As the calendar turns to July, it's time to add another weekday market to the lineup in Anchorage. The South Anchorage Wednesday Market at the Dimond Center opens this week.
The first market of the year will have produce and other items from Glacier Valley Farm, Stockwell Farm, Farm 779, Earthworks Farm and Far North Fungi. Julie Meer of Farm 779 says they will have vegan and gluten-free snacks, specialty kefir dips, kombucha teas and vegetable krauts and blends.
And Saturday's South Anchorage market continues to pack in vendors, visitors and produce.
"The vegetable vendors are coming on strong with the diversity of crops coming to the market increasing weekly," market founder Arthur Keyes says. "I had some fresh-picked strawberries from the market, and all I can say is, 'Wow!'"
Returning to the market on Saturday are Rise & Shine Bakery and Sweet Caribou. So get your bread and macaron fixes filled. Rise & Shine will have levain, spent grain sourdough, toasted walnut, Kalamata olive, and dark chocolate and cherry loaves.
Additional vendor highlights this week include:
Rempel Family Farm: Mark Rempel says "baby carrots are in! We will also have zucchini blossoms and fruit this week." Other produce from the Rempels includes snow apple turnips, cucumbers, bok choi, arugula, basil, spinach, mustard, salad mix, green cabbage, mizuna and mint. The Rempels also have grass- and veggie-fed yak meat.
Farm 779: The fermented vegetables will be abundant, including mild and hot krauts and kimchi, along with triple-fermented kombucha teas, coconut kefirs, kvass and snacks.
Arctic Choice: Look for red and white king salmon fillets, halibut, cod, rockfish, sablefish and other seafood choices like razor clams, scallops and king crab.
Wild Scoops: Look for pints, scoops or cups of unique Alaska flavors. This week, rhubarb crumble is one of the highlights. "We start with a creamy cinnamon and nutmeg base, and then we dollop in house-made rhubarb jam and sprinkle in our oaty streusel," owner Elissa Brown says.
Spenard Farmers Market
Market manager Andrea Trent says about 35 vendors will be at the market on Saturday and that ongoing road construction will not affect accessibility to the market.
"We're excited to welcome back Dinkels Veggies for the duration of the season," Trent says. "They will have two booths filled with broccoli, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini and strawberries."
Other vendor highlights include:
Alaska Marine Conservation Council: They will have freshly frozen halibut and dried salmon bites. "You'll have the opportunity to pre-order sockeye salmon from Bristol Bay."
Garden vendors: A variety of plants from Glacier City Gardener, Than Dickey, Lisa's Garden, A Touch of Dirt, Simple Living Farm and Green Thumb Succulents.
Produce vendors: Chugach Farm, Four Tern Farm, Wild Rose Natural Harvests, Alaska Seeds of Change, Brown Dog Farm and Ba-Lescas Brothers with a variety of items including arugula, spinach, Napa cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, mixed greens, turnips, chard, collards, kale, fresh herbs, honey and jams.
Mountain View Farmers Market
Market manager Maddi Akal says more than a dozen vendors are lined up for this week's market featuring "brightly colored displays of locally grown produce and handmade woodcraft goods.
"Our refugee farmers with Fresh International Gardens will have cookies, muffins, baklava and spice blends."
Other vendors include Black Bear Farm, Seldovitsch Farm, Vang Family Garden, Fire Island Bakery, Cali's Smokey BBQ & Soulfood and Hodge's Woodshop.
Thankful Thursdays
Meer says that "we are bringing back the bite" at the Thursday market inside The Mall at Sears. Farm 779 is featuring its Red Dragon Kraut, a blend of red cabbage and jalapeno. Also look for krauts featuring Alaska-grown beets and carrots, coconut kefir, dips and body items made from bee-produced products.
The Spice and Tea Exchange will be at the market with salts, blends and teas, while Country Health Foods' items will be there too, including broccoli and sunflower sprouts from Alaska Sprouts.
Anchorage Farmers Market
Sarah Bean of Arctic Organics says despite the less-than-ideal growing weather, they will have many of their "reliable things" like greens mix, fresh basil and lettuces at the market this week. Other produce to look for on Saturday includes spinach, kale, chard, collards, arugula, radishes, pac choi, kohlrabi, turnips and other items.
"We're ready for a new month and some truly summer weather," she says. "Many crops are surprising us with their stubbornly slow pace this year."
Other vendors include Brown Dog Farm, Ed & Tina's Krauts & Pickles, Fee's Seafood, Happy Valley Chickens' eggs, Mom's Garden, Seldovitsch Farm, Stockwell Farm, Sun Fire Ridge, Turkey Red Café breads and treats, and VanderWeele Farm.
Northway Mall Wednesday Market
Dinkel's Veggies will be at the Northway Mall from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday with a variety of produce, including tomatoes, green and yellow zucchini, lettuce, broccoli and strawberries.
The Dinkels also are at Wasilla Farmers Market on Wednesday, along with the Anchorage Market and Festival, Muldoon and Spenard farmers markets on Saturdays.
Center Market
Alex Davis says the pork lineup is loaded with thick-cut chops, ham steak and chorizo, along with several other cuts.
Davis also has chicken, duck and goose eggs; live lettuce; honey; grass-fed beef; and items from Evie's Brinery, Tonia's Biscotti, Mosquito Mama, Alaska Sprouts and Alaska Flour Co.
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., Eagle River VFW Post; Farmers Fresh Market, 3-6 p.m., 33955 Community College Drive, Soldotna
Wednesday in Anchorage: APU Farmers Market, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 4225 University Drive; Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Farmers Market at Airport Heights, 3-7 p.m., 2530 E. 16th Ave.; Northway Mall Wednesday Market, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Northway Mall; South Anchorage Wednesday Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., near Dimond Center Hotel
Wednesday outside of Anchorage: Highway's End Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Delta Junction; Homer Farmers Market, 2-6 p.m., Ocean Drive; Soldotna Wednesday Market, 11 a.m.-6 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
Thursday in Anchorage: Mountain View Farmers Market, 3-7 p.m., 3543 Mountain View Drive; Thankful Thursdays market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street
Thursday outside of Anchorage: Peters Creek Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., American Legion Post 33
Friday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Fourth Avenue Indoor Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 33 W. Fourth Ave., Suite 200
Saturday in Anchorage: Anchorage Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 15th Avenue and Cordova Street; Anchorage Market and Festival, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Third Avenue between C and E streets; Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Fourth Avenue Indoor Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 33 W. Fourth Ave., Suite 200; 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: Highway's End Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Delta Junction; Homer Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Ocean Drive; Kenai's Saturday Market, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center; Soldotna Saturday Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., East Corral Avenue and Kenai Spur Highway; Tanana Valley Farmer's Market, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 2600 College Road, Fairbanks
Sunday in Anchorage: Anchorage Market and Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Third Avenue between C and E streets; Fourth Avenue Indoor Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 33 W. Fourth Ave., Suite 200
Sunday outside of Anchorage: Tanana Valley Farmer's Market, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 2600 College Road, Fairbanks