Tailgate tents are going up, and area farmers markets are opening outdoors for the season.
Celebrate spring by getting a taste of what Appalachian Grown™ farms are growing. At early spring markets find fresh salad mix, root vegetables, spring greens, mushrooms, apples, spring onions, microgreens, meats, cheeses, eggs, baked goods, honey, preserves, and a wide selection of plant starts. Produce offerings will differ from market to market based on the location of vendor farms—microclimates vary greatly in the region. But the season changes quickly, with new offerings sprouting up each week.
Molly Nicholie, ASAP’s Local Food Campaign Director, is always excited for the opening of
markets each year. “Outdoor farmers markets are one of my favorite harbingers of spring.
Whether I’ll be returning to a long-time favorite market or discovering new markets in the
region, showing up to reconnect with farmers and friends is a great way to renew your
community connections and find a fresh start to the season.”
With more than 100 farmers markets across the region, there are opportunities to explore local food and farm offerings throughout the mountains. Find a list of spring tailgate pening days below. For a complete list of the tailgate markets in the region, including their season start dates, visit ASAP’s online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org. The 2019 print guide hits stands in mid-April.
Central Mountains Regional Tailgate Markets
Asheville City Market – Downtown: April 6 (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Asheville City Market – South: April 3 (Wednesdays, noon–4pm)
Black Mountain Tailgate Market: May 4 (Saturdays, 9am–noon)
East Asheville Tailgate Market: May 3 (Fridays, 3–6pm)
Hot Springs Homegrown and Handmade Market: April 6 (Saturdays, 10am–2pm)
Mars Hill Farmers & Artisans Market: April 6 (Saturdays, 9am–1pm)
North Asheville Tailgate Market: April 6 (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
River Arts District Farmers Market: May 1 (Wednesdays, 3–6pm)
Sundays on the Island: March 31 (Sundays, noon)
Weaverville Tailgate Market: April 3 (Wednesdays, 2:30–6pm)
West Asheville Tailgate Market: April 9 (Tuesdays 3:30–6:30pm)
WNC Farmers Market: open year–round (daily, 8am–6pm)
Yancey County Farmers Market: April 27 (Saturdays, 8:30am–12:30pm)
Foothills Regional Tailgate Markets
Caldwell County Farmers Market: May 4 (Saturdays, 6am–noon)
Hildebran Farmers Market: May 7 (Tuesdays, 8am–1pm)
Historic Marion Tailgate Market: May 7 (Tuesdays 3–6pm, Saturdays 9am–noon)
Lenoir Downtown Farmers Market: open year–round (Thursdays, 10am–5pm, Saturdays,
10am–2pm)
Morganton Farmers Market: April 27 (Wednesdays 11am–3pm, Saturdays 8am–noon)
Rutherford County Farmers Market: April 20 (Saturdays, 9am–1pm)
Sawmills Farmers Market: May 7 (Tuesdays, 3–6:30pm)
Valdese Farmers Market: May 24 (Fridays, 11am–4pm)
Southern Mountains Regional Tailgate Markets
Columbus Farmers’ Market: April 6 (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Flat Rock Farmers Market: May 2 (Thursdays, 3–6pm)
Henderson County Curb Market: open year–round (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays,
8am–2pm)
Henderson County Tailgate Market: April 6 (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Mills River Farmers Market: May 4 (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Saluda Tailgate Market: May 3 (Fridays, 4:30–6:30pm)
Transylvania Farmers’ Market: open year–round (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Near West Regional Tailgate Markets
Franklin Farmers Tailgate Market: open year–round (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market: April 20 (Wednesdays, 3:30–6:30pm, Saturdays
8am–noon)
Jackson County Farmers Market: April 6 (Wednesdays, 3:30–6:30pm, Saturdays, 9am–noon)
Original Waynesville Tailgate Market: May 15 (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Swain County Farmers Market: May 3 (Fridays, 9am–1pm)
The ‘Whee Market: April 2 (Tuesdays, 3–6pm)
Far West Regional Tailgate Markets
Brasstown’s Farmers Market: April 24 (Wednesdays, 10am–2pm)
Graham County Farmers Market: July 13 (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
High Country Regional Tailgate Markets
Alleghany County Farmers’ Market: May 4 (Saturdays, 9am–noon)
Ashe County Farmers Market: April 20 (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Avery County Farmers Market: May 9 (Thursdays, 4:30–7pm)
King Street Market: May 14 (Tuesdays, 4–7pm)
Yaya Village Farmers’ Market: TBA (Saturdays, 10am–2pm)
Spruce Pine Farmers Market: April 24 (Wednesdays, noon–4pm)
North Georgia Farmers Markets
Blue Ridge Downtown Market: June 1 (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Clarkesville Farmers Market: May 4 (Saturdays, 9am–noon)
Clayton Farmers Market: April 27 (Saturdays, 9am–12:30pm)
Dahlonega Farmers Market: May 4 (Tuesdays, 2–6pm, Saturdays 8am–1pm)
Lavonia Farmers Market: April 3 (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 7am–11am)
Union County Farmers Market: June 1 (Tuesdays, 2–6pm, Saturdays, 7am–1pm)
White County Farmers Market: June 15 (Saturdays, 7:30am–noon)
Upstate South Carolina Farmers Markets
Anderson County Farmers Market: June 1 (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 8am–1pm)
Clemson Farmers Market: May 2 (Fridays, 3–6pm)
Foothills Heritage Market: May 4 (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Hub City Farmers Market: April 6 (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Landrum Farmers Market: TBA (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Norris Farmers’ Market: TBA (Mondays, 3–6pm)
TD Saturday Market: May 4 (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Travelers Rest Farmers Market: May 4 (Saturdays, 8:30am–noon)
East Tennessee Farmers Markets
Dandridge Farmers Market: May 4 (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Depot Street Farmers Market: May 4 (Saturdays 9am–1pm)
Dixie Lee Farmers Market: April 27 (Saturdays, 9am–noon)
Ebenezer Road Farmers Market: April 9 (Tuesdays and Fridays, 3–6pm)
Erwin Farmers Market: July 2 (Tuesdays, 5–8pm)
Fox Park Fair: May 4 (Tuesdays and Fridays, 2–5pm)
Gatlinburg Farmers Market: June 1 (Saturdays, 8:30am–noon)
Greeneville Farmers Market: May 11 (Saturdays, 9am–1pm)
Johnson City Farmers Market: TBA (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 7am–2pm)
Jonesborough Farmers Market: May 4 (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Market Square Farmers’ Market: May 1 (Wednesdays, 11am–2pm, Saturdays, 9am–2pm)
Maryville Farmers Market: April 20 (Saturdays, 9am–noon)
New Harvest Park Farmers’ Market: April 11 (Thursdays, 3–6pm)
Newport Farmers Market: May 1 (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am–1pm)
Sevierville Commons Farmers Market: May 31 (Fridays, 9am–1:30pm)
Seymour Farmers Market: June 1 (Saturdays, 8am–noon)
Southwest Virginia Farmers Markets
Independence Farmers Market: May 10 (Wednesdays, 4–6pm, Saturdays, 9am–1pm)
Rural Retreat Farmer’s Market: TBA (Wednesdays, 1:30 –5:30pm)
ABOUT ASAP (APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT)
ASAP’s mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food. To learn more about ASAP’s work, visit asapconnections.org, or call (828) 236-1282
