Birds are chirping, warm weather is here, and the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains have once again turned a delightful shade of green. Yes, summer is just around the corner and local farms are brimming with fresh fruit, vegetables and more. You can bring the fresh taste of the farm to your dining table with these local farmers markets.
Upstate SC
The term “farm to table” may be ubiquitous these days, but that phrase doesn’t do justice to how deeply involved our chefs and members are in the five-acre Broken Oak Organics farm at The Cliffs at Mountain Park. In addition to supplying fresh produce not only for The Cliffs’ restaurants as well as eateries around the Upstate, Cliffs members can happily help themselves to the farm’s bounties each Wednesday.
Outside The Cliffs gates, there are even more markets to shop when you’re looking to fill your fruit basket and produce drawer. Stroll along downtown Greenville’s Main Street on Saturday morning and you’ll find yourself in the middle of Greenville’s Saturday Market, featuring nearly 80 vendors selling farm fresh produce, dairy and meat, specialty cheeses, baked goods and more.
Just minutes away from the downtown market — and open six days a week — is the Greenville State Farmers Market, where you can shop a variety of locally grown and products and specialty goods in addition to fresh fruits and vegetable, like pickled okra, homemade applesauce, chow chow relish and more.
If you’re looking to explore a couple of Greenville’s neighboring towns while still filling your grocery bags, pay a visit to the Travelers Rest Farmers Market and the Taylors Farmers Market, both located within 30 minutes of The Cliffs’ mountain communities.
Western NC
Whether you live at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove near Asheville, or are just planning a day trip to this charming, eclectic region, you’ll want to pay a visit to the WNC Farmers Market in Asheville. This market is full of history — it’s been open at this same site with panoramic views of the mountains and nearby Biltmore Estate — and is open seven days a week. At the WNC Farmers Market, you can shop high-quality fruits and vegetables, freshly baked breads, jams, jellies and preserves, local honey, mountain crafts and more.
Nearby is also the River Arts District Farmers Market, part of Asheville’s burgeoning River Arts District community, where you can shop from dozens of ‘RAD’ vendors selling baked goods, plants and trees, farm fresh produce and eggs, and local favorites like ghee and essential oils.
Between The Cliffs’ mountain region communities — Valley, Glassy and Mountain Park — and Asheville, NC is the charming town of Hendersonville, where you can shop farm fresh goods at the Hendersonville Community Co-Op while also enjoying freshly baked goods or a fresh lunch special. Whet your appetite while you shop, then enjoy a gluten-free muffin or lunch special like maple chipotle chicken over mashed sweet potatoes with roasted red pepper mac and cheese.
