The Top Shelf Artisan Market returns to the Valley on Friday.
The market is open 2-7 p.m. Friday at the MTA Sports Center just off the Palmer-Wasilla Highway at 1507 N. Double B St.
"The Valley's petite powerhouse specialty market returns with local favorites Jonesers Teas & Nectars, Duane's Country Health Foods and Farm 779," says market organizer Julie Meer.
Duane Clark's Country Health Foods will have fresh local honey and honeycomb; jams; salsa; zucchini relish; locally grown carrots, beets and potatoes, along with grass-fed beef and yak; Alaska Sprouts and La Grassa items.
Jonesers will have Alaska handmade nectar and loose-leaf tea from locally sourced flowers, berries, herbs, roots and chaga mushrooms. Farm 779 will have ferments, snacks and "that one and only coconut kefir," Meer says. "Farm 779 uses only locally sourced sustainable and/or organic veg sourced from Remple Farm and A.D. Farm in their Old World style kvass and Ayurvedic krauts. We will be well-stocked with coconut and apiary based body products with minerals and essential oils to soothe and heal."
Center Market
The Wednesday and Saturday markets will be busy this week.
Alex Davis of A.D. Farm will be at both markets with a selection of produce, pork and other items. The pork lineup includes suckling pigs, loin roast, pork chops, fresh side sliced and slab, ground pork, Italian sausage, spicy sausage, breakfast sausage patties, ribs, roast, bones, fat, liver, feet and hocks. Produce includes a variety of carrots, beets and potatoes, along with cabbage. Davis also will have items from Alaska Sprouts and Alaska Flour Co.
Sweet Caribou will be at both markets with macarons and cupcakes. Owner James Strong says macarons are the perfect post-Thanksgiving sweet treat, "Looking for a lighter indulgence in the post-Thanksgiving-leftovers coma? Macarons are only around a hundred calories a cookie," he says.
Sweet Caribou is introducing two flavors this week -- cookies and cream and strawberry vanilla. Other flavors include triple lemon, blood orange, passionfruit, Mexican hot chocolate, Summit Spice chai tea, blueberry hibiscus, rose lychee, passionfruit orange guava, chocolate peanut butter, strawberry lemonade and after-dinner mint. Cupcakes are campfire delight, winter whiteout and snowshoe hare.
La Grassa will be at both markets. Pasta offerings include spinach, original and white wine saffron hand-cut noodles, all available as fettuccine, tagliatelle and pappardelle. Other items include vegan sourdough strozzapreti, Alaska potato gnocchi, sautéed mushroom ravioli, Alaska squash and pecorino ravioli, and vegan white bean and kale ravioli.
Farm 779 will be at both markets with fair trade organic cacao and cashew truffles, which Meer says sold out quickly last week. They also have four choices in Old World style kvass, kraut, coconut kefirs, food grade body products and other items.
On Saturday, the Rempel Family Farm will have 12 varieties of potatoes, six kinds of winter squash, three varieties of beets, carrots , red and green cabbage, parsnips, daikon, sugar pumpkins and snow apple turnips.
Country Health Foods is scheduled for Wednesday's market with grass-fed beef and yak, local honey and honeycomb, salsa, zucchini relish and jams.
From the sea
Dannon Southall of 10th & M Seafoods says things have been slow for the anglers.
"Kind of quiet on the seafood front with everyone taking a few days off last week to be thankful for all the wonderful seafood our state has to offer," he says. "With that being said we are seeing some fresh troll kings coming in from Southeast. They have been able to land a few and luckily there are a good number of whites mixed.
"Fresh salmon would be a great way to break up all of the turkey leftover meals."
One of the fresh seafood highlights is Gulf of Alaska cod.
"We are also getting ready all of the wonderful holiday packages we have to offer to ship all over the United States," Southall says. "There are packages ranging from just king crab to a mix of amazing Alaskan seafood products."
UAA Crafts Fair
Several regular farmers' market vendors will be at the University of Alaska Anchorage Crafts Fair on Saturday. The event is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Student Union.
One of the vendors at the crafts fair is Drool Central with fresh-baked treats, fresh frozen meals and holiday gifts for canine friends. The crafts fair offers more than 100 booths with gift items galore.
Local farmers markets
Monday in the Valley: 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
Friday in the Valley: Top Shelf Farmers Market, 2-7 p.m., 1507 N. Double B St., Palmer
Saturday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street
Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him at akmarketfresh@gmail.com.