The Berry Month of May

Staff Reports

If berries make you merry, then May is your month. It’s the perfect time to get your fingers on fresh, juicy, just-ripe local strawberries. Berries get the nod now as part of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s (ASAP) Get Local initiative, which brings together farmers, chefs, and community members each month in celebration of a featured local food.

Find local strawberries in their sweet simplicity at area groceries like Ingles, Earth Fare, Greenlife, and local co-ops, as well as direct from the farmer at neighborhood tailgate markets. While shopping tailgates, also be on the lookout for vendors with strawberry baked goods and treats—from strawberry rhubarb pie and popsicles to tarts, cupcakes, and lots more.

Get Local restaurants aim to keep their customers berry happy this
month.  Red Stag Grill in Asheville promises to pair their local berries
with champagne for dessert.

Nate Allen, chef and owner of Knife and Fork in Spruce Pine, plans to
use local strawberries throughout all sections of his menu. To showcase
their savory style, he’ll toss them in a spinach salad with lamb-bacon
and ricotta cheese. Honoring their sweet side, he’ll whip up batches of
biscuit strawberry shortcakes.

For a complete list of participating restaurants visit the Get Local
page at www.asapconnections.org. There, you’ll also find the 2011
calendar of featured foods and a Get Local school calendar.
Participating schools will be serving local strawberries throughout May.

Browse more than 250 farms and businesses offering local strawberries,
along with more than 25 farms that allow you to pick berries, in ASAP’s
Local Food Guide, online at www.buyappalachian.org. Or, pick up a copy
of the 2011 print Local Food Guide. ASAP’s mission is to help local
farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy
communities through connections to local food.

To learn more about ASAP’s work in the region, visit
www.asapconnections.org, or call (828) 236-1282. Search the online Local
Food Guide at www.buyappalachian.org.