Food and Drink

End of summer means many Southcentral farmers markets are hopping

Labor Day weekend sends a clear signal that summertime is almost over.

But the farmers market scene is still hopping. This time of year, it may be better than ever.

Sarah Bean of Arctic Organics and the Anchorage Farmers Market says: "It's suddenly acting like fall around the farm, even if it may not feel like it's time yet. The weather is a little less summery, and the crops are characteristically those of the end of summer."

And Arthur Keyes of Glacier Valley Farm and the South Anchorage Farmers Market reports his onion crop is out of this world. "The incredible summer we have had has produced the largest and most beautiful crop of yensis sweet onions I have ever grown. We will have thousands of pounds on Saturday. This is the earliest we have ever harvested these yensis sweet onions, what a great way to wrap up such an incredible summer!"

Of course, changing seasons also means some markets are shutting down. The Mountain View Farmers Market ended its season last week. Wednesday is the last Soldotna Wednesday market and this weekend marks the end of the Downtown Market and Festival.

South Anchorage Farmers Market

Several vendors are joining Keyes at the popular South Anchorage market, including those bringing new items with them.

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La Grassa will have new Alaska broccoli and asiago ravioli and sweet potato gnocchetti, along with some other items, including organic original, organic spinach, Alaska barley and squid ink hand-cut noodles.

New this week for Rempel Family Farm will be artichokes, Brussels sprouts and several varieties of winter squash. Other items include herbs, lettuces, potatoes, daikon, carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, turnips and other items.

Eva Warner of Arctic Choice says the silver salmon are continuing their run, which will be a highlight this week. Other seafood options include fresh halibut and rockfish, along with a large selection of frozen items.

Center Market

Alex Davis says the twice-weekly market will have plenty of options this week.

Davis will be bringing blueberry jam; cuts of pasture-raised pork; a huge selection of vegetables, including peas, salad mix, four varieties of beets, carrots in four colors, green beans, yellow beans and zucchini; eggs; Alaska Sprouts items; and barley products.

Duane Clark will be at the Wednesday market with grass-fed beef and yak, local honey, vegetables, apples. Clark will also be at Saturday's Muldoon Farmers Market and at The Rooftop Park downtown on Tuesday.

Farm 779 will have three varieties of coconut kefir, two types of kraut, vegetable blends, kombucha and other fermented foods on Wednesday. Look for Farm 779 at Saturday's South Anchorage Farmers Market.

Spenard Farmers Market

Market manager Andrea Trent says the market will be loaded with freshly harvested produce from Chugach Farm, Brown Dog Farm, Dinkel's Veggies, Black Bear Farm, the Ba-lescas Brothers, Simple Living Farm, Midnight Sun Farm and Seldovitch Family Farm.

Rob Wells, The Persistent Farmer, says the dahlia bloom is looking great. "Things are colorful and abundant in the dahlia world," he says. He will also be at the Anchorage Farmers Market on Saturday.

This week's market is a fundraiser for Bean's Cafe, which will be selling soup mixes and locally made pottery.

Northway Mall Wednesday Market

Dinkel's Veggies will be at the Northway Mall market on Wednesday, one of its three Wednesday markets, along with three Saturday markets, including the Downtown Market and Festival and the Muldoon Farmers Market.

"The veggies are looking great right now," Lesley Dinkel says. "Now that people are settling in to their more scheduled lifestyles with school and work, this is the time to really concentrate on good eating before we approach the flu season. Boosting one's immune system with nutrient packed local veggies should be a priority. Veggies can be eaten raw or steamed, and it doesn't take much to make Alaska-grown veggies taste good."

Some of the produce the Dinkels will have this week include carrots, tomatoes, pickling cucumbers, European cucumbers, broccoli, cabbage, green and yellow zucchini, strawberries, leaf lettuce, green beans, Yukon gold and red potatoes, cauliflower and sweet onions.

Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him at akmarketfresh@gmail.com.

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 Local farmers markets

Monday in the Valley: Colony Farmers Market, noon-7 p.m., Palmer Depot

Tuesday outside of Anchorage: Eagle River Farmers Market, 3-7 p.m., VFW Post parking lot; Farmers Fresh Market, 3-6 p.m., 33955 Community College Drive, Soldotna; Southside Community Farmer's Market, 4-7 p.m., Intercultural Assembly of God, Fairbanks

Wednesday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Northway Mall Wednesday Market, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Northway Mall; South Anchorage Wednesday Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Dimond Center

Wednesday outside of Anchorage: Homer Farmers Market, 2-6 p.m., Ocean Drive near the Washboard; Soldotna Wednesday Market, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Soldotna Creek Park; Tanana Valley Farmer's Market, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 2600 College Road, Fairbanks; Wasilla Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Iditapark, Wasilla

Thursday in Anchorage: APU Farmers Market, noon-6 p.m., 4101 University Drive

Thursday in Peters Creek: Peters Creek Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., American Legion Post 33, 21643 Old Glenn Highway

Friday outside of Anchorage: Willow Farmers Market, 2-7 p.m., Mile 69 Parks Highway

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Saturday in Anchorage: Anchorage Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 15th Avenue and Cordova Street; Anchorage Market & Festival, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Third Avenue and E Street; Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Muldoon Farmers Market, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Begich Middle School; South Anchorage Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., O'Malley Sports Center; Spenard Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 2555 Spenard Road

Saturday outside of Anchorage: Homer Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Ocean Drive near the Washboard; Kenai's Saturday Market, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 11471 Kenai Spur Highway; Nenana Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Civic Center on Main Street; Tanana Valley Farmer's Market, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 2600 College Road, Fairbanks

Sunday in Anchorage: Anchorage Market & Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Third Avenue and E Street

Sunday in Fairbanks: Tanana Valley Farmer's Market, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 2600 College Road

 
 

Steve Edwards

Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. He writes the Market Fresh column weekly and can be reached akmarketfresh@gmail.com.

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