Community Food Resources

Asheville Poverty Initiative: 12 Baskets Cafe

Simply by sitting and eating with someone you might otherwise never bump into: Stereotypes are dismantled. Fear reduced. Hope is empowered. Come have coffee in our Garden and grab some To-Go meals and assorted groceries on Tuesdays and Fridays (11:00am-1:00pm) outside our space. We are now open on Thursdays from 11:00am to 1:00pm for sit-down meals. Open for everyone to come share in the abundance of rescued food

Address: 610 Haywood Rd, Asheville NC 28804 (next to Sunny Pointe Cafe)

Website: https://www.ashevillepovertyinitiative.org/12baskets 

Operations: 12 Baskets Cafe

  • Tuesdays & Fridays, 11-1pm: pantry style 
    • Put in a “to go” order of prepared meals, sides, desserts, fresh produce and more! 
  • Mondays & Thursdays, 11-1pm: Sit down meal 
    • Enjoy a hot meal in the company of others at a restaurant style meal!
  • Open on holidays!
Haywood St. Congregation: Downtown Welcome Table

The Downtown Welcome Table rests on the assumption that food is a primary means of grace, a way to love and connect. It is a homemade meal served on abundant plates by an attentive wait staff. Folks are invited to linger over the meal as in a nice restaurant or dinner at home. Never intending to be a soup kitchen or feeding line, we want our meal to be a crossroads of diverse communities, a gathering of disparate folks, a fork and spoon invitation to prince and pauper alike. People who might not otherwise come to know each other develop a friendship over a shared meal.

Address: 297 Haywood St, Asheville NC 28805

Website: https://haywoodstreet.org/downtown-welcome-table/ 

Operations: 

  • Wednesdays, 10am-12pm
    • Lunch served in their dining room restaurant style!
  • Sundays, 8:30-10:30am
    • Breakfast served in their dining room restaurant style!
Food Equity Initiative Weekly Market (for UNCA Students)

The Food Equity Initiative is a student-run organization dedicated to eliminating food insecurity within the UNC Asheville community, with a focus on health and sustainability. We do this by sourcing and distributing food donations, as well as offering information, events, programs and resources that promote food justice, nutrition, and community engagement. Our mission is to ensure that every member of the UNC Asheville community has access to adequate, culturally appropriate and nutritious food for themselves and their families.

Address: The Quad or Ramsey Library at UNC Asheville (unless otherwise stated)

Website: https://foodequity.unca.edu

Operations:

  • Tuesdays, 12-2pm
    • Free weekly market provided by FEI, take what you need – no questions asked!
  • You can also find resources for SNAP/EBT through FEI
Bounty and Soul: Weekly Market (Produce to the People)

A community based organization providing access to fresh produce and wellness education for everyone. Produce to the People™ is a program focused on providing equitable access to nutritious, culturally relevant food through no-cost weekly community-based markets. In response to COVID-19, we have transitioned to a low contact pop up drive-through pick up model where community members can pick up pre-packaged boxes of fresh, nutritious foods, education materials, and other wellness resources two days a week n the empty Bi-Lo parking lot off of I-40.

Address: Old Bi-Lo 205 NC 9, Black Mountain NC (right at Starbucks off the highway)

Website: https://bountyandsoul.org/community/market-schedule/ 

Operations:

  • Tuesdays, 11am-12:30pm
  • Fridays, 4-5:30pm 
    • Weekly free market drive-thru, pick up boxes of fresh produce and goods!
YMCA Mobile Markets: Healthy Living Mobile Market

The Healthy Living Mobile Market (HLMM) is a vehicle used to expand the reach of the YMCA’s free food distributions into surrounding communities. The Mobile Market distributes mostly produce as a way to encourage families to eat healthfully. We also encourage making mealtime a family affair. Any time you see the Mobile Market, come check out what seasonal produce we have!

Address: Varies

Website: https://ymcawnc.org/programs/community/nutrition-outreach/mobile-units 

Operations:

  • Second Wednesday of month, 10:30a-11:30a, Shiloh Community Center 
  • Second Friday of month, 10:30a-11:30a, South Asheville Library 
  • Fourth Monday of month, 3:30-4:30p, Oakley Elementary 
    • Free, healthy produce distribution provided by MANNA through YMCA mobile market
MANNA Food Bank

MANNA FoodBank, located in Asheville, North Carolina, is a private, not-for-profit service organization working to end food insecurity in the 16 counties of Western North Carolina, including the Qualla Boundary. MANNA links the food industry to over 200 partner pantries and other human service organizations to get food to thousands of families’ tables. MANNA is an acronym, and stands for Mountain Area Nutritional Needs Alliance. We are a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization. Together we can solve hunger.

Address & other information: 

  • 627 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville, NC 28805-2445
  • Phone: 828-299-3663, Food Helpline: 800-820-1109
  • Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8am-4pm

Website: https://www.mannafoodbank.org/where-to-get-help/ 

Operations: 

North Asheville Tailgate Market

The North Asheville Tailgate Market is a vibrant Saturday morning gathering place that creates a fun, safe and enriching environment for youth, adults and folks from all walks of life. We began in 1980 to offer local farmers an outlet for selling their farm fresh goods. What began as a handful of farmers, now represents over 70 of the best farmers, bakers, growers, chefs and artists. Today over 80% of these vendors earn their primary income from self-produced products. Cooking demos, dietitian talks, live music and our Growing Minds at Market are just a few of the ways we engage our community in education, health and culture.

Address: UNCA Campus, lower lot of P28

Website: https://northashevilletailgatemarket.com/about/ 

Operations: 

  • 1st Annual Winter Market: February 4th – March 25th, 2023, 10am – 1pm
  • 2023 Regular Season: April 1 – November 18, 2023, 8am – 12pm
    • Use EBT/Double SNAP
      • “You SNAP, we match! Thanks to a grant through ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program) we are able to double your SNAP dollars. Just come to our market information booth, swipe your card with us, and we will give you double that amount in market SNAP tokens that you can use on all qualifying produce and food products at the market.”
ASAP Asheville City Market

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) is a nonprofit based in Asheville, North Carolina, serving the Southern Appalachian region. Our mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food. 

Address: N Market St, Downtown Asheville. (North Market Street between Woodfin and Walnut streets in downtown Asheville)

Website: https://asapconnections.org/find-local-food/farmers-markets/asheville-city-market/ 

Operations: 

  • Every Saturday, 9 a.m.–noon, April 2-Dec. 17 
  • (winter market hours, January to March, are 10 am–1 p.m.)
    • Get more with your SNAP dollars! ASAP’s Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetable program is available at Asheville City Market. As a SNAP customer, you swipe your EBT card for any amount, then receive that amount in SNAP tokens as well as an additional match, up to $20, in Farm Fresh Bucks, which can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.