The yellowing leaves tell the story -- autumn is here, even if the equinox isn't until next week.
But the markets have a bounty of items.
From Rob Wells, The Persistent Farmer: "I will have lots of bouquets, still in great shape. … The plants are thriving with the mild weather we have been having." (Get his dahlias at the Center Market on Wednesday or the Anchorage Farmers Market on Saturday.)
From Sarah Bean of Arctic Organics: "Wonderful warm breezy weather is perfect for potato harvest!" (Get those potatoes and plenty more at the Anchorage Farmers Market.)
From Arthur Keyes: "The frost has nipped, but not killed the zucchini, so we will continue to have this summer treat later than usual. Yeah!" (Get those zucchini and other items at both South Anchorage Farmers Markets and the Spenard Farmers Market.)
Center Market
A new vendor is joining the cast of the Center Market on Wednesdays.
Sweet Caribou is a small, family-owned bakery focused on making tasty desserts from scratch. They have been busy throughout the summer at the Anchorage Market and Festival but now are switching to the Center Market.
"While we focus on making macaroons, cakes, cupcakes and other desserts for weddings, corporate and other special events when we are not at the market, we will be featuring our most popular item -- the Parisian macaroon -- on a weekly basis, along with selected cupcakes," says owner James Strong.
Among the macaroon offerings are After Dinner Mint, featuring a green shell, dark Belgian chocolate peppermint ganache and white chocolate peppermint ganache; and Strawberry Rhubarb, with a strawberry shell, strawberry buttercream and rhubarb compote.
Also new this week at both the Wednesday and Saturday markets will be Alaska rope-grown blue mussels from Alaska Shellfish Farms.
"They are harvested fresh every Tuesday and Friday," says market organizer Alex Davis. "The only way to get them fresher is to drive to Homer on harvest day!"
Davis' A.D. Farm will have a full load of autumn crops, including cauliflower, broccoli, fava beans, beets, cabbage, potatoes, kale, lettuce, carrots and other items. He also will feature Alaska-grown barley products and his pork items, including side and sausage.
Alaska Vegan & Gluten Free will have its full lineup of items, including soups, spaghetti sauce and bread. New this week is vegan parmesan cheese.
Farm 779 is bringing a double amount of its signature calming rosemary magnesium body butter, along with new seasonal water kefir soda and cacao quinoa tea cakes.
Anchorage Farmers Market
Vendors scheduled include Arctic Organics, Stockwell Farm, Persistent Farmer, VanderWeele Farms, Northern Flowers, Vang Family Home Garden, The Magpie farm to table fare and Turkey Red baked goods. The market accepts WIC and Senior Farmers' MarketNutrition Program vouchers, and Quest/SNAP cards.
Arctic Organics will have two new items this week -- Brussels sprouts on the stem and rutabagas! Other items include a wide variety of potatoes, celery, fennel, carrots, beets, red bell peppers, cauliflower, spinach, four types of kale, mustard greens, escarole, radicchio, sorrel, arugula, mache, herbs, cut flowers and other items.
South Anchorage Farmers Market
Nearly 20 vendors are on the schedule for Saturday's market. If you can't wait until then, Wednesday's market has four vendors at the Dimond Center parking lot.
Highlights include: Rempel Family Farm with loads of veggies, including cucumbers, beets, celery, kohlrabi, lettuces, turnips, arugula, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, seven varieties of potatoes and greens; Glacier Valley Farm will have zucchini, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, broccoli, carrots, Brussels sprouts and other items.
Spenard Farmers Market
The Spenard market is encouraging visiting via bike and participating in the Fall Equinox Spenard Bike Nation recreational bike ride.
Vendor highlights: Midnight Sun Farm with snow peas, sugar snap peas and rainbow carrots; Adina's Acres with jellies, jams, syrups, spices, apple cider vinegar and a sweet and sour sauce made with Dolga apples; Fresh International Gardens will have a salad mix, kale and carrots; Dinkel's Veggies will have broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes, carrots and potato varieties; and Spring Creek Farm will have onions, kale, fingerling potatoes, cherry tomatoes, sorrel, scallions and carrots.
Top Shelf Artisan Market
The Friday market in Palmer will feature hand rolled/cut pasta from La Grassa; Country Health Foods is fully stocked with shrimp, beef, pork and sprouts; A.D. Farm will bring root and leaf vegetables; and Farm 779 will have kefirs, kombuchas, local veggie krauts and rosemary magnesium body butter.
Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him at akmarketfresh@gmail.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: Top Shelf Market, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 550 S. Alaska Street; 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;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/Cellular One Sports Center 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
Alaska Dispatch Publishing