Alaska News

Market Fresh: Alaska seafood choices abound for Father's Day

It's the second week of June, the fish are jumping and the fields are producing. It's a great time to be an Alaskan.

"Summer has begun, and with this weekend being Father's Day what better way to celebrate then engulfing the tops of your barbecue grills with fresh Alaskan seafood," says Dannon Southall of 10th & M Seafoods. "Salmon, mostly sockeyes, are starting to show up all over the state.

"From the pristine waters of Prince William Sound, fresh Alaskan shrimp will be in house on Friday. Pair either the fresh side-stripe or spot shrimp with any of other fresh Alaskan seafood available bathed in the warm Alaskan sun -- what father couldn't be happier?"

Southall says the sockeyes are $6.95 per pound for the whole fish and $9.95/pound for fillets. Southeast troll-caught king salmon are averaging 15 pounds per fish and are available head-on or as fillets.

Also look from several options from the Gulf of Alaska: fresh true cod and rockfish fillets will be in house for $6.95/pound and $9.95/pound, respectively. And halibut is $9.95/pound for headed and cleaned fish (averaging 10 to 20 pounds) or $17.95/pound for fillets.

At the markets

As always, the local farmer's markets have plenty to offer with a wide variety of locations and plenty of vendors.

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At the Spenard Farmers Market community service booths will feature the Alaska Marine Conservation Council and the Cooperative Extension Service.

Vendors include: Wildrose Alaska Natural Harvests with a special batch of raspberry habanero jam, locally grown pepper vinaigrette and will have honey bread; Ba-Lescas Brothers plan to have white turnips, lettuce, radishes, mustard greens and green onions; Brown Dog Farm will have spring mix, baby kale and arugula; Glacier Valley Farms will have Alaska-grown strawberries and turnips; Alaska Gourmet will be selling bacon wrapped beef tenderloin, double cut brined pork chops, fresh peach pie, salmon, crab and scallops; Chugach Farms will have mixed greens, artisan pesto, white turnips and blueberry kombucha; and Lance Lekander will have original art inspired by bugs, robots, skeletons and other creatures.

At the Center Market, on Wednesday Alaska Vegan & Gluten Free will have red lentil dahl topped with cilantro, carrot ginger soup, split pea soup, red beans and rice topped with pico de gallo, homemade tortilla chips and bread, along with some other options. A.D. Farm will be at both Wednesday and Saturday markets with fresh rhubarb, fresh eggs, barley products and a full lineup of pork, including chops, steak, fresh side, Italian sausage, ground pork, spicy sausage, breakfast sausage patties, fat, liver, chocks, trotters and head.

Look for Rise & Shine Bakery to make their first appearance of the year at the South Anchorage Farmers Market on Saturday.

They will have their signature levain, spent grain, Kalamata olive, fresh rosemary and fruited almond loaves. The fruited almond is "loaded with toasted almonds, dried apricots, cranberries and golden raisins. It's good for you, and great for breakfast, snacks and dessert," says bakery owner Alison Arians.

Rempel Family Farm will have turnips, certified organic arugula, green and purple mizuna, several kales, radishes, salad mix and a variety of last year's potatoes and some beets.

Seldovitsch Family Farm will have lettuces, arugula, basil, bok choy, cilantro, garlic and other items. They will also be at other venues, including the Mat-Su Farm Market on Monday and the Peters Creek Market on Thursday.

At the Anchorage Farmers Market, The Persistent Farmer will have a few dahlia starts and tumbler tomato hanging baskets.

Arctic Organics will have loads of fresh greens including pac choi, mizuna, mibuna, arugula (bunched and loose-leaf wild), greens mix and lettuces. They will also have hanging baskets, tomatoes, and apple trees.

Nominate Your Favorite Farmer

The Alaska Division of Agriculture wants to know about your favorite farmer.

They are seeking nominations for the 15th Annual Farm Family of the Year award that will be presented during the Alaska State Fair in August. The Alaska State Fair established the award in 2000 to honor an Alaska farming family that epitomizes the spirit of the industry and to show appreciation for all the hardworking Alaskans committed to agriculture and aquaculture in the state.

The 2013 award recipient was Vern Stockwell and Becky Gardner of Stockwell Farm located in Palmer.

Nominations are due June 17. The Farm Family selection committee will select a family using the following criteria: Production of quality Alaska grown products, community involvement, involvement in agriculture sector organizations and overall farm family image, farming history, and unique or special production.

Nominations will be judged by a selection committee of representatives from the USDA Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service; the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Natural Resources & Agriculture Sciences and Cooperative Extension Service; the Alaska State Fair; and the Division of Agriculture.

Submit nominations to:

Jacquelyn Schade -- Farm Family

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Alaska Division of Agriculture

1800 Glenn Hwy, Ste. 12

Palmer, AK 99645

Nominations can also be emailed to: Jacquelyn.Schade@alaska.gov.

Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him at sedwards@adn.com.

Local farmers markets

Monday: Mat-Su Farm Market, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Palmer Depot

Wednesday: APU Farmers Market, 1:30-6:30 p.m., 4101 University Drive; Center Market, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

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Thursday: Peters Creek American Legion Post 33 Farmers Market, 3-7 p.m., 21643 Old Glenn 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., The 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

By STEVE EDWARDS

Daily News correspondent

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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