As daylight hours wane and the calendar year wraps up, many farmers in Western North Carolina let their fields begin to rest.
This sacred time of year is filled with breaks from school, gathering loved ones together to share dishes passed down through the generations, taking a much needed rest (especially for farmers), and surviving the dark and cold of winter.
North Asheville Tailgate Market is the first to reopen on Jan. 4, with Weaverville, River Arts District, and Asheville City markets following that week. If you have a hankering for local produce before then, the Farmers Truck Shed #1 at WNC Farmers Market is designated for farmers who sell only what they grow.
Looking for produce to stock up on that will last you at least until markets reopen? Pick up some root crops like carrots, beets, turnips, or radishes. Remove their greens, don’t wash them until you’re ready to use them, and put them in a plastic bag. Place them in the coldest part of your fridge and you might be surprised to find they can last up to three to four weeks.
Don’t have a root cellar but want to store some potatoes? Keep them out of the fridge and away from onions and apples (that release strong ripening gases called ethylene), but in the coolest spot in your home, out of sunlight, and in a produce bag or well ventilated container. Check on them regularly and remove any soft or rotting potatoes.
Butternut and acorn are great winter squash varieties for storing due to their particularly thick skin. Look for ones without any bruises or cuts to improve their storage longevity, or eat those first. Keep them in a cool and dry place.
Preserve cabbages by storing them similarly to carrots, but adding a damp paper towel and plastic bag that can ventilate . You can also transform cabbage into ferments like sauerkraut and kimchi that will last in your fridge for months!
Find more details about farms and markets throughout the region, including hours and location, in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org.
Written by Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.