, NC – Henderson County
Tue/Thu/Sat 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Now Open
Henderson County Tailgate Market
100 N. King Street in downtown Hendersonville.
Hendersonville, NC – Henderson County
Sat 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Now Open
Historic Marion Tailgate Market
One block from Main Street in municipal lot
Marion, NC - McDowell County
Tue 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Starts July 3, 2008
Jackson County Farmers' Market
Railroad Ave., at Bridge Park
Sylva, NC - Jackson County
Sat 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Now Open
Madison County Farmers & Artisans Market
Mars Hill College. Off dormitory drive, near Pittman dining hall
Mars Hill, NC
Sat 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Now Open
Morganton Farmer's Market
Behind Geppetto's Pizza on Beach Street
Morganton, NC – Burke County
Tue 12:00 AM - 5:00 PM/Sat 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Starts May 10, 2008
North Asheville Tailgate Market
UNCA, take Weaver Blvd., follow signs
Asheville, NC - Buncombe County
Sat 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Now Open
Polk Tailgate Market
In front of the historic Polk County Courthouse.
Columbus, NC – Polk County
Sat 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Riceville Tailgate Market
In the parking lot of the Riceville Community Center
Asheville, NC - Buncombe County
Sat 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Starts May 17, 2008
Rutherford County Farmers' Market
From Business 74 Highway turn onto Fairgrounds Road
Spindale, NC Tue/Fri 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Rutherfordton Farmers' Market
On Main Street Downtown
Rutherfordton, NC
Sat 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Starts May 17, 2008
Spruce Pine Farmer's Tailgate Market
Topaz Street between Upper and Lower Streets.
Spruce Pine, NC – Mitchell County
Wed 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Sundays on the Island
Cross the river at the Courthouse on Main Street
Marshall, Madison County
Sun 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Now Open
Transylvania County Tailgate Market
In the parking lot behind South Broad Park, next to the library
Brevard, NC – Transylvania County
Tue/Thu/Sat 7:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Now Open
Tryon Tailgate Market
Across the railroad tracks from the Tryon Theatre
Tryon, NC - Polk County
Wed 4:30 – 6:30 PM
Starts June 4, 2008
Village of Flat Rock Tailgate Market
Parking lot behind the Hand in Hand Gallery
Flat Rock, NC - Henderson County
Thu 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Now Open
Waynesville Tailgate Market
Located in the Badcock & More parking lot at the corner of Walnut & Main.
Waynesville, NC – Haywood County
Wed/Sat 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Starts May 17,2008
Wednesday Afternoon Downtown Tailgate Market
76 Biltmore Avenue, in the parking lot next to the French Broad Food Coop
Asheville, NC – Buncombe County
Wed 2:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Now Open
West Asheville Tailgate Market
On the grassy area at the rear of parking lot for West End Bakery and Haywood Road Market.
Asheville, NC – Buncombe County
Wed 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Now Open
Yancey County Farmers' Market
Hwy 19E at South Main Street.
Burnsville, NC – Yancey County
Sat 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Now Open

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) is a nonprofit organization that supports farmers and rural communities in the mountains of Western North Carolina and the Southern Appalachians by providing education, mentoring, promotion, web resources, and community and policy development.

(Images provided by www.asapconnections.org.)