What's Ripe Right Now: Farmers Market Eating in Asheville, July-September

Most people know Asheville as a destination for amazing food, locally made art, tons of musicians and music venues, and outdoor adventures in the Blue Ridge Mountains. But there are some spots that tourists tend to miss: the farmers' markets!

Some of Asheville's most overlooked attractions are buzzing right now, with summer-season fruits, veggies, and even cheese and meats. Many of the markets' selections are locally grown on small family farms within the Western North Carolina region.

When you stay at Lantern Lodge Asheville, you’re just a short trip away from fresh food you can stash in your suite’s fridge for later, or cook up on the stove or in the oven.

Early July: the fruit rush

Stone fruits are abundant beginning in July. Peaches, plums, and cherries arrive first, followed by berries — raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. Veggies are starting to show up, with the first cucumbers, green beans, and summer squash in limited supply, along with early tomatoes that haven't quite hit their peak yet.

Mid-July into August: tomato season, for real

By mid-July, tomatoes are available in abundance. Farmers market tomatoes in the heart of summer are the sort you can bite or slice into and produce a gushing wave of tomato juice. Peppers, eggplant, okra, and potatoes begin showing up, along with garlic bulbs, zucchini, and lettuce. August means sweet corn and melons like watermelon and cantaloupe. Peppers, beans, and figs find their footing this month, too. If you're building a plate around whatever's freshest, August is the month to lean into corn cut straight off the cob and a slice of melon eaten standing over the kitchen sink.

September: closing in on fall

September is when summer and fall produce begin to overlap. Tomatoes, peppers, and okra are still going, but the first apples and pears of the year start appearing, too. Pawpaws typically show up in September for the few weeks they're around, and it's worth asking a farmer if they have any; they tend to sell out fast and are sort of a hidden jewel in Appalachian cooking. By the end of September, you'll start seeing the first winter squash next to the last of the summer produce.

Where to find them

In addition to the WNC Farmers Market, Asheville is dotted with tailgate markets throughout the city and neighboring towns. Vendors and availability shift week-to-week depending on weather and what's ready.

Asheville City Market

The Asheville City Market takes place year-round on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m.–12 p.m., April through November, and winter market hours are 10 a.m.–1 p.m., December through March.

River Arts District Farmers Market

The River Arts District Farmers Market takes place on Wednesdays through October from 3-6 p.m. at New Belgium Brewing.

West Asheville Tailgate Market

Every Tuesday through the end of November, catch the West Asheville Tailgate Market in the parking lot at 718 Haywood Rd. The hours are 3:30-6:30 p.m.

North Asheville Tailgate Market

Go a little bit farther north for the North Asheville Tailgate Market on the campus of UNC Asheville. It's open year-round on Saturdays, and summer hours are 8 a.m. to noon. With more than 70 local vendors, it's one of the area's largest and longest-running markets.

Check out the ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) website for weekly updates about what is available, as well as a full list of local tailgate and farmers’ markets. Show up hungry, be flexible, and let the market tell you what to cook.