Black Mountain Tailgate Market aspires to be recognized among nation’s best

Local nonprofit organization seeks votes in 17th Annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 9, 2025

Board members, volunteers and merchants of the Black Mountain Tailgate Market are campaigning for the local nonprofit organization to be named one of the top in the nation. Courtesy photo

Throughout the nation, communities of all sizes come together regularly to browse fresh offerings from farmers and growers. For the past 31 years, the local iteration of that tradition has brought residents and visitors to the Black Mountain Tailgate Market, where they chat with merchants and nibble samples while live music fills the air. 

The setting is one that volunteers and members of the nonprofit organization believe is “truly something special,” and support from the community in the 17th Annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration will help prove it. 

Presented by the American Farmland Trust, the contest allows people to vote for their favorite market through Tuesday, Sept. 30, at markets.farmland.org. The campaign, which showcases markets from across the nation, will award $15,000 in cash prizes to the 10 organizations that earn the most votes. 

The first-place winner will receive $2,500 for marketing, communications and other efforts to expand the market’s reach and impact. The prize for second is $2,000, while third place receives $1,500.  

American Farmland Trust is a national nonprofit dedicated to saving farmland, promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land. The organization has run the Market Celebration for 17 consecutive years, elevating the increasingly essential role farmers markets play in providing communities with access to fresh, locally grown food and connecting farmers directly with their customers. 

"In many regions, farmers markets have been vital to keeping existing farms in business, enabling new farms to get started, and creating jobs and opportunity in these communities,” said John Piotti, American Farmland Trust president and CEO. “At AFT, we believe that every farmers market in America is special in its own way, helping to connect farmers to customers, customers to healthy food, and the community to the local food system.” 

The exceptional qualities of the BMTM, which works to provide inclusive and engaging educational programming centered around health, wellness, sustainability and nutrition while promoting food equity to support local farms, artisans and area nonprofits, is a topic manager Jacqueline Smith has heard a lot about since she stepped into the role in 2022.  

“The magic of the BMTM was apparent to me long before I took a leadership position with the organization,” she said. “It’s the kind of place where people embrace each other, and handshakes and laughs are abundant. It really embodies that concept of a third place, which works towards the greater social well-being of the community.”

The environment also promotes connections between local food producers and their neighbors, Smith added. 

“It’s not just an exchange of currency, it’s an economy happening in real time that is built on more than that,” she said. “It’s built on trust, relationships and camaraderie.”

The organization was officially granted 501(c)(3) status last April, establishing a community-led board of directors and an advisory committee chaired by member vendors. The move has allowed leadership to focus on accessibility. 

Any potential funding received through the America’s Farmers Market Celebration would help support the BMTM Harvester Program, which promotes fresh food access for all. 

In its 31st year, the Black Mountain Tailgate Market is competing in America’s Farmers Market Celebration, presented by the American Farmland Trust. The contest allows people to vote online for their favorite market, while winners are eligible for cash prizes. Courtesy photo

“This would jumpstart funding for a new initiative, which will simultaneously support our farmers and food access program participants,” Smith said. “Folks are seeing cuts to SNAP, the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program and other grants we have access to, so we want to get ahead of that. We want to think creatively about how we can simultaneously bolster farmers, young families, single parents and elders in our community.”

The wide range of offerings available through the BMTM, which will continue its current season through Nov. 22, are made possible by the dedication of volunteers and supporters, according to the manager.

“We’re so fortunate to have amazing volunteers who devote countless hours ensuring that everyone feels welcome and things are operating smoothly,” Smith said. “We’re always focused on cultivating a more diverse audience and serving as many people as possible. Working with so many people who are so committed to doing good work is magical.”

Being recognized by the American Farmland Trust as one of the top markets in the country would mark a tremendous honor for the BMTM, she added.

“Gaining national attention like this would obviously be great for the market,” Smith said. “But, I think it would also shine a spotlight on Black Mountain, and Western N.C. It would really help show how resilient our community is.”