Celebrate Spring in Western North Carolina with Ramp Season: Find them at Local Markets, Restaurants, and Festivals

As winter ends and spring begins in western North Carolina, the season for ramps, a type of wild garlic, starts. Ramps are known for their strong, unique flavor and are available for a short period each year. They can be found at roadside markets in Haywood County, including Owl Produce Market, Duckett’s Produce Stand, Presnell’s Produce, and Christopher Farms. Historic Haywood Market and Milltown Farmer’s Market also sell ramps from local farmers.

Local restaurants incorporate ramps into their dishes during this season. The Chef’s Table, for example, uses ramps as a key ingredient in their seasonal menus. Southern Porch serves a ramp bacon jam burger all year round, preserved using traditional methods.

Cataloochee Ranch’s Switchback restaurant, led by chef Jeb Aldrich, offers dishes with ramps picked from their own property. The Woof Street Bistro food truck serves a slider named the Plott Hound, made with local beef, grilled ramps, pepper jack cheese, and a smoked ramp aioli.

The American Legion in Waynesville hosts an annual ramp festival, a tradition for over 90 years. The festival includes a ramp eating contest and a crowning of a ramp king and queen. It takes place every year in early May.

The ramp season, from late March to early May, is a celebration of spring. Visitors and locals are invited to share their ramp experiences on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok by tagging @visitncsmokies.

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