The news that the Spenard Farmers Market is shutting down -- at least in its current form -- is a bit of a shock to the local farmers' market community.
The Spenard market was extremely popular and full of local vendors. And it was a volunteer effort. And those key volunteers are, quite honestly, exhausted after five years.
"Our decision came from many discussions, meetings, exploring options and even various recruitment efforts," says Cindy Shake, who was the market's community and media relations volunteer. "The bottom line is, while we had people who loved the market and would drop by to assist here and there, what was always needed was that historical knowledge to lead the drop-in volunteers, and that fell to one of the core six, time and time again.
"I think that while everyone agreed that market was amazing, what it actually took to be amazing was the pooling of talents of our core group all done on our off-hours because all of us have day jobs."
It's possible the market may return with new leadership. Regardless, celebrate the fun and funky market -- a true reflection of its community.
Center Market
Not all farmers' market news is disappointing. Look to the twice-weekly Center Market for lots of good news this week. The year-round market continues to impress with its local options.
Kristin Donaldson will be at Wednesday's market with her handmade foods from Alaska Vegan & Gluten Free.
Donaldson recently made some ingredient adjustments to her menu.
"The fact that our bread and frozen dough balls are now totally corn free is a big deal and is a change we made a couple weeks ago due to popular request," she says. "We use a combination of arrowroot and tapioca instead of cornstarch.
"This move officially takes corn out of all of our products. This move also makes me really proud and reminds me to say loudly that AVGF is totally free of the usual suspects that make people sick: gluten, wheat, animal products, corn, soy and dairy."
This week's menu includes: Moroccan tagine (butternut squash, onion, red pepper, zucchini, garlic, tomato, garbanzo beans, apricot and spices), glazed lentil walnut apple meatless loaf (lentils, apple, carrot, celery, onion, garlic, raisins, walnuts, flax seed and spices), red lentil dahl (red lentils, onion, garlic, red jalapeno, tomato, vegetable stock and spices), carrot ginger soup (carrot, ginger, shallot, vegetable stock and spices), bread with or without rosemary (sorghum flour, yeast, arrowroot, tapioca, hemp seed, flax seed and spices), frozen bread dough ball with vegan parmesan side (sorghum flour, yeast, arrowroot, tapioca, hemp seed, flax seed, spices, nutritional yeast and almonds), red beans and rice, spaghetti sauce and pico de gallo.
Also on Wednesday, look for Earthworks Farm with moisturizing cream made with beeswax and honey, along with a new lotion bar and soap.
Sweet Caribou will be on hand with plenty of sweet treats -- Parisian macarons, cupcakes, sugar cookies and brownies. Highlights include chocolate and fleur-de-sel caramel macarons filled with made-from-scratch salted-caramel cream; chocolate cherry macarons with almond and cocoa shells, cherry and Belgian chocolate ganache; and pomegranate lime cupcakes with lime vanilla cake, lime curd and pomegranate buttercream.
La Grassa will be at both markets this week with a variety of pastas, including vegan basil strozzapreti; mushroom and ricotta ravioli; broccoli, kohlrabi and cheddar ravioli; and Alaskan potato gnocchi.
Drool Central will be at both markets this week, with some additional items for dogs. "I've added two types of probiotic products with homemade kefirs," Daisy Nicolas says. "The Probiotic Fido has homemade kefir from wholesome milk, organic blueberry puree, organic coconut flour, fresh whole eggs and organic unsulfured, molasses. I tested this at the Connor's Bog dog park and the pups went begging. The new version of Pup Kakes has homemade kefir from local raw goat milk I purchase from Lunachick Farms in Chickaloon."
Alex Davis of A.D. Farm will have beets, potatoes and carrots, along with pork products, fresh eggs and items from Alaska Flour Co., including whole barley, barley cereal and roasted barley. Davis also carries produce from Rempel Family Farm on Wednesday.
The Rempels will be at the market themselves on Saturday with yak meat, carrots, beets, cabbage, daikon radishes, turnips, kohlrabi, stripetti squash, parsnips and 12 varieties of potatoes.
Last week, Davis had his head shaved during the market in memory of his son, Gideon, who died of a rare pediatric cancer and to raise awareness of the St. Baldrick's Foundation. He reports that several people have signed up in support of the April 15 shave at the market. Here is the donation page for the Center Market: www.stbaldricks.org/events/CenterMarketStBaldricksDay.
Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him at akmarketfresh@gmail.com.
Local farmers markets
Monday: Depot Farm Market, noon to 6 p.m., Palmer Depot
Wednesday: Center Market, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street
Friday: Top Shelf Artisan Market, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 550 S. Alaska Street, Palmer
Saturday: Center Market, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street