The Local Farmer’s Market
The Farmer’s Market - By definition, “local” adjective
1. “belonging or relating to a particular area or neighborhood, typically exclusively so” …
Right up there with public schools, small businesses, city parades and quite possibly minor league teams... are farmer’s markets. Find yourself at any one of these and you will find a connection to the people in your community, A true sense of pride, and a deep understanding of passion & integrity.
Like many towns across the United States, Asheville is home to nearly 20 local farmer’s markets, many referred to as tailgate markets. Every week farmers, artisans, chefs & bakers bring a fresh haul of produce & products that will be sold (and often used) within a weeks’ time. This will go on week by week for the next few months as the area is exploding with local seasonal produce & raw products from the vibrant growing season.
As an entrepreneur, I’m fascinated by the commerce side of a farmer’s market. It is the basics of Economics... produce based on projections, sell based on market value, minimize expenses and with a lot of hard work (maybe a little luck) you reach your target audience and go home with empty bins and hopefully you’ve made what you need to reasonably cover your expenses. Then, wash & repeat the next week, but quite possibly, the next day. It’s important to strike while the iron’s hot- It’s that easy, right?! We all should know the answer is an emphatic “No”!
I love visiting farmer’s markets! I have my basket in tow and ready to purchase what speaks to me, what looks beautiful, and anything full of color. I’m energized by the pursuit and passion of the local vendors. I’m not one that typically takes a list to the market. I usually don’t have a planned menu in mind with a list of ingredients. I want to hear from the farmers. I want to see the bountiful boxes of produce and that’s where I make my menu. Dinner might be a tomato sandwich with a heirloom tomato from Tiny Bridge Farm and fresh bread from Simple Bread; Maybe it’s Ali Rae’s Pimento Cheese with Roots & Branches Crackers; Maybe it’s fresh catch from Mother Ocean Market… Farmer’s markets are full of creative culinary inspiration and I’m here for it, even for my “ok-ish” skills in the kitchen. The farmer’s market’s produce & products can make even me, look & feel like Vivian Howard!
As a child, I learned the technique (that sounds pretty skilled) for snapping beans. It was time I spent at my grandmother’s house turning the bushel of beans into a size that some would be eaten that day and the rest, 6 months later. Snapping beans, shucking corn, canning tomatoes… it was a chore but it was time well spent with my grandmother. I developed a deep appreciation for locally produced fruits & vegetables and the hands that cultivated them. It was an understanding of preparation and using resources that are readily available to prepare for times when they wouldn’t be. I’ve taught my own children how to snap beans… they love the simplicity of the task, but likely not the appreciation of the produce… but they will someday! Many of our local farms have been passed down for generations. There lies a deep understanding and appreciation of the immediate hard work for hopeful returns. It is a marathon, and farming is not one of instant gratification, but I know there must be a deep satisfaction in the yielding & selling of produce that bare hands have personally cultivated. There is a true feeling of joy & satisfaction that comes with owning your own business.
Like our local farmers, my shops are steeped in history, hard work and a desire for human connection. Basic economics still apply, but it is the passion and labor of love that keeps us showing up every day! Grab your basket and head to one of Asheville’s farmer’s markets this week- I promise, the vendors will be there (they’re there even when we’re not)... and I promise each of them will be delighted when you choose to spend & support their individual passion!!
Stop by our shops sometime and let’s talk all things farmer’s markets in your community too!
Cheers,
Heather