Regional Food Allies
The day may come when the distance food travels becomes a significant part of its cost. A resilient local economy demands that much food be grown locally using sustainable methods. Asheville is fortunate to have many local organizations that will support local farmers and food businesses or educate citizens to grow food locally. Below is a list of these organizations.
Community Gardens Farmers Tailgate Markets Education & Support
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP): 649-9452
ASAP is a non-profit organization that supports farmers and rural communities in the mountains of western North Carolina and the southern Appalachians by providing education, mentoring, promotion, web resources, and community and policy development. Their mission is to create and expand regional community-based and integrated food systems that are locally owned and controlled, environmentally sound, economically viable and health-promoting. They also have an email listserv and a Local Food Guide. The local food guide includes a directory of western North Carolina and southern Appalachian family farms, Community Supported Agriculture farms (CSA’s), farmers' tailgate markets, grocers, restaurants, caterers and bakers, u-pick farms, apple orchards, and bed & breakfasts that sell locally grown farm products.
Promoting backyard chickens in Asheville city limits and sharing wisdom about tending to chickens. Email listserv
Asheville Independent Restaurant association (AIR):
Blue Ridge Food Ventures:
Blue Ridge Food Ventures is a shared-use, value added food processing center that serves farmers and food entrepreneurs throughout Western North Carolina. It provides services to those wishing to start or grow small businesses in the food industry, to local farmers who wish to add value to their products through processing, and to caterers and bakers needing to work in an inspected kitchen. At BRFV, entrepreneurs and farmers can find the equipment needed to make their products, assistance in product and packaging design, marketing support, and training in safety and sanitation. Products made at Blue Ridge Food Ventures are available throughout western North Carolina at such stores as Greenlife Grocery, Earth Fare, the West Village Market & Deli,and the Asheville Visitor Center at the Chamber of Commerce. BRFV also operates a winter CSA of frozen local fruits and vegetables during the winter months of December through March.
Bountiful Cities Project: 257-4000
The mission of the Bountiful Cities Project is to create, on urban land, beautiful community spaces that produce food in abundance and foster a learning environment for social justice and sustainability.
Buncombe Fruits and Nuts Club (FruitNuts):
The Buncombe Fruit and Nuts Club supports community garden projects with volunteers planting fruit and nut trees and seeks to educate its members about growing fruits and nuts at home.
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA):
P.O. Box 448, Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: 919-542-2402
CFSA helps people in the Carolinas grow and eat local, organic foods by advocating for fair farm and food policies, building the systems family farms need to thrive, and educating and organizing farmers and the communities they serve.
Carolina Ground: NC Organic Bread Flour Project:
This project aims to link the farmer, the baker, and the miller in North Carolina with the goal of providing a viable market for organic hard and soft wheat and other small grains. From seed to loaf, we are working to rebuild sustainability in our communities.
Asheville Green Opportunities (GO!):
Green Opportunities (GO) is an Asheville-based, community-based development organization dedicated to improving lives, communities and the health of the planet through innovative green collar job training and placement programs.
Long Branch Environmental Education Center (LBEEC):
The Long Branch Environmental Education Center, Inc. is a small educational institute in Buncombe County's Newfound Mountains, about 18 miles northwest of Asheville, North Carolina. Set aside in 1974 as an ecological sanctuary and land trust, it has developed into an educational center for sharing positive strategies of sustainability and local self-reliance in the areas of environmental design, organic food production, renewable energy, shelter design and construction, appropriate technology, resource conservation, recycling, wildlife protection, ecological restoration, and improved environmental quality.
North Carolina Agriculture Extension Office:
Organic Growers School:
Our mission is to advance organic agriculture and sustainable living in the Southern Appalachian region by gathering people to teach, learn and celebrate together.
Slow Food Asheville:
In the name of productivity, Fast Life has changed our way of being and threatens our environment and our landscapes. Slow Food Asheville is dedicated to rediscovering the flavors and savors of regional cooking and banishing the degrading effects of Fast Food.
John Ager of the Hickory Nut Gap Farm family
He has been on the scene for a long time and has dedicated a lot of time and effort to farmland preservation in Buncombe County. He is on the Buncombe County Land Conservation Advisory Board, which has had some success in saving agricultural land through conservation easements. He says that 4-5% of the Sandy Mush community has been protected through easements.
Wintergreen:
A non-profit that is creating a local winter food infrastructure and meaningful green jobs in Asheville. As part of a movement to reconsider how we do things, they are growing nutritious and delicious green vegetables in hoop houses. The intention is for hoop houses and very local food to be in many neighborhoods, schools, churches and elsewhere. Thus Winter Green serves health, uses less petrochemicals and supports air quality.
(Please note: This list is for the community and by the community. It is always open to updated info, so feel free to make any additions or corrections. This is a list of nonprofit organizations, tailagate markets, and cooperatives only. For a directory of regional food based businesses see Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project's Local Food Guide)
Asheville Area Tailgate Markets
(see an alternative list) :
Asheville City Market
Sat 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Opens April 17
Asheville City Market South
Wed 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Opens May 5
Big Ivy Tailgate Market
Sat 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Opens May 1
Black Mountain Tailgate Market
Sat 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Opens May 8
French Broad Food Coop Tailgate Market
Wed 2:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Opens May 5
Greenlife Sunday Market
Sun 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Opens May 2
Mission Hospital Tailgate Market
Thu 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Opens May 13
North Asheville Tailgate Market
Sat 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Opens April 17
Riceville Tailgate Market
Sat 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Opens May 15
Veteran's Victory Tailgate Market
Wed 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Opens May 19
The Fresh Quarter
Mon-Sat 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM, Sun 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Open Year-Round
Weaverville Tailgate Market
Wed 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Opens April 14
West Asheville Tailgate Market
Tue 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Opens April 20
WNC Farmers Market
Daily 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Open Year-Round