Alaska News

Market Fresh: Market options grow slender as farmers ready for winter

Valley farmer Alex Davis sums up the farmers market world in a few words this week.

"And so the routine for late fall and winter begins," he says.

For farmers, it means pulling the very last of the produce from the ground.

For shoppers, it means more limited options when picking a market. But there are still markets to visit, including the Center Market, the one Davis operates at the Mall at Sears. The Center Market is indoors and open Wednesdays and Saturdays year-round.

Davis will be bringing some of the 12,000 pounds of carrots he harvested last week. He'll also have other fall vegetables, including red and green cabbage, beets, three varieties of potatoes and Brussels sprouts. His pork lineup includes chops, roast, fresh side-pork, Italian sausage, breakfast sausage, ground pork, liver, hocks, soup bones, fat and skin. Davis will have fresh eggs, along with fresh pies from A Pie Stop, microgreens from Alaska Sprouts and barley products from Alaska Flour Co.

Alaska Black Cod will be at both markets this week with smoked black cod portions, tips and collars, along with smoked Copper River salmon. Ready for the grill or oven portions of black cod and salmon are also available. New starting this week are "frozen at sea" scallops, raw king salmon cut in small portions and Pacific cod, which Lynn Clarke says is "great for fish tacos."

Farm 779 will have a variety of freshly fermented items available at the market. "We ran out of many things last week, so plan to come early to fill your bags," says Julie Meer. "We will have our own spicy and sweet kimchi, fermented coconut products known as c-kefirs and that one-of-a-kind, lip-smackin' Karnivore Kraut."

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Puppy products

Daisy Nicolas of Drool Central is setting up here own venue in the Carrs Huffman Shopping Center.

Nicolas will sell fresh-baked and dehydrated dog treats and fresh-frozen dog meals from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays near the Oaken Keg.

Veggies to order

While the market season is closed down for Arctic Organics, Sarah Bean says the veggies are still there. And a couple of clicks on the computer will get them delivered for you.

"The vegetables we have tucked away in cold storage are available by special order while supplies last," Bean says. "We send out an email every weekend listing the week's offerings. We pack the veggies for pickup at the farm, in two Anchorage locations and at highway exits in between, on Wednesday afternoons."

Follow this link to get on the email list: http://eepurl.com/gCa-L. Orders need to be in by Tuesday evening before delivery day. The first special order delivery will be Oct. 21. It will be the biggest selection of the fall/winter season with carrots, kale, collards, cabbage, beets, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, turnips, rutabagas, kohlrabi and other items.

And a final “thank you”

The South Anchorage Farmers Market is done for the season, but operator Arthur Keyes had to send in an email thanking all the loyal customers who make farmers markets so great.

"We had a great 10th season at the South Anchorage Farmers Market. We set a record for farmer and vendor participation this season and it was all made possible because of our fantastic South Anchorage Farmers Market customers, or should I say 'family,'" Keyes says. "This past Saturday was our final market of 2015. It was jam-packed with 'hellos' and 'goodbyes' and so many hugs I couldn't keep count. It can best be described as a day of sensory overload. And from the smiles I saw all over the market I believe this experience was shared by all who came. What a great day!"

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

Wednesday in Anchorage: Alaska Pacific University Farmers Market, 1:30-6:30 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

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

Saturday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The 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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