Farmers’ Market Weekly Update

Compiled by Anna Oakes

Rain or shine, the High Country’s farmers’ markets will be open this weekend. Put local food on your dinner table and support area farmers.

Watauga County Farmers’ Market

Farmers’ Market Tips

Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of your farmers’ market shopping experience.

•Bring small bills. It’s easier for sellers to make change.
•Ask questions. Learn about unfamiliar varieties and even how to prepare them.
•Go early for the best selection.
•Go late for the best deals.
•Use large, reusable bags or baskets. Eliminate the need for plastic or paper bags.
•Reuse egg cartons, flower pots, berry baskets and bags.
•Shop cooperatively with friends or family. Buying in bulk could save you money.
•Do not bring pets except service animals.
•Bring a picnic. Supplement your meal with desserts, fruits, veggies, cheeses, bread and coffee from the market.

Shiloh and Jason from Tumbling Shoals Farm will harvest radishes (French breakfast and easter egg), red leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, arugula, zucchini and zephyr squash, sugar snap peas, beets, fennel, kale, rainbow chard, collards, radicchio, broccoli and maybe a few strawberries for the market. Ann from Rose Mountain Farm will have pork cuts born and raised on the farm, organic vegetables including loose leaf and head lettuce, bunched onions, arugula, kale, beets, broccoli, fresh herbs such as basil, dill, oregano, chives, thyme and rosemary. Ann will have Shiitake mushrooms and mushroom logs and also rhubarb plants. Brad Hinckly will bring garlic scapes with garlic cloves expected in two weeks, collards and kale. Brad also has tomato, bell pepper, basil and collard plants ready for your own garden.

Erik Selvey has a great selection of garden-ready perennials, including Hellebores, Jacob's Ladder, Lucifer flower and wormwood ready for planting.

Megan Ward and Caleb Crowell with Hold the Heat Raw Food Makery offer gluten-free granola with nut milk and fruit for a healthy breakfast as well as raw fresh sprouts, flax chips, vegan nut cheese, chocolates, kombucha and nut milk. Megan and Caleb also have produce from their garden, including spring salad greens.

Billy Joe Ward will have bark buckets, planters, different types of bird feeders, more mountain toys and other unique items. Becki Henderson-Gow will offer functional handcrafted stoneware pottery featuring mugs, bowls and lidded jars. Becki also has Raku vases in a variety of glaze colors and designs to decorate your home.

The Watauga Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon. To find Horn in the West, turn next to First Citizens Bank on Highway 105 Extension and go to the top of the hill. For more info, call 828-355-4918 or click to www.wcfm.info.

Farmers' Market Recipe

Radish and Garlic Scape Canapé
Fresh market recipe submitted by Shiloh Avery of Tumbling Shoals Farm

8 oz. plain chevre (goat cheese), softened from Ripshin Farm
1 tbsp. butter, softened
½ to ¾ cup finely chopped radishes from Tumbling Shoals Farm
½ cup chopped fresh garlic scapes from Fog Likely Farm
salt

In a medium bowl, beat together the cheese and butter until fluffy. Lightly squeeze the radishes to press out extra moisture and add to the bowl. Add the chopped garlic scapes and mix well. Season with salt to taste, cover and refrigerate until firm but still spreadable, at least 1 hour or up to overnight. Serve with raw food crackers from Hold the Heat, or on sugar snap peas from Tumbling Shoals Farm. Garnish with thinly sliced radish rounds, watercress tips, and/or whole chives.

Makes about 1 cup

Adapted from The Gardener’s Community Cookbook by Victoria Wise

Ashe County Farmers’ Market

The Ashe County Farmers’ Market is located on the Back Street in downtown West Jefferson and is open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. through October. After the second Wednesday in July, it will begin opening on Wednesdays as well.

More than 100 vendors sell wholesome fruit and vegetables, farm-fresh meat and eggs, fresh herbs and flowers, and all sorts of arts, crafts and music to the market. For more information, click to www.ashefarmersmarket.com.

High Country Farmers’ Market

The High Country Farmers' Market is open for the season at the new location at Earth Fare on King Street in Boone. Hours are Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

For more info, contact Carol Miller by phone at 336-385-9419 or by email at pfvinegars@yahoo.com.

Johnson County Farmers’ Market

The Johnson County Farmers’ Market will open for its first season on Saturday, May 30, from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Tuesday night markets will start on July 7 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. The marked is located just off the intersection of Highways 421 and 167 in Mountain City, locally known as Shouns Crossing, in the metal quonset building. The freshest veggies, meats, eggs, plants and local crafts are available. For more information, contact Tamara at 423-727-2791 or Laura at 423-727-9581.