I love tomatoes. How about you? . . .And . . .if you are relocating to, visiting or already live in Asheville, 
North Carolina-where can you go to find some of the best-tasting, locally-grown, organic, fresh-off-the vine tomatoes possibly in the entire world? Why...at one of Asheville's tailgate markets, of course...such as:
The Asheville City Market. This is a new tailgate market... just "sprouted up" in the Spring of 2008.
Yes, there are other tailgate markets in convenient locations around Asheville, and we'll try to visit them all as part of this series...
but aren't you curious about the "new kid on the block" ? I am. So last Saturday I headed out to find...Tomatoes.
Little did I know that I would encounter a lot more than tomatoes.. .such as
fiddlers
-
bakers
jovial companions
smiling neighbors
dogs with wagging tails...and some of the most attractive locally-grown, organic produce you could imagine. (see photo to your left, below) 
I had parked in a City of Asheville Lot for free and snapped a couple photos (notice color of sky in the photo above,right) as I walked to the market. Asheville's renowned architecture was evident.
The carolina blue skies were, too. (see photo). But would the Asheville City Market prove to be so amazing ?. . .and would I find some outstanding red tomatoes?
IEureka! Tomatoes and more. Here, for your simple pleasure are interesting conversations with eco-friendly vendors. Sixty (60+ ) vendors enjoy telling you about their offerings- everything from organic produce and hormone-free meats and dairy products, to farm foods, prepared foods, crafts, weekly entertainment, and ...
• plants for your vegetable garden and landscape
• fresh (oorganic) produce
• farm-raised meats including lamb, pork, beef, and trout
• goat cheese (three vendors!)
• cage-free eggs
• farm-made ice cream
• cider
• jams, preserves, salsas
• breads, pastries, and cookies
• herbs
• honey
• natural soaps and other herbal body-care products and gifts
• hand-sewn quilts and other modern and traditional mountain crafts
• shrimp from the family of NC fishermen
Oh. It's a delicious experience at Asheville's City Market! The smell of baked goods and coffee in the air, the sounds of music, laughter and neighborly chatting. The touch of a tomato still warm from the sun.
The Asheville City Market is just one of the cultural perks here in Asheville. It is an outreach of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project . The Project informs us:
"By buying directly from local farmers and shopping and dining at those businesses that support local farmers, you are getting the freshest, best-tasting food, contributing to a strong local economy, and helping preserve our rural mountain landscape."
To learn more about Appalachian Grown, ASAP's branding program for family farms, click here. Looking for Mountain Farm Tour information? You'll find it here.
Interestingly, the Asheville City Market is located at the Public Works Building, on S. Charlotte Street, right on the edge of downtown Asheville so it's convenient for visitors to Asheville- folks staying at nearby hotels and B&Bs. They amble in at intervals during the day.
MAP courtesy of ASAP Connections
Just a side note: If you choose to relocate to Asheville (or already live in the "Happiest City in the USA") you might want to discover a CSA. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) .
This is a direct connection between the farmers and the consumers. Every week throughout the season, the CSA community receives a box of that week's harvest. Most of the local CSAs deliver to several convenient area locations, but they always encourage the community to come to the farm, and even to participate in the growing of their food.
Hope you enjoy my candid shots of Asheville City Market,(seen in this post) but if you'd like to see what a professional photographer has to say about Asheville's City market...just click here for more photos
Now, I'm taking a poll. Who else love tomatoes and tailgate markets? Let me know.
(This was written for my friend LXS who's a Tomato Nut.)
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I'm taking a poll. Who else love tomatoes and tailgate markets?
this is a great post! i wrote something similar on organic food and also on our local farmer's market (carolinamornings.blogspot.com) - this is a great add on to those! thanks for promoting local food and asheville's sustainable food movement. I write for carolina mornings - we are a local vacation rental company and all of our employees are big promoters of sustainability and environmental ethics. and i'm a lover of BOTH tomatoes AND tailgate markets! :)
I love farmer's markets of every variety. Great pictures! PS - I like your new photo too.
We call them farmers markets but yes, they are awesome! I just had a neighbor give me some of their tomatoes just off the vine...wow were they good! Leave it to you to find and Eco side to tomatos!
JaneAnne - I love tomatoes, I have been picking my own organic produce. Farmer's Markets are a delight, so much to choose from.
JaneAnne:Terrific slice of Asheville you are offering. Eco friendly products is also a big plus. A great post again. Makes me want to visit Asheville.
Cut out the middleman, go directly to the source.
Your local growers..
They grow the best, and freshest.
Other than your own plantings.
NeighborJohn
Kelly~
Thanks for your kind words about this post. You mentioned "sustainability and environmental ethics..."
I have been thinking about ethics today...especially in terms of how real estate professionals (and in particular those of us who are Eco Certified Real Estate Consultantsand EcoBrokers) view the issue of environmental ethics.
You may have inspired a post on that subject =)
Penny~
Thanks for your comment and noticing my new picture =) Hope to meet you here in Asheville one day...we can go find some great tomatoes at the markets...
Diane~
I am grinning ear-to-ear at your remark..."Leave it to you to find and Eco side to tomatoes..." I have been reading
Animal, Vegetable,Miracle, Barbara Kingsolvers book about a family who decide to grow their own food and live sustainably for a year...(great book found in the cook book section)...so the inspiration may lie there. . .
Jennifer~
AHA! Another tomato -lover. I knew it, I knew it! =)...
But I didn't know you were growing your own organic produce. I want to hear more about that...and have you ,too read Animal, Vegetable,Miracle, Barbara Kingsolvers book?
Lloyd~
Glad you found this post of interest. Hope you will come to Asheville. I can promise, it will be a tomato-lovers delight ...
NeighborJohn~
Interesting concept you present..."cut out the middleman"...that seems to make sense. I know for sure that when I bought my tomatoes from the folks who grew them with TLC... when I felt the warmth of the sun still on them...it did make sense.
I LOVE the new Asheville City Market, it's my favorite!!! Every time I go on Saturday I run into lots of friends and folks I know in the community. It's not only the best way to shop, but also really ties a community together. Perhaps you've heard the saying "know your farmer" -- well in WNC it couldn't be easier. The folks at the tailgate markets (or as I've previously known them as farmer's markets too) are always so friendly and so eager to answer any questions and explain what their farm is all about. So, not only do I run into people I know in town and strenghten ties that way, but I get to know our farmer's as well, and that really connects the community.
janeAnne--You forgot to mention that there's pretty much a different tailgate market (at different locations) everyday here...and one may ask "how is that possible???" Because people go to them, there's a demand, and that creates an economic flow to sustain them -- so both the farmers and the residents benefit. So, as John said, "Cut out the middleman"
Rhodes~
You brought up such an interesting point when you commented, "...not only do I run into people I know in town and strengthen ties that way, but I get to know our farmer's as well, and that really connects the community...".
Hi janeAnne, every time I read one of your posts that refers to locally grown fruits and veggies, tailgate markets, etc. it makes me wish that I lived closer to a farmer's market. :) I may have to move.
Good thing is that the farmer's markets are getting more popular and starting to multiply...that's a good thing. Also, tomatos are my son's favorite. He eats them like apples. :)