Food and Drink

Market Fresh: With frost on the horizon, it's time to stock up on summer veggies

As we sprint toward September, there is one thought on the minds of Alaska farmers: the temperature.

Here is a sample of reports from the folks who know all about the first frost.

"The mornings are definitely chilly and we have been near a frost two times this past week," says Carol Kenley of Kenley's Alaskan Vegetables. "It's a reminder that our season is going to end all too soon."

"There's a chill in the air and frost is soon to follow but the market continues under the windmill in Spenard through the end of September," says Rene Haag of the Spenard Farmers Market.

"The nip of cool fall weather is in the air," says Lesley Dinkel of Dinkel's Veggies, while offering a tip. "What's better than a soup filled with veggies from your local farm market?"

"It was 36 degrees last night," says Arthur Keyes of Glacier Valley Farm. "The rhythm of this season is rapidly changing. Anyone who has enjoyed the fresh summer veggies like zucchini, lettuce and strawberries needs to fill up this week. Frost could be just around the corner, and that will mean the end of our summer veggies and the beginning of the harvest of our world class storage crops!"

Consider yourself warned.

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Here are some market highlights.

South Anchorage Farmers Markets

The Wednesday lineup includes Glacier Valley Farm, Kenley's Alaskan Vegetables, Arctic Wonder, Stockwell Family Farm, Earthworks Farm and Drool Central.

Kenley's and Arctic Wonder are out on Saturday, but there are loads of other vendors that join the fun, including Country Garden Farms, VanderWeele Farm, Rempel Family Farm, Northern Flowers, Three Bears Farm, Alaska Herb Farm, Sun Circle Farm, Sweet Water Farm, Joan's Salmon Burgers, La Grassa, Mat Valley Meats, Arctic Choice Seafoods and Rise & Shine Bakery.

La Grassa will unveil a new sweet corn, goat cheese and chive ravioli at Saturday's market. They also will feature broccoli and asiago ravioli, zucchini gnocchetti and other items at both Saturday's South market and the Center Market on Wednesday.

Rempel Family Farm will have new Brussels sprouts and winter squash this week, along with orange and purple carrots, sugar snap peas, lettuces, artichokes, green beans, green and purple bunch onions, red cabbage, basil, arugula, cress, cilantro, collards, new potatoes, green onions and flowers among other items.

On Wednesday, Kenley says they will have a new variety of corn. "It has lovely long ears. This variety is named polar super sweet," she says. "That is a great name for this corn. Of the varieties we plant, it is the last to mature and many years we don't have warm enough weather for it fill out and if it does it is usually not ready until mid-September. That it is ready now is another testament to what a great summer we have had!"

Kenley also will have a large selection of herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, peas, cauliflower, cabbage, beets and other items.

Anchorage Farmers Market

There will be lots of color at the Arctic Organics booth at the market.

"Colored cauliflower is back," says Sarah Bean. "We've got white, yellow, purple and green Romanesco cauliflower. Add to that the red, golden and pink Chioggia beets. Then carrots, red onions, purple and green cabbage, purple and green kohlrabi, rainbow chard … amid all the green broccoli, salad greens options, kales."

In addition to those choices, Arctic Organics will have zucchini, peas, radishes, arugula, mache, lettuce and herbs.

Other vendors at the market include Northern Flowers, Persistent Farmer, Rivergarden Flowers, Stockwell Farm, Seldovitsch Farm, VanderWeele Farm, Vang Family Garden, ACAT compost tea and Turkey Red baked goods.

Center Market

Alex Davis of A.D. Farm will bring a feast from the fields, including green beans, wax beans, four varieties of carrots, collards, tomatoes, lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, cabbage and kale. He'll also have pork products, including ribs, chops, roast, Italian sausage, fat and skin.

Alaska Vegan & Gluten Free will be at Wednesday's market with a fresh supply of soups and other foods. "Alex at A.D. Farm has a robust selection of beets and carrots right now, so we're bringing back our much loved roasted beet and sweet potato soup and our yellow carrot ginger soup," says Kristin Donaldson. Some other items off the menu include lentil vegetable soup, pico de gallo, spaghetti sauce and bread.

Alaska Black Cod will be at both markets with black cod and Copper River salmon, both smoked and fresh choices. "Customers recently asked for raw black cod steaks," says Lynn Clarke. "We brought steaks in last Saturday and sold out."

Black cod steaks are $13.50 per pound. Also look for Alaska Black Cod at the Spenard Farmers Market.

Duane Clark of Country Health Foods will have a large selection of Alaska apples "ranging from sweet to tart to perfect for sauce," he says. He'll also have grass-fed beef and yak, heirloom tomatoes, Alaska Sprouts items, cucumbers, herbs, local honey, salsa, jams and zucchini relish. He'll be at Wednesday's Center Market and at Saturday's Muldoon market.

Spenard Farmers Market

"We will have bushels of root veggies this Saturday, great for roasting with a little olive oil and herbs. Fill you home with the comforting smells of homemade soups and roasted vegetables and pick up a fresh loaf of bread from Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop to round out your dinner," Haag says.

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Look for cucumbers, onions, zucchini, lettuce and cabbage along with artisan cheese, honey and pickled vegetables. Saturday is Art Day at the market; along with musical entertainment, the market will have plein air painters creating works of art.

Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him at akmarketfresh@gmail.com.

Alaska farmers markets

Monday in Palmer: Depot Farm Market, noon-6 p.m., Palmer Depot

Tuesday out of town: Eagle River Farmers Market, 3-7 p.m., VFW Post Parking Lot, Eagle River; Farmers Fresh Market, 3-6 p.m., Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, Soldtona

Wednesday in Anchorage: Alaska Pacific University Farmers Market, 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m., APU campus in front of Grant Hall; Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Northway Mall Wednesday Market, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Northway Mall; South Anchorage Wednesday Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Dimond Center

Wednesday out of town: Homer Farmers Market, 3-6 p.m., Ocean Drive; Soldotna Wednesday Market, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Soldotna Creek Park; Tanana Valley Farmers Market, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 2600 College Road, Fairbanks; Wasilla Farmers Market, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Nelson and Weber streets intersection

Thursday in Anchorage: Duane's Top Shelf Artisan Market, 3-7 p.m., Holy Cross Catholic Church, 2627 Lore Road

Thursday in Peter's Creek: Peter's Creek Farmers Market, 3-7 p.m., American Legion Post 33, Old Glenn Highway

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Friday in Willow: Willow Farmer's Market, 2-7 p.m., Mile 68 Parks Hwy.

Saturday in Anchorage: Anchorage Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Central Lutheran Church, 15th Avenue and Cordova Street; Anchorage Market and Festival, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Third Avenue between C and E streets; Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Muldoon Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2p.m., Begich Middle School, 7440 Creekside Center Drive; South Anchorage Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., O'Malley Sports Complex at the corner of Old Seward Highway and O'Malley Road; Spenard Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Spenard Road and 26th Avenue

Saturday out of town: Central Kenai Peninsula Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Kenai Spur Highway and East Corral Street, Soldotna; Homer Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Ocean Drive; Kenai's Saturday Market, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center; Tanana Valley Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 2600 College Road, Fairbanks.

Sunday in Anchorage: Anchorage Market and Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Third Avenue between C and E streets

Sunday in Fairbanks: Tanana Valley Farmers Market, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 2600 College Road

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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