Today there are markets at three locations in Anchorage and another in the Valley. Saturday, market lovers could spend nearly all day visiting five markets in Anchorage and another in Eagle River.
A trip to the market isn't just about filling the fridge, it also offers a chance to chat with the growers. For those who won't make it to the market, here's a little farmer feature on the Dinkel Family Farm in the Valley.
Mark and Lesley Dinkel have seven children - Seth, 17; Kyla, 16; Graham, 14; McKenna, 11; Carter, 9; Keevan, 7; and Blake, 5. The family has been farming since 1992, and Mark says they got started growing zucchini for Ben VanderWeele. Now, the Dinkels have produce at several local markets, including today at the Northway Mall and Wasilla markets and Saturday's Center Market and Downtown Market and Festival.
Over time, the family expanded beyond zucchini. "After years of doing just zucchini and being a prisoner to the plants so that I could keep them at the size the stores wanted, I decided to let go of that and sell at farmers markets," Mark says. "Our family had some freedom to head to the fishing hole for half a day without worrying about the zucchini getting too big. I started to grow other vegetables and learn about them."
The Dinkel children are home-schooled and the farm is part of their education. Mark says each member of the family has a role to play and some specific skills.
"Everyone works on the farm; some like it more than others," Marks says. "Each of the kids has something they are good at. For instance, McKenna is becoming a great bean picker like her older sister. Graham has a knack for fixing things or figuring out new ways to do something. Seth, the oldest at 17, can pretty much do it all.
"Keevan, age 7, is all farmer. He loves every aspect of it like none of the other kids. He really enjoys digging potatoes. You would think he is spotting gold rather than spuds. ... He stays out all day long and works. When everyone else has had it for the day, he asks when it's time to go back out again. He's thrilled to watch plants grow and when they begin to produce, he is beside himself with sheer excitement."
The Dinkels' farm is on Fairview Loop Road in Wasilla, where Mark's grandparents moved in 1937 from Wyoming as replacements for some of the original valley "colonists."
While Mark says the best thing about farming is the harvest, this year has been challenging because "the worst thing about being a farmer is the unpredictability of the weather."
And that weather is affecting lots of farmers and crops.
Mark Rempel reports that "the constant dampness is starting to take its toll on the green beans, peas and lettuce. All of them are struggling to stay ahead of diseases which like this type of weather. I fear for the winter squashes too. However, the carrots, beets, potatoes, cabbages and their cousins seem to be faring quit well."
The Rempels will have carrots, nine varieties of potatoes, cabbage, sugar snap peas, zucchini, celery, onions, spaghetti squash and many greens at markets this week. They'll be at the Northway Mall today and the South Anchorage Farmers Market on Saturday.
Also at the South market will be a special "Purple Plant Contest." Guests are invited to bring their best purple flowers or vegetables to the market between 9 a.m. and noon, with judging at 1 p.m. Winners in each category will receive $100.
Matanuska Creamery is looking for help naming its new pepper jack cheese. There will be the opportunity for guests to offer suggestions this week, and the winning entry will get a free block of cheese. For more information on the market and its special events, visit southanchoragefarmersmarket.com
Market vendors will have many of their regular items. Special items to look for this week include 2-pound bags of Alaska hardy Nugget Bluegrass seed from Gray Owl Farm and corn and artichokes from Kenley Farm.
Saturday at the Spenard Farmers Market the focus is on the market's international flavor. In addition to regular vendors who speak Russian and Spanish, this week the Fresh International Gardens will be on hand with refugee gardeners from Bhutan and Nepal.
There will be a local master gardener at the market's "Ask an Expert" booth from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with advice on Alaska gardening.
Eat Local Challenge
Sunday is the kickoff of the week-long Alaska Grown Eat Local Challenge. The goal of the challenge is to encourage the use of local produce in our diets. Here are some suggestions:
• Try eating at least one home-cooked meal made of mostly local ingredients.
• Try incorporating at least one never-before-used local ingredient.
• Try brown-bagging at least one meal this week made primarily from local ingredients.
More information is available at www.eatlocalalaskagrown.org.
Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. If you have a suggestion for a future Market Fresh column, please contact him at sedwards@adn.com.
Local farmers markets (8/18)
TODAY
Wednesday Market, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Northway Mall; Wednesday South Anchorage Farmers' Market, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., behind the Dimond Center, in front of the Dimond Center Hotel; Center Market, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., University Center mall; Wasilla Farmers Market, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., behind Wasilla Public Library
FRIDAY
Palmer Friday Fling, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pavilion across from Visitor's Center; Willow Farmers Market, 2-7 p.m., Mile 69 Parks Highway
SATURDAY
Anchorage Market and Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Third Avenue between C and E streets; Center Market, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., University Center mall; South Anchorage Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Subway/Cellular One Sports Center at the corner of Old Seward Highway and O'Malley Road; Spenard Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Spenard Road and 26th Avenue; Saturday Eagle River Farmers Market, 9 a.m to 2 p.m. at Mike's Meats on the Business Loop; Anchorage Farmers Market, 10 a.m to 2 p.m. at 15th and Cordova in the Central Lutheran Church parking lot.
SUNDAY
Anchorage Market and Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Third Avenue between C and E streets
TUESDAY
Eagle River Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., VFW Post Parking Lot
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