North Carolina Mountain Homeowners Feast on Farm-to-Table

The North Carolina mountains, and specifically the Asheville area, is known for its natural beauty and art and crafts. Western North Carolina also enjoys an abundance of farms, farmers' markets, tailgate markets, and restaurants that offer a wide array of unique and local edibles.

In summer, these farms produce an impressive bounty of products. Many of these farms are scattered throughout the region and surround residential North Carolina mountain homes which is a delight for home owners and people considering a move to the area.

Asheville, being the epicenter for the North Carolina mountain region, is the most likely place to start your search for a cornucopia of seasonal farm products.

The Asheville City Market

The Asheville City Market made its debut in the spring of 2008. It is located at the Public Works Building, 161 S. Charlotte St., on the edge of downtown Asheville. It is home to over 60 vendors and takes place every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. You'll find some of the best farm-grown and handmade local foods and gifts including:

For more information about the Asheville City Market, call: (828) 348-0430.

WNC Farmer's Market

The WNC Farmers' Market is another popular spot for buying local produce and crafts. Located at 570 Brevard Road in Asheville, NC, this market is situated in one of the most beautiful settings in the area, overlooking parts of the Biltmore Estate. It also enjoys long-range views of the areas' surrounding mountains.

The WNC Farmers' Market is one of five markets owned by the State of North Carolina; it's operated by the North Carolina Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services. It's open 7 days a week April to October from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and in November to March from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Their retail area features displays of high-quality fruits and vegetables, mountain crafts, jams, jellies, preserves, sourwood honey, and dozens of other farm-fresh items. Inside, you will also find a deli that offers sandwiches and ice cream. For more information call (828) 253-1691.

Western North Carolina Tailgate Markets and Farm Tours

On a more local level, the NC mountain region also boasts numerous tailgate markets. The Mountain Tailgate Market Association is comprised of farmers and local vendors from Buncombe and Madison counties. And, with a total of nine tailgate markets, this group offers Asheville, NC homeowners a quick trip to select from some of the area's most farm-fresh products available. For a complete list of these tailgate markets visit: http://www.asapconnections.org/special/mtma/MTMA.htm. (Keep in mind that these are only tailgate markets for Buncombe and Madison counties. In total, the western North Carolina region has 39).

A complete listing is also available in the local food guide published by the Appalachian Sustainable Agricultural Project (ASAP). This guide is easily located all over the city of Asheville, including the Chamber of Commerce, local supermarkets and other ASAP supporters. The guide also lists farms and farm tours.

For instance, the Mountain Farm and Garden Tour is an opportunity to reconnect with where food comes from and with the farmers who grow it. Visitors and residents, alike, can enjoy the scenic beauty of the mountain farms that make up the picturesque mountain landscape. People will have the opportunity to see farm animals, fruits and vegetables in the field, and enjoy the best-tasting artisan farm products available anywhere. There are 29 farms that participate in the mountain farm and garden tour.

Madison County alone is home to over 1,500 rural, family farms. From farm tours to pick-your-own berries and choosing and cutting Christmas trees, Madison County offers many things to see, to do and to buy.

So, while mountains, rivers, wildlife and a cosmopolitan mountain city, make Asheville an intriguing getaway as well as place to build a NC mountain home, being within reach of some of the nation's most-prized small farming communities only adds to the area's charm and to the ability to support sustainable agriculture.