Hooray for local produce

Sunday before Mary and I headed back to Norfolk, Amanda (in her quest to convince us that Asheville is the place we need to spend the rest of our days) took us to the hugely impressive WNC Farmers Market. Here Mary demonstrates our extreme love of ugly maters (that’s tomatoes for you yankee types).

I have to say some of the orifices were downright scary. I didn’t choose this lovely variety (I believe it was called Candy Stripe) but took home two gorgeous Cherokee Purples.

The honey was excellent. I ended up with a small jar of the raw honey, as I like it to taste as if a bee has just puked it up in the last five minutes. (Bonus – my mom brought me a jar of raw New Zealand honey home with her from her trip to, well, New Zealand yesterday! Score!)

This farmers market had everything. A fiber booth with gorgeous local handspun yarn, herb peddlers, a bit of folksy artsy stuff (I seem to remember things carved of wood), TONS of canned jellies, jams, and every incarnation of pickled vegetable you could think of, local meats & cheeses, a bakery with fresh bread, a spice vendor, and pretty much any fresh vegetable or fruit that was in season. I was seriously impressed.

I left the spice vendor with the most AMAZING applewood smoked salt. It tastes/smells like bacon or ham and was delicious on those purple tomatoes. I also made collard greens and BBQ tofu the other night and it perfectly complemented that meal as well. I got a jar of smoky mountain hot pickled okra, which I am somewhat ashamed to say I have totally consumed already! I need more!

I think my favorite thing about the place was the apples. They are in season right now and totally dirt cheap. We got a peck (which is a humongous bag) for $7! I looked everywhere and asked every vendor for Rustycoats, which Tasha said were her favorite variety but no one had them! Alas.

My new favorite apple variety is Wine Sap. They are surprisingly tart for a red apple (this is a good thing) with just the right amount of sweetness, and they are incredibly crisp. I am eating one right now. I made Jimmy some baked apples with the Golden Deliciouses I bought and he has declared that should be a nightly thing. I think I’ll tell him I’m gonna need another trip to the farmers market if this is to become a reality.