Alaska News

Market Fresh: First outdoor market opens Saturday

The first outdoor farmers market opens on Saturday. It must be time to really celebrate spring!

It's early, so don't expect loads of lettuce at the Anchorage Farmers Market at the corner of 15th Avenue and Cordova Street. But come 9 a.m. Saturday, the market will be open for business.

"Most of the market vendors will be selling plants and fertilizer for gardeners -- bedding plants, perennial plants, hanging baskets," says Sarah Bean of Arctic Organics and the market organizer. "There will be a few early produce offerings as well.

"It's another painless breakup this year, and we're hoping to till and plant the field before the weather changes its mind! It's time to get those early seeds and plants in! We will be bringing the first taste of arugula and basil from our greenhouse to market this weekend."

Bean says they will have a large selection of tomato plants, including Siberian types suited for growing in Alaska and classic greenhouse varieties.

In addition to Arctic Organics, look for these vendors on Saturday: Bushes Bunches, Seldovitsch Farm, The Persistent Farmer, Rivergarden, Turkey Red Café & Bakery and Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) with compost tea.

"I will be there with eight varieties of tomato starts, four types of certified seed potatoes and a few varieties of extra dahlia starts," says Rob Wells, The Persistent Farmer. "I'll be in every week till a mid-summer break."

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Center Market

Put your sweet tooth purchase toward a good cause this week at the Center Market at the Mall at Sears.

Sweet Caribou has a new Farmer's Market Special cupcake made with A.D. Farm Alaska carrots, local Valley eggs and an orange cream cheese frosting. All proceeds from the sale of the special cupcake will go to the International Medical Corps, which is supporting earthquake relief in Nepal.

"These locally sourced lovelies are $5 each, and are available Wednesday and Saturday," Sweet Caribou owner James Strong says. "Alaskans know the destruction that can accompany earthquakes and our hearts go out to the Nepal earthquake survivors."

Strong says Sweet Caribou has been selling out of its macarons and other treats and recommends pre-ordering through the company's Facebook page.

Wednesday's treats feature a new dairy-free blood orange macaron. Other Wednesday macarons include after-dinner mint, chocolate vanilla, Mexican hot chocolate, strawberry lemonade and passionfruit-orange-guava and white chocolate. There is another new macaron on Saturday's menu -- blueberry hibiscus!

Farm 779 will have something new this week. "If you are watching your glycemic index and love bakery treats, we have what you crave," Julie Meer says. "New from Farm 779 this week is Cinnamon Hunny Bun in a bag. Inspired to keep balance in your metabolism and nourish your digestive system and brain."

Farm 779 also will have its regular items including locally sourced vegetable ayurvedic karnivore kraut, coconut kefirs, kefir soda and other items.

Alaska Black Cod will be at the market both Wednesday and Saturday with a special on fresh smoked black cod bellies for $12 per pound and raw teriyaki marinated black cod collars for $10/pound. They also will have fresh headed and gutted black cod.

La Grassa will have a wide variety of pastas at both markets, including feta and kale ravioli, parsnip ricotta and fine herbs ravioli and ricotta cavatelli. Country Health Foods will be at both markets with grass-fed beef, yak, coon-stripe shrimp, local honey, honeycomb and Alaska Spouts items. A.D. Farm will be at both markets with potatoes, carrots, pork items, fresh eggs and Alaska Flour Co. items.

Other vendors include: Monica's Confection Connection, which will make its last appearance at the market until October as they jump into the summer schedule; Alaska Vegan & Gluten Free with its regular lineup of meals on Wednesday, including lentil vegetable soup and Moroccan tagine; and Drool Central on Wednesday with treats for dogs.

Top Shelf Artisan Market

Top Shelf Artisan Market in Palmer will feature Farm 779's newest item: Cinnamon Hunny Bun. Jonesers will be at the market with hand-blended nectars and teas. Country Health Foods will have a variety of meats, sprouts, salsa and sundries.

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 5 p.m., 550 S. Alaska Street, Palmer

Saturday: Anchorage Farmers Market, Central Lutheran Church, 15th Avenue and Cordova Street, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Center Market, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

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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