More Ways to Enjoy Asheville for Less:

Asheville Arts and Crafts

Asheville Dance

Asheville Entertainment

Asheville Area Festivals

Asheville Area Live Music Scene

Asheville Theatre

Asheville Area Housing

Accommodations in Asheville

Asheville Body, Mind and Spirit

Restaurants and Cafes in the Asheville Area

Asheville Movies and the Film Industry

Asheville Local and Organic Produce

Medicinal Herbs in the Asheville Area

Shopping in the Asheville Area

Tea, Coffee and Brew Venues in Asheville Area

Outdoor Activities in the Asheville Area

Volunteer Opportunities in Asheville Area

Farmers Markets and Producers of Organic Produce in Asheville and Western North Carolina

There is a tremendous interest in locally grown and organic produce -- by both many local farmers and by many consumers -- in the Asheville and Western North Carolina area.

Farmers Markets

Farmers markets can be an excellent way to get the freshest produce... often at very reasonable prices:

Outdoor Market at the Grove Arcade "... A dozen stalls house farmers and craftspeople selling their wares directly to the public. " 7 days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Grove Corner Market's Friday Festival Freshest fish, produce, wine tasting, music.

Western North Carolina Farmers Market

French Broad Food Co-op Saturday Tailgate Market

Wednesday at Greenlife Tailgate Market

North Asheville Tailgate Market

See also

Slow Food Asheville's List of Tailgate Markets

Asheville Sustainable Agriculture Project's Local Food Guide

Food Co-ops and Natural Food Stores which Carry Organic Produce

French Broad Food Co-Op

Grove Corner Market "Asheville‘s favorite community grocery store, located in The Grove Arcade Public Market." Print out free coupons

Asheville Home Delivery Services

Veg-In-Out "We are a healthy, bulk meals, vegetarian, home delivery service called "VEG-IN-OUT". For only $60 per week you get a week’s worth of lunches and dinners prepared by our gourmet natural chef, William Najger... "

Organic Farmers and Produce Suppliers

Carolina Organic Growers "... is a farmers’ cooperative made up of small family farms located in North Carolina, from the mountains to the coast. Our member farms are Certified Organic by independent certifying agencies who are working with the new National Organic Program. We take pride in personally planting, harvesting, grading, packing, and shipping each crop to you. COG serves restaurants, grocers, buying clubs, festivals and conferences, offering exceptional variety, professional sales, dependable delivery, and fair pricing. COG specializes in heirloom delicacies as well as standard staples and attempts to satisfy the customer’s desire for just picked, sun-sweetened, and flavor-packed produce. We encourage long term relationships with local restaurants and are willing to ‘grow to order'... "

Jake's Farm "... We practice a system of growing in beds, without animal manures. All our fields are drip irrigated. Over six acres in production grow everything from apples to watercress. During the summer we sell at the Black Mountain Tailgate Market on Saturday mornings and the new West Asheville Tailgate Market on Wednesday afternoons. Also during the summer subscription vegetables are available on a monthly contract.... "

Madison Farms "... There are 1500 small family farms in Madison County.  One hundred fourty-seven (197) of Madison's family farms are currently featured on this site.  On this site you will find farms specializing in all types of breeds of horses, mules, donkeys, goats, cattle, rabbits, chickens, dogs, and llamas.  Madison farms are also rich in value-added products such as cheeses, milk, jams, jellies, molasses, Christmas wreaths and garland and fiber (such as yarns and knitted fabrics).  You can also find organic brick oven baked bread. Madison farms grow many varieties of shrubs (rhododendron, boxwood, azalea...), fruits, nuts, and berries, and vegetables.  Many farms sell organically grown products.  In fact, Madison County has more organic farms than any other county in North Carolina. You can stay on some Madison farms in bed and breakfasts, take a farm tour, pick your own berries or Christmas trees, go horseback riding or llama trekking.  You can take a class in herding, woodworking, growing medicinal herbs, or purchase them on site...."

Mountain Organics "Our farm has 13 acres of tillable land with 5 acres currently in production, which allows us to grow a broad assortment of fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs. In addition to being a CFSA Certified Organic farm, we have combined permaculture techniques with our organic farming practices to ensure that we create a habitat, which will attract and support wildlife such as deer, groundhogs, birds, butterflies, beneficial insects and amphibians."

Classes in Horticulture, Permaculture, and Sustainable Agriculture

Earthaven Learning Center "... courses in permaculture, edible wild plants, wisewoman ways, and more. Held at Earthaven Center in Black Mountain.

Lost Cove Farm "... located in the scenic mountains of western North Carolina, is a teaching farm, founded by a successful nature photographer and a professional wildlife biologist. We offer hands-on workshops in which participants discover how to landscape their own yards to attract birds, butterflies, and other fascinating wild creatures. Lost Cove Farm is also the setting for photo workshops for individuals and small groups...."

Grants for Sustainable Farming in WNC

The Best Environmentally Responsible Shopping

Spiritex Sustainable Clothing Wearhouse "... socially and environmentally responsible textiles... organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, soy, ecospun, tencel, organic wool and corn fabrics. All our apparel is made with sweat shop free labor.

The Natural Home "... functional, beautiful, unusual products crafted from natural materials.... bed and bath linens including duvet covers, sheets, bedskirts, shower curtains... unbleached cotton and linen towels.... switchplate covers in copper, stainless steel, ceramic, glass enamel, and tin ...exciting and diverse assortment of drawer and cabinet knobs.... bamboo and paper blinds... "

Restaurants and Cafes Who Serve Locally Grown and/or Organic Produce

Inexpensive Places to Eat

Earth Fare This growing "chain" of healthy supermarkets started in Asheville and is still headquartered in Asheville. Has many "to go" food items by the pound as well as a very healthy cafeteria-style restaurant that sells food at a very reasonable "per pound" price. You can buy food there and eat in... or buy food to go and take a picnic up on the Blue Ridge Parkway or down by the French Broad River.

Greenlife is another healthy lifestyle supermarket which has a very bountiful buffet-style "pay by the pound" dine-in restaurant. In good weather, you can even take your meal and eat it at one of the outside tables. Very affordable and delicous!

Laughing Seed Cafe "... international approach to vegetarian dining and this has led to our popularity with vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Local products, organic ingredients and a flair for global fusion combine to give our dishes a unique and satisfying character...."

Over Easy Cafe Breakfast and lunch... all day. Local and organic ingredients with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. Free-range eggs. Antibiotic- and pesticide-free meat. Organic fresh-squeezed juices and smoothies. Organic coffee. Good art (featuring a different artist each month) and good music.

Rosetta's Kitchen Enter Rosetta's and you feel like you've walked into a gathering a friends. Funky. Eclectic. Down to earth. Vegan and vegetarian (mostly organic) fare served until the wee hours. Delicious cookies and deserts. Very affordable and habit-forming.

Sunny Point Cafe and Bakery ".. free-range hangar steak, smoked duck, sunburst trout with grits soufflé, and an abundance of seasonal vegetables... ". Great breakfast place as well.

Tupelo Honey Cafe "Whenever possible, we buy organic and support local farmers, artisans, merchants and businesses. We serve all organic free-range chicken and eggs, and garnish our entrees with organic edible flowers from a local herb farm. Asheville City Bakery bakes our bread, and Sweet Heaven Ice Cream Shop makes our exclusive Tupelo Honey Ice Cream. Our artwork, photographs, flower vases and even our "Open" sign represent the work of local, young artists. The eclectic beer and wine list is comprised of selections from local breweries to world-class wineries that will satisfy even the most discriminating connoisseur." Some inexpensive selections include: Sweet potato pancakes $7, soup and Tupelo house salad $6.50, Charleston chicken sandwich (sourdough bread, free range chicken, cranberry mayo) $8

Tea Rooms and Coffee Houses

Indigenous Tea House and Juice Bar "... Indigenous is a Teahouse, Juice Bar, Community Forum and Meeting Place. It is the epitomy of organic business.  We barter with local farmers, support local farms through the Western North Carolina Farmers Market, host lectures with local experts, support local musicians, sell local art and pottery...basically, we seek to give locals their share of the business.  We do this while bringing world culture to Asheville.  After many years of traveling the world, we discovered that only through learning about other cultures will we ever achieve peace and tolerance."

Best Ethnic Restaurants

Heiwa Shokudo Vegan, organic. Brown rice. Wild salmon. Organic wine and beer. $10 lunch. $10-$15 dinner.

India Garden All you can eat buffet "... a richly varied menu of fresh, natural ingredients, wholesome sauces and flavorful spices. All food is natural and freshly prepared daily on the premises with no additives or preservatives. " Under $10 for lunch. $10 to $15 for dinner.

Best Places to Dine within an Hour or Two's Drive of Asheville

Here are some places that are destinations... and worth the trip.

Blowing Rock and Boone (2 hrs north of Asheville... Take 40 east to 321 North at Hickory)

The Gamekeeper "... specializes in modern mountain comfort food. featuring fresh meats, fish, game and locally grown seasonal produce. Many dishes are grilled over a hickory wood fire and we always have vegetarian selections. The Gamekeeper has all ABC permits and an eclectic wine list. The restaurant is located in a rustic stone building with beautiful views, cozy fireplace and outdoor dining in season. We have a private party room perfect for rehearsal dinners and the whole restaurant is available for wedding receptions...." Dinner salads $8 -$9. Entrees $15 (vegetable plate) to $27 (free range beef tenderloin).

While up there:

Wautauga County Farmer's Market (in season)

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture

Hot Springs: a historic town 45 minutes from Asheville on the Appalachian Trail and the French Broad River. Rapids. Hot springs baths. Hiking.

Bridge Street Cafe and Inn "... extensive use of fresh, locally-grown organic vegetables, organic flours and grains, and has a distinctive Italian- Mediterranean flavor.... During the Spring/Summer season, Bridge Street presents regional musicians on most Saturday nights on the outdoor dining deck. No cover... "

Sylva ... a 50 minute drive through the Smokes from Asheville...

Guadalupe Cafe "... A tapas and wine restaurant with a Caribbean influence..... whenever possible, use locally grown, organic produce and free-range meats.... artwork displays and concerts...." Very affordable.

Spring Street Cafe "... Casual, eclectic, Southern comfort food — featuring local farm produce and meats, dairy and wild edibles..."

Soul Infusion Tea House and Bistro "A true community gathering place with exceptional food and an extensive selection of beer, wine and tea." - Asheville Citizen-Times Free WiFi Spot. "Featuring live music filled with heart & soul, rooted in tradition... We wanted to create a place unlike any other... A place where people could come together for tea, to share their experiences with each other, meet new friends, listen to some great music, play a game of Chess, eat some healthy food, or just a place to kick-back and relax with a cup of tea and a good book."

Best Places to Buy a Picnic

Laurey's Catering and Gourmet to Go Visit for lunch and have Laurey's build a sandwich on locally-made bread and eat it there ... or have them pack you a picnic lunch to take with you to one of the many wonderful picnic areas in the Asheville area.

Delightful Places to Eat

Early Girl Eatery "... relies heavily on the high quality local produce grown in the area by family farms and community-supported agriculture (CSAs). Our cheeses and some of our meats are also produced and raised locally...." "Thanks to careful groundwork, success hit soon after John and Julie Stehling opened their casual, organic-driven restaurant in downtown Asheville in October 2001. "When we moved here, we spent three months driving around, meeting farmers, and joining everything we could think of to get in the loop," says John, the executive chef, who made partnerships with more than a dozen area growers for the menu and local artists for the funky, festive decor." Organic Style

Well-Bred Bakery and Cafe (Weaverville) "... We always have quiche, a soup du jour and fish du jour, a green salad and fruit salad, fresh seasonal vegetables sauteed, roasted or steamed, and many other delicious items that vary day to day... gourmet sandwiches from the panninni grill all day. Live music Friday and Saturday nights.

Fine Dining

Biltmore Estate. So much going for it. The history. The house. The grounds. And ".... the bounties of an estate where we raise our own beef and lamb and grow 117 varieties of produce in our extensive kitchen gardens, produce our award-winning vintages, and create signature recipes that showcase regional traditions." Choose from Deerpark, the Stable Cafe, the Dining Room, and the Bistro. Worth purchasing a 12 month pass to Biltmore... just so you can dine there at whim.

Savoy Cucina "... fresh seafood (all line caught, no nets) that is flown in six days a week and is never frozen. There are no storage freezers in the restaurant as everything is made from scratch with only the freshest ingredients including all breads and desserts made fresh daily on premise. ... 80% of all produce is organic. Entrees $20 to $25.

Sympatico Organizations

Slow Food Asheville "... "A firm defense of quiet material pleasure is the only way to oppose the universal folly of Fast Life. May suitable doses of guaranteed sensual pleasure and slow, long-lasting enjoyment preserve us from the contagion of the multitude who mistake frenzy for efficiency. Our defense should begin at the table with Slow Food. Let us rediscover the flavors and savors of regional cooking and banish the degrading effects of Fast Food. In the name of productivity, Fast Life has changed our way of being and threatens our environment and our landscapes. So Slow Food is now the only truly progressive answer...."

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