Executive Director

Every spring I look forward to planning and prepping my garden for the year and walking to the Black Mountain Tailgate Market on Saturday mornings. This year I also plan to kick off the season with a trip to Hell or High Water’s rooftop bar to welcome the warm weather and soak up the mountain views!— Britt G., Black Mountain

Finance Manager

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We enjoy meeting friends at Sideways Brewery in Etowah when their first bloom of flowers comes in. Really looking forward to warmer weather so we can bike the Ecusta Trail from Horse Shoe and grab some brunch at the Ecusta Market & Cafe.

— Brad W., Etowah

Finance Manager

The farmstand at Flying Cloud Farm.

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I am looking forward to eating delicious spring greens and strawberries from our Flying Cloud Farm CSA share! Annie and the farm crew do an amazing job and always include yummy recipes each week 🙂

— Debbi T., Fairview

Growing Minds Program Coordinator

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In the spring, I often seek out local strawberries, lettuce or baby greens, toasted pecans, and Spinning Spider Creamery rosemary-fig goat cheese (chevre) to make a bright and savory-sweet salad. To make the spring last a little longer, I also make a batch of freezer jam from local strawberries and pair the jam with cornbread using heirloom cornmeal from Two Stones Farm & Mill.

— Heidi B., Asheville

Director, Local Foods Research Center

Goat cheese from Spinning Spider Creamery

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As soon as I see the daffodils popping up, I start daydreaming of the first ripe spring strawberries, and planning my vegetable garden.

— Kelsie R., Hendersonville

Local Food Coordinator

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Just being outside more is such a lift. I look forward to having the East Asheville Tailgate Market—which is walking distance from my house—reopen in April on Friday afternoons. Our family habit is a Friday night smorgasbord dinner made up of whatever we find at the market, and we miss it all winter! Some of our spring favorites are focaccia from High Top Bakery with turnip top pesto; snap peas, cucumbers, carrots, and turnips from Olivette or Smallholding Farm; and early strawberries from Lee’s One Fortune Farm.

— Sarah H., Asheville

Communications and Engagement Director

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It really feels like spring to me when it’s strawberry season, which is just around the corner! I love visiting u-pick farms and picking enough strawberries to preserve and share with friends. I use appalachiangrown.org to find u-pick farms near me.

— Oakley B., Asheville

Communications and Engagement Coordinator

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Spring has always felt like the true start of the new year to me. I’m so excited for warmer weather and the chance to start seeds for my little house garden—there’s nothing more grounding than working and prepping the soil. I’m also looking forward to new hikes with my incredible adventure cat this year… maybe even seeing how he does paddle boarding! And of course, I’m especially excited for the new season of Asheville City Market, which I manage. Mostly, I’m just ready to celebrate the season and soak in the longer, warmer days.

— MaKenna H., Asheville

Operations and Market Manager