We're in the middle of National Farmers Market Week, which continues through Saturday. So get out and enjoy the variety offered locally.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture sponsors the annual week that highlights locally produced food. The USDA also has an online Farmers Market Directory that includes more than 8,200 markets around the country.
While Alaska doesn't stack up to the 760-plus markets in California, there are still plenty of markets and lots of choices from the vendors.
"It's National Farmers Market Week with piles of produce waiting for our loyal customers," says Cindy Shake, community and media relations volunteer for the Spenard Farmers Market.
Here are some of the market highlights:
Center Market
Look for cookies at the market from Alaska Vegan & Gluten Free and Choose Food Wisely.
"Julie Meers and I are going to do our Happy Healthy Cookie Day together this Wednesday," says Kristin Donaldson of Alaska Vegan and Gluten Free. "She's going do her sprouted quinoa cacao tea cakes and I'm going to do vegan and gluten-free chocolate chip cookies that taste just like the old-fashioned kind we all had as kids. I will most likely make them a regular part of my menu going forward."
The rest of Donaldson's menu includes soups, red beans and brown rice, spaghetti sauce, corn tortilla chips and breads. Choose Food Wisely will also have non-dairy coconut kefir, black chai kombucha tea and "a surprise or two," Meers says.
Country Health Foods will have strawberries, smoked black cod, smoked salmon, shrimp, tomatoes, cucumbers, jams and Alaska Sprouts products.
Duane Clark says it's time to start looking for honey, too.
"This season's honey is starting to show up at market," he says. "This summer has been a better season than most in Southcentral for bees to do their jobs, since we have had a more temperate climate with consistent rains and sunny stretches. Many beekeepers like to show and sell their honey at the State Fair later this month; after that more is available to bring to market."
South Anchorage Farmers Market
About 20 vendors are scheduled for the market on Saturday, with a special showing of antique tractors.
"The Antique Power Club will be back this weekend with their impressive collection of restored antique tractors," says market organizer Arthur Keyes. "This is a great opportunity to bring the kids and get a picture with these beautiful tractors.
"Also, we will be having a WineStyles benefit for the Alaska Farmland Trust this weekend."
Vendors include: Rempel Family Farm with tons of vegetables, including green beans, sugar snap peas, kohlrabi, lettuces, turnips, arugula, basil, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, beets and loads of herbs; Arctic Choice with seafood options including red king crab; and Rise & Shine Bakery with levain, spent grain, onion rye, chocolate cherry and fruited almonds sourdough loaves. Some other vendors include VanderWeele Farm, Earthworks Farm, Stockwell Family Farm, Joan's Salmon Burgers, Mat-Valley Meats and Northern Lights Mushrooms.
Anchorage Farmers Market
Sarah Bean of Arctic Organics says to look for new purple and yellow cauliflower, Chinese cabbage and turnip greens this week. Returning vegetables include white cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli heads and shoots, daikon radish, kohlrabi, spinach, four varieties of kale, collards, rainbow chard, mustard greens, watercress, herbs, fresh-cut flowers, apple trees and other items.
Joining Arctic Organics this week will be Stockwell Farm, VanderWeele Farms, Northern Flowers, Vang Family Home Garden, The Persistent Farmer, The Magpie farm to table fare and Turkey Red baked goods.
"The Dahlias are continuing to start their bloom and I should have over 200 stems on Saturday," says Rob Wells, The Persistent Farmer. "Come early, as I sold out last week by 1."
Spenard Farmers Market
Shake says one of this week's highlights is the arrival of the Spenard Farmers Market T-shirts.
The vendors will have full tables and booths. "It's peak produce time and over 40 vendors are busy with all things fresh and original," Shake says.
Highlights include: Dinkel's Veggies with carrots, sugar snap peas, tomatoes, strawberries, cauliflower, green beans and zucchini; Spring Creek Farm with snow peas and plum tomatoes; Ba-Lescas Brothers with green fava beans, rainbow beans, a variety of snap peas, blossom salad and squash blossom; Glacier Valley Farm with Romanescu cauliflower, chocolate dipped strawberries and variety of Alaska Sprouts products; Willow Designs with art pieces, hair clips, stuffed animals and wool dryer balls made from reclaimed fiber; Fire Island Bakeshop; Capriccio Specialties; Yeti Dogs; Glacier Seafoods; Urban Bamboo and other vendors.
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
Tuesday: Eagle River Farmers Market, VFW, 3-7 p.m.
Wednesday: APU Farmers Market, 1:30-6:30 p.m., 4101 University Drive; Center Market, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Northway Mall Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Northway Mall; South Anchorage Wednesday Market, Dimond Center, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wasilla Farmers Market, near Wasilla Wonderland Park, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday: Peters Creek American Legion Post 33 Farmers Market, 3-7 p.m., 21643 Old Glenn Highway
Friday: 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; Homer Famers Market, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ocean Drive; South Anchorage Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Subway/AT&T Sports Pavilion at the corner of Old Seward Highway and O'Malley Road; Saturday Eagle River Farmers Market, Mike's Meats in Eagle River, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 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