Here’s what’s fresh at Asheville, Buncombe markets

This guide to Asheville-area tailgate markets is supplied by Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. For more WNC listings, visit http://

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Spring is in full swing, and so are area farmers tailgate markets.

The Jackson County Farmers Market is swinging outdoors at Bridge Park each Saturday from 9 a.m.-noon. Last weekend included items such as pickled beets and artichokes from Copper Pot and Wooden Spoon. Vegenui Garden was selling fresh garlic and raspberry plants.

Trillium Farms had its usual supply of pork products, including breakfast sausage, bratwurst, Italian sausage, pork chops, Boston butt, ground pork, ribs and even dog bones. (The Jackson County Farmers Market will not be open April 26.)

More outdoor markets will be opening Saturday, including the Yancey County Farmers Market. Organizers are expecting a great turnout of at least 10-15 vendors.

As far as produce is concerned, you can expect to see early spring crops such as kale and chard from Common Ground Farm, Open Ridge Farm and MiLo Acres. You will also be able to find garlic and flowers from Bee Log Garlic & Flower Farm as well as cheese from OakMoon Farm and Creamery.

Also opening this Saturday is the Transylvania Farmers Market. Products expected to be on sale will be produce, local meat, eggs, honey, jams and jellies, bread and baked goods, oils and vinegars, hummus and pimento cheese and goat cheese. Expect even more as we get deeper into the season.

One market vendor getting a lot of attention is Asheville Fungi. You can find them at the West Asheville Tailgate Market on Tuesdays and the French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market on Wednesday afternoons.

If you visited their booth at market last week, you would have seen a variety of freshly cultivated mushrooms, including oyster, black poplar, shiitake, king and lion’s mane. Asheville Fungi also offers mushroom tinctures, and they say their most popular varieties are rishi, chaga, turkey tails and maitake.

If you are interested in growing your own mushrooms, you can buy at their booth several varieties of mushroom spawns, logs that are ready to fruit and grow bags. This summer, look for Asheville Fungi’s hand-harvested wild mushrooms.

For a list of tailgate markets, visit the farmers market section of appalachiangrown.org or ASAP’s online farmers market calendar at fromhere.org.

ASHEVILLE-AREA TAILGATE MARKETS

• Asheville City Market: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, 161 S. Charlotte St., now open. www.asapconnections.org.

• Asheville City Market South: 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays, 2 Town Square Blvd., Biltmore Park Town Square, now open. www.asapconnections.org.

• Black Mountain Tailgate Market: 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays, behind the First Baptist Church in Black Mountain at 130 Montreat Road, opening May 3.

• East Asheville Tailgate Market: 3-6 p.m. Fridays, Groce United Methodist Church’s parking lot at the corner of Beverly and Tunnel roads, opening May 9.

• French Broad Food Co-op Market: 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays, 76 Biltmore Ave., in the parking lot next to the French Broad Food Co-op, now open.

• Leicester Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, Leicester Landing Shopping Center, 338 Leicester Road, behind Zaxby’s, now open. leicesterfarmersmarket.com.

• Montford Tailgate Market: 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays, parking lot of the Asheville Visitors Center, 34 Montford Ave., opening April 23.

• North Asheville Tailgate Market: 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays. UNC Asheville Campus Commuter Lot C. Take Weaver Boulevard to campus entrance at traffic circle; first parking lot on right, now open.

• Oakley Farmers Market: 3:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays, 2013, 607 Fairview Road, opening May 8.

• Weaverville Tailgate Market: 2:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. On the hill overlooking Lake Louise behind the Community Center on Weaverville Highway. Now open.

• West Asheville Tailgate Market: 2:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 26, 718 Haywood Road, in the parking area between the Grace Baptist Church and Sun Trust Bank. Now open.