When it comes time to celebrate this weekend, there are plenty of options.
John Jackson of New Sagaya Markets says the fish are rolling into stores: "The summer is kicking into full swing, reds are coming in from all over the state now and sizing is definitely larger than last year. ... Kings are peaking right now -- best time to buy as the quality is very nice right now -- and pricing has come down. ... First of the live Dungeness out of Southeast is always a nice treat; nothing better than live crab boiled or steamed."
From the fields, Arthur Keyes of Glacier Valley Farm makes this report: "We are weeding the zucchini and getting it ready to begin picking. If the weather holds without much rain we will have zucchini next week. The strawberries are looking good, lots of green berries. Last week I was working in the strawberries when I found the biggest frog I've ever seen in Alaska, he was amazing!"
And new market options keep popping up. Today is the first Northway Mall Wednesday Farmers Market (www. anchoragemarkets.com) of the season. The market should be open until Oct. 5; hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Several vendors are scheduled for today's market including the Rempel Family Farm, Dinkel Veggies, Stockwell Farm, International Gardens, Mat Valley Meats, Matanuska Creamery, Papa Bamarito's Fruits and Yukon Concessions (with battered halibut, chips and corn fritters with honey butter). Market organizer Bill Webb says more vendors should be joining as the season progresses. The Rempels will have collard greens, dill, cilantro, chard, arugula, mizuna, tatsoi, spinach, radishes, snow apple turnips, kales and other greens (also available at the South Anchorage Farmers Market on Saturday). The Dinkels will have zucchini, lettuce, broccoli and perhaps a few strawberries (also available at the Saturday Anchorage Market and Festival and today's Wasilla market).
New at the market this year is entertainment, with the Aerial Angels from Michigan lined up for the first two weeks.
Other markets offer these options this week:
Spenard Famers Market (www.spenardfarmers market.org) is celebrating the holiday with a Red, White and Blue Day with plenty of flags and music by the Back Acres band. Vendors include Coastal Villages Seafood with wild-caught king salmon from the Kuskokwim River; Grass Roots Services of Palmer with cut flowers, herbs, rhubarb and tomato plants; and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service, with an Ask an Expert booth.
The New York Post recently featured the Spenard market in a travel story about Alaska. The Post described it as a market that "brings out the veggie/vegan/fixie-bike set for organic produce and things that are gluten-free."
The Anchorage Farmers Market (www.anchorage farmersmarket.org) will feature an ever-expanding list of vegetables.
The Seldovitsch Family Farm will have beets, carrots, snow apple turnips, garlic, zucchini, red onions, Swiss chard, green cabbage, tomatoes, salad mix and fresh eggs at the market. Arctic Organics will have fresh broccoli, kale, spinach, pac choi, radishes, greens mix, arugula, lettuces and herbs, among other items. Arctic Organics also operates a farm stand from 5 to 7 p.m. Fridays at the farm, 1305 N. Smith Road in Palmer. Sarah Bean says "it's a great way to visit the farm and get first picks of the harvest for the market."
At the South Anchorage Farmers Market (www.southanchoragefarmersmarket.com) Nancy Lampman reports that "the selection of produce, plants and goods continues to grow as the season progresses. ... There is always something new."
Vendors this week include: Glacier Valley Farm with English cucumbers and strawberries, hanging strawberry baskets and handing tomato baskets; Country Garden Farms with Kentucky bluegrass sod; Earthworks Farm with early-season vegetables and cut flowers; Bearsden Gardens with plant starts, herbs and flowers, including several perennials; The Blue Poppy with, you guessed it, blue poppy plants; Arctic Choice with fresh Cook Inlet king and red salmon fillets, shrimp, halibut, cod, rockfish and other seafood; Matanuska Creamery with cheese, ice cream and other dairy treats; and a wide variety of other items including breads and other goodies from French Oven Bakery, local eggs, macaroons, homemade dog biscuits, oyster mushrooms and homemade soap.
Fresh food items include salmon burgers on a whole wheat bun and a variety of hot dogs from Joan Daniels; egg chippatis -- a mix of eggs, cheese, tomato, fresh sprouts, salsa and avocado on a tortilla -- by NonEssentials; and salads, breads, pastries, wraps and other items from the Red Beet.
Southfork Jams will have a special treat this week -- salmonberry jelly from Western Alaska. Joan Johnson is excited to offer the unique jelly: "Salmonberries are among the most coveted wild berries in Alaska, especially by the Alaska Native people. There are two kinds of salmonberries in Alaska. The ones that grow in lower Cook Inlet and Southeast Alaska grow on bushes/canes, like raspberries, and they are red. The salmonberries in Western Alaska grow on the tundra, on little rosettes flat to the ground. The berries are yellow. Sometimes they are also called 'cloudberries.' They are hard to come by, dependent on the weather, and take a long time to pick. I have gotten lots of requests for salmonberry, and last year was fortunate to be able to buy a bucket, for $200 -- to give you an idea of their value. I took them out of the freezer and juiced them up and am turning them into jellies this week."
Get there early, Johnson says the supply is limited.
At the Center Market (www.thecentermarket.com), Saturday's highlight is local chef Rob Kineen with cooking demonstrations highlighting local produce. The market also will feature several vendors, including A.D. Farm with goat cheese, jams, fresh chicken and duck eggs, pork sausages (and maybe fresh cuts of pork), rhubarb and mustard greens.
From the sea
As Jackson says, "the summer season is kicking into full swing." New Sagaya has fresh headed and gutted king salmon for $6.99 per pound, fresh headed and gutted 10-to-20-pound halibut for $8.99 per pound and fresh live Dungeness crabs for $6.99 per pound.
Dannon Southall at 10th & M Seafoods echoes Jackson: "Salmon are still coming in strong with kings picking up as the days go on. ... Your grill would look amazing with a side of king and few fresh shrimp thrown atop of it."
Headed and gutted kings are $6.95 per pound; fillets are $9.95 per pound. Fresh sockeyes are also available. Fresh Prince William Sounds side-stripe shrimp are $10.95 per pound, while spot shrimp are $16.95 per pound. Other options include Alaska cod for $5.95 per pound, live clams for $6.95 per pound and live oysters for $10.95 per pound.
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
Today: Center Market, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Northway Mall Wednesday Market, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Northway Mall parking lot; Wasilla Farmers Market, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., behind the Wasilla 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 Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 15th and Cordova in the Central Lutheran Church parking lot; 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., Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; 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, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Spenard Road and 26th Avenue
Sunday: Anchorage Market and Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Third Avenue between C and E streets
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