Unusual Finds Found In This Fantastic Asheville Farmers Market

Unusual Finds Found In This Fantastic Asheville Farmers Market

 

Whether you planned on stopping at the Western North Carolina Farmers Market or not, you need to. With over 100,000 square feet of combined space this isn’t an everyday farmers market. You can buy vegetables and fruit by the pound or truckload. But don’t let the size fool you. You can still know your farmer and know where your food comes from.

 

You will find surprising things throughout the year. Including Giant 1,000 pound pumpkins, peanuts, rare sourwood honey, peaches, petunias, Appalachian handmade crafts, grits, sweet potatoes, Christmas trees, and pecans, just to name a few.

I Go Crazy Visiting The WNC Farmers Market

 

When I think of the Western North Carolina (WNC) Farmers Market old memories of me and my grandfather come to mind. We only lived about 30 minutes away and he would take me along to get big bags of raw peanuts. Maybe not the 50-pound bags, but close.

 

He liked getting raw peanuts here because he would roast them in the oven. Warm peanuts fresh out of the oven were one of my favorite treats. But, it seemed like they took forever to bake at a low temperature of 250 degrees. Two to four hours though it seemed like all day.  

 

When in season, my grandparents would also buy sweet corn, beans, peas, tons of strawberries, and peaches in bulk to can and freeze.

Now, our family goes when we have the chance. I like going to the bulk wholesale section for pickling cucumbers. We will buy a bushel then put them in our extra refrigerator. I can certainly eat fresh cucumbers all day long! Regardless, we buy enough for me to eat like crazy and to make a boatload of homemade pickles.

 

Yes, I am also guilty of buying Too much produce. Then I feel horrible because I don’t want to waste any, so then I try to eat it all, or give some away.

 

Visit The Year-Round Retail Buildings First

Plan on visiting several different buildings and sheds at the WNC Farmers Market. Each one serves a different purpose. First are two retail buildings across from the garden center. Next, you will see farmer’s truck sheds and a farmer’s bulk drive-through shed. In the middle is a wholesale building and a small dealers retail building. Finally, on the opposite side, small and large quantities of seasonal produce await where you can always try before you buy.

 

The two connected retail buildings in the front are open year-round seven days a week. Not only will you find fresh produce here but also local goods like bags of fresh-milled yellow unbolted cornmeal, yellow or white corn grits, and cornbread mix. Along with biscuit mix, buckwheat, and pancake mix.

In these two buildings your unusual finds found in this fantastic Asheville farmers market promise to be delightful.

 

Genuine Appalachian Cuisine Is Found At Forbus General Store. Check it out!

 

Shop For Unique Appalachian Items

If you have been looking for country ham then look no further since plenty can be found here. Several shops have whole country hams or smaller sliced pre-packaged portions. Take this opportunity to try it for a genuine southern food experience.  

 

Shop for authentic canned southern foods too. For instance, you can find a wide variety of pickled foods. Not just pickles though. Eggs, okra, bologna, hot dogs, varieties of peppers, chow chow, relishes, strawberries, kimchi, peaches, tomatoes, and corn just to name a few.  

 

Look for popular local foods found in the Western North Carolina mountain region too. Some unique items are fresh wild ramps, green tomatoes for fried green tomatoes, Muscadine cider, wild creasy greens, country ham, fatback, and Carolina mountain rainbow trout.  

Appalachian crafts are also found throughout these two buildings. Locally crafted items like baskets, jewelry, old tobacco barn wood walking sticks, and many more hand-crafted items from local artisans. There’s even a World War 2 Veteran making handmade wood turkey callers!

 

Take a relaxing stroll through these two buildings where shop owners have their permanent stalls leased all year. Many have been there for as long as I can remember. The deli and ice cream shop is located here too.

 

Additionally, clean restrooms are in the middle of these two buildings.

 

Along with mainstay fruit and vegetables, they also sell Amish goods, fresh eggs from the farm, baked goods, cheeses, different types of meat, jams & jellies, bakery items, and homemade fudge. 

 

Look for seasonal items too. Like fruit, rhubarb, plants & flowers, Autumn wreaths, gourds, and Christmas trees.

 

Fall Is Always A Favorite Time To Visit

Certainly don’t miss fall when giant pumpkins arrive. It’s worth taking a drive to see 500 to 1,000-pound pumpkins! We always laugh when we see the giant pumpkins because we wonder how many people buy them here. Do they enter them into giant pumpkin festivals instead of actually growing them?

Read about a giant pumpkin festival that draws over 10,000 people to this small Tennessee town of 600.

 

Plan to stay awhile in Asheville, North Carolina. You’ll be glad you did.

 

The Rest Of The Buildings And My Favorite

As you make your way down the drive, stay on the left to visit the open shed where certified farmers sell only what they grow to the shopper. Of course, you can talk firsthand to the farmers that grow what they’re selling.  

 

My Addiction Gains Momentum Here

 

Right beside this is the drive-through shed where farmers sell wholesale fruits and vegetables all year. Anyone can shop here. For instance, instead of buying one pound of Vidalia onions from the retail shed, you can buy a huge fifty-pound bag.  

 

This has always been my favorite building because I love vegetables and I have fun looking at huge bags of them. Most of the time you will see pallets of vegetables in big bags along with smaller portions for sale together. I also like seeing massive quantities of fruit spread out here. Especially seasonal fruit like strawberries, apples, and peaches. Yum!

My produce buying endorphins really kick in at this building. Remember when I said earlier that I buy too much? This is where it happens. Really, you get a better deal when you buy large quantities, and I’m always up for a deal. I justify buying too much this way. Sometimes the mailman and neighbors get extra, whether they like it or not.

 

When Life Gives You Peanuts, Make Peanut Butter

To point out, peanuts are a big deal here. For this reason, most vendors sell raw peanuts in the shell. Anywhere from pallets, 50-pound bags to individual servings of freshly roasted. The reason for so many peanuts is that North Carolina is one of the leading peanut-producing states in the U.S. As a matter of fact, peanuts are the number one snack consumed. Eastern North Carolina has over 1,400 peanut farms and one acre averages 4,000 pounds of peanuts.

 

Seeing huge bags of peanuts tickles my brain with the thought of how many uses I can come up with. The only thing better is massive amounts of popcorn.

 

This brings back some memories of when we lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I have a commercial popcorn popper. Why? Because I’m obsessed with popcorn. I would buy popcorn in 50 pound bags then pop enormous amounts of it just to hand out to the neighbors. I would open the garage door then fire up the popcorn popper. Immediately after, our retired neighbor, who lived across the street, would come outside. Honestly, this was the only time we ever saw him. Next, I would bag it up and deliver it to each house around us.

 

See, buying in bulk is fun when you can give some away. But I still haven’t figured out what to do with all the peanuts.

 

Speaking of spreading joy, have you seen the giant Oscar Mayer Wienermobile? Read our story about it, and we promise you will smile after reading about how it brings joy to people.

 

Back To Produce Shopping

You can drive or walk, but keep in mind it is one way. If you would like to shop or purchase items stay to the sides and don’t block traffic flow. I’ve seen this happen too many times.

 

In total, fourteen buildings make up the WNC Farmers Market, including a small office building and the Moose Cafe near the entrance.

 

Drive through the entire WNC Farmers Market property because each building or shed has a different purpose. Also, shop for items, whether in bulk or not, under different sheds because they can be cheaper. Pickling cucumbers are a perfect example of this. We buy them by the case at different open sheds, so check the price of each vendor for the best deal. We buy sweet corn by the case too. 

 

Tip: Look for Athena cantaloupes in late Spring and early Summer. They are larger, taste sweeter, and are delicious.

 

Although we normally don’t go to the garden center it shouldn’t be missed. I often hear how people travel from around the region just to shop there. They used to have a koi pond but I’m not sure if they still do. My grandmother was totally into gardening and she always liked shopping here.

 

When It’s Open And How To Get There

 

The Western North Carolina Farmers Market is open seven days a week year-round. April – October daily 8 to 6 and November – March daily 8 to 5. The farmers market and parking are free.  

 

How to get to the WNC Farmers Market. The address is 570 Brevard Rd, Asheville, NC 28806 and it’s super easy to find. Drive just south of Asheville where interstates 40 and 26 intersect and it’s right there. The WNC Farmers Market is next to the famous Biltmore House and Estate.

 

Final Thoughts

 

The Western North Carolina Farmers Market should be on your list of things to do when visiting Asheville, Hendersonville, and the surrounding area. Even if you are traveling on the interstate you should stop by to check it out, stretch your legs and take a restroom break. 

 

The WNC Farmers Market is incredibly easy to get around and handicapped accessible.

 

Please share your farmers market tips!

 

What are your favorite fruits and vegetables to buy at a farmers market?

 

Other than produce, what do you like to shop for at farmers markets? For example local honey, handcrafted items, kettle corn, ice cream, cider, etc.

 

What are some unusual things you have seen at a farmers market?

 

Where is the best farmers market you have been to?

 

Thanks for reading Unusual Finds Found In This Fantastic Asheville Farmers Market!

Tom and Kristi