The snow-capped mountains surrounding Anchorage clearly show that the growing season is coming to a close. The chilly weather has already shut down some farmers markets and several others are in their final weeks.
And some vendors are seeking more comfortable environments.
Catherine's Cupcakes is moving indoors to the Center Market at The Mall at Sears on Saturdays.
Catherine Yang started the cupcake business a year ago with the goal of turning her gourmet cupcakes into a full-fledged bakery in the future.
"The cupcakes are made with very high quality ingredients," Yang says. "Our cupcakes are oversized and have stuff baked into the middle of the cupcake."
Some of the flavors to look for at Saturday's market include salted caramel and chocolate salted caramel, each with a caramel center; cookies and cream with an Oreo cookie baked into the center; and rocky road with a marshmallow center.
Alex Davis will be at both the Wednesday and Saturday markets with pork products, jams, fresh eggs, Alaska Sprouts items and barley products, along with loads of vegetables. The produce includes salad mix, tomatoes, cauliflower, kohlrabi, collards, beets, broccoli, lettuce, kale, rhubarb, chard, carrots in four colors and a variety of potatoes.
Farm 779 will be at Wednesday's market with "spicy hot ferments made with locally sourced veg," Julie Meer says. Look for kimchi, krauts, beet kvass, three varieties of coconut kefir, coconut-almond snacks and body care products. Farm 779 also will be at Saturday's South Anchorage Farmers Market.
Spenard Farmers Market
It's the last market of the season in Spenard. Market manager Andrea Trent says produce is the main feature, including potatoes, broccoli, carrots, spinach, cauliflower, zucchini, kale, chard, mixed greens, beets, radishes, onions, tomatoes, kohlrabi, turnips, cucumbers and squash.
"We'll also have artisan vendors, cooked food and live music to end the season with a bang," Trent says.
South Anchorage Farmers Market
Joan Johnson will have more than 40 varieties of jams and jellies at the Saturday market.
"For the fall, we will be featuring fresh-picked cranberry, marmalade, pear, and red and black currant," Johnson says. "We also have several different varieties of pepper jams that work well with crackers and cheese, for an easy appetizer."
La Grassa will be back at the market with a return engagement for the popular Alaska golden beet, goat cheese and almond ravioli. La Grassa also will have organic spinach and garlic and herb hand-cut noodles, along with Alaska broccoli and asiago ravioli, sweet potato gnocchetti, Alaska potato and caramelized onion vegan ravioli and vegan basil strozzapreti.
Rempel Family Farm will have yak meat that is raised on grass and organic vegetables. Produce includes 12 varieties of potatoes; orange, red and purple carrots; tomatoes; cauliflower; bok choi; napa cabbage; beet greens and beets; herbs; and several kinds of winter squash.
Anchorage Farmers Market
Sarah Bean of Arctic Organics and Rob Wells of the Persistent Farmer both will be at Saturday's Anchorage Farmers Market. And both say the autumn has been nearly perfect.
"The frost-free fall continues," Bean says. "Many of our crops are safe and sound in cold storage. If this benign weather keeps up, we'll get everything in before it gets frost nipped. 'Tis the season for stocking up on discounted quantities of potatoes, carrots and beets so we can make space for the rest of the crops coming in."
Bean says Arctic Organics will have a variety of potatoes available both loose and in 5-pound ($12.50) and 10-pound ($22.50) bags. Other root vegetables include carrots, rutabagas, beets, snow apple and purple top turnips, leeks, onions and daikon radishes. Other produce includes Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, green and red cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, red bell peppers, kohlrabi, kale, lettuces, dandelion greens and herbs.
"As summer fades to fall, the vivid colors that our dahlias bring to any room are more special as the fall colors fade into gray," Wells says. "We hope to heat the high tunnels through October to finish the market season with a beautiful array of blooms."
Wells' blooms are at the final three Anchorage Farmers Markets and also at the final Spenard Market this Saturday and at the Center Market on Wednesdays.
Northway Mall Wednesday Market
Dinkel's Veggies will be at the final Northway Mall market on Wednesday.
"We are excited about the quality of veggies we still have available at the end of September," Lesley Dinkel says. "You can still enjoy an amazing sandwich or salad with our ripe tomatoes. We think the flavor is fantastic and we have customers comment that they agree."
In addition to tomatoes, the Dinkels have carrots, broccoli, cabbage, Yukon gold potatoes and cauliflower. Also look for their veggies at Wasilla Lake on Wednesday and Saturday.
Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him at akmarketfresh@gmail.com.
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
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
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
Saturday in Anchorage: Anchorage Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 15th Avenue and Cordova Street; Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; 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; Nenana Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Civic Center on Main Street