What is in season in Knoxville. and what to order when the market changes.

Spring

  • Appalachian ramps: Wild ramps from the Smoky Mountain foothills hit Market Square Farmers Market and J.C. Holdway's tasting menu in April.
  • May biscuits: International Biscuit Festival on Market Square in May anchors the city's spring biscuit calendar with East Tennessee chefs and bakers.
  • Rossini Festival Italian-American street fair: Knoxville Opera's free Italian street fair across Gay Street and Market Square mid-April brings 75 food vendors.

Summer

  • East Tennessee heirloom tomatoes: Cherokee Purple, Mortgage Lifter and Tennessee Tommytoe varieties peak July through August at Market Square Farmers Market.
  • Smoky Mountain trout: Mountain stream rainbow trout runs from spring through October on the J.C. Holdway and Lilou seasonal menus.
  • Sweet corn from Knox County farms: White and bicolor sweet corn fills the Market Square Farmers Market through July and August.

Autumn

  • East Tennessee apples: Honeycrisp, Stayman and Mutsu apples from the Cumberland Plateau orchards arrive late September at Market Square.
  • Knoxville Brewers' Jam: The second Saturday of October draws 50+ Tennessee breweries to World's Fair Park for the city's largest beer festival.
  • Smoked pork and BBQ season: Fall cooler weather is BBQ season; Buddy's Bar-B-Q, Sweet P's Uptown and Dead End BBQ run their biggest catering windows.

Winter

  • Country ham and biscuits: East Tennessee cured ham peaks December through February with Pete's Coffee Shop and Plaid Apron running country-ham breakfasts.
  • Winter Farmers Market: Nourish Knoxville moves indoors at the Knoxville Visitor Center November through March, Saturdays only 10:00-14:00.
  • Pinto beans and cornbread: Appalachian comfort foundation: pinto beans simmered with country ham and skillet cornbread, on menus at Litton's and Sunspot.

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