We Alaskans

Market Fresh: Say 'I love you' with king crab and Alaska confections

This weekend there is a little holiday centered around sweets and flowers.

For those who want to put an Alaska twist on any Valentine's Day plans – there are plenty of options at the local stores and markets.

Center Market vendors with specials for the holiday include Sweet Caribou, Monica's Confection Connection and Earthworks Farm. And the fishmongers aren't going to be left out either, as Dannon Southall of 10th & M Seafoods says they are "getting geared up for the holiday of love."

And while it's far too early for Alaska-grown dahlias, Rob Wells says it's time to act for the perfect summer flowers. Who needs roses when you can have summer dahlias?

Sweet Treats at the market

"Sweet Caribou is excited for Valentine's," James Strong says. Not surprisingly, they have put together a special 16-piece box for the holiday with heart-covered macarons. Flavors include passionfruit, red velvet, rose lychee, chocolate lovers, chocolate covered strawberry, chocolate cherry, raspberry lemonade, birthday cake, salted caramel and milk chocolate passionfruit.

The love theme continues with cupcakes – red velvet with hearts and pink lemonade – and heart-shaped sugar cookies.

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"Not to be left out, we have a favorite for the guys -- Sweet 'Bou Samoas," Strong says. "These bars (shortbread, Belgian chocolate ganache and salted coconut caramel) are often requested but not often made, due to all the love and care that goes into making them."

Strong recommends preordering for the busy weekend. Text Sweet Caribou at 907-223-5160 with an order. They will be at both the Wednesday and Saturday Center Market at the Mall at Sears.

Earthworks Farm will be at the market with a full lineup of beeswax and honey body care products. "We will have special Valentine's holiday features, including two molded honey soaps, Hot Lips cinnamon and clove lip balm and various packaging options for the romantic at heart," owner Dee Barker says. Earthworks Farm will be at both markets this week.

Monica Droz says "we are stocked up for Valentine's Day" with a load of brittles. Look for Droz on Wednesday and Saturday.

Other market vendors

Not all vendors at the local farmers' markets are so sweets-centered.

Alaska Black Cod will be at both Center Markets with smoked black cod and smoked salmon, along with frozen lingcod, halibut, scallops, black cod, salmon and yelloweye rockfish.

"This is still soup weather, so come and get your fish stock, sold in quart-size bags, and don't forget to pick up local vegetables that you can add to your soup," Lynn Clarke says. "We'll have some recipes too."

Alex Davis of A.D. Farm will have his usual lineup of pork, including chops, loin roast, sausage, fat, liver and feet; storage vegetables (carrots, beets and potatoes); eggs; sprouts and other items from Alaska Sprouts; and barley products. Davis is at both the Wednesday and Saturday markets.

Country Health Foods will have grass-fed beef and yak, local honey and salsa at Wednesday's market. Those items also will be at the MTA Sports Center in the Valley on Friday and Saturday at Duane's Top Shelf Artisan Market.

On Saturday, Rempel Family Farm will have a variety of produce, including carrots, beets, potatoes, daikon radishes, snow apple turnips, parsnips, green cabbage, winter squash and sugar pumpkins. The Rempels also will have yak meat.

Farm 779 will also join the market both days with a large variety of fermented foods. They also will be at the MTA Sports Center on Friday.

If you're in love … with seafood

It's not sweet, but seafood might just hit the spot. "This week we will have a wonderful selection of both fresh and frozen seafood to wow your better half," Southall says. "The weather has been hit or miss in Southeast Alaska. The fisherman have been able to get out a few times to target both troll kings and side stripe shrimp."

Look for kings and shrimp all week at 10th & M.

And what looks good next to those tasty Southeast treats? Red king crab.

Legs and claws are $26.95 a pound.

"There is no better way to say an Alaskan 'I love you,' then two of the king crab legs paired next to a filet of fresh troll king salmon," Southall says.

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Thinking about dahlias

Rob Wells, The Persistent Farmer, says he is "waking up my Alaska grown dahlia tubers." And while a freshly awoken tuber isn't available for Valentine's Day, an order can be placed.

By the first of March, Wells plans to have the tubers at the Center Market. Check out thepersistentfarmer.com for flower options.

"I have a limited supply and some varieties are already sold out, so don't delay," Wells says.

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

Local farmers markets

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

Wednesday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

Friday in the Valley: Duane's Top Shelf Farmers Market, 2-7 p.m., 1507 N. Double B St., Palmer

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Saturday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

Saturday in the Valley: Duane's Top Shelf Farmers Market, noon-7 p.m., 1507 N. Double B St., Palmer

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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