Anchorage Daily News

If you aren't heading out of town fishing or clamming this holiday weekend, you'll likely be working in the garden. Either way, fresh Copper River salmon would be perfect on the grill.

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And the Copper River kings and reds are in.

Sure, they're a bit pricey early in the season when demand is high in Seattle and other Outside locations, but what better way to kick off summer and enjoy Memorial Day weekend then with salmon fresh off the grill.

"These sockeyes are a wonderful pairing with the fabulous weather we have had for barbecues," says Dannon Southall of 10th & M Seafoods.

10th & M has Copper River sockeyes for $15.95 a pound for headed and gutted fish and $21.95 a pound for fillets. The prized Copper River kings are $21.95 and $28.95 per pound for headed and gutted or fillets. Southall says there are still a small number of fish compared to demand, so the price is still steep.

For those looking for a more economical option, 10th & M has halibut at $5.95 per pound for headed and gutted fish, while the fillets are $10.95 per pound. Groundfish and exotic species will also be in the store this week.

If you're looking for some fresh veggies to pair with that fish, head to the Anchorage Farmers Market and the corner of 15th Avenue and Cordova Street from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Arctic Organics will have arugula, some lettuce and basil available for purchase. If you're thinking of getting your own garden growing, select from River and Sarah Bean's vegetable and flower seedlings and hanging baskets, with varieties specially suited for Alaska's unique climate. There also will be apple trees and tomato plants.

Vendors scheduled this week: Arctic Organics, Johnny Moose Farm, L&R greenhouses, Bushes Bunches, Aurora Nursery, Sun fire Farms, Turkey Red Cafe, AD Farm, Three Bears Farm. Additional items of interest: Fresh rustic breads, local dairy products -- including cheddar cheese, cheese curds, ice cream -- stored root crops, jams and jellies and, for gardeners, compost tea.

Sarah Bean has been enjoying the great weather. "Even if this glorious weather doesn't last all summer, it will still serve to give the summer growing season a great jump start! Onions, kale, kohlrabi, lettuces and Asian veggie transplantings have all take hold in the field. And more crops are going in behind them."

More information on all the local and statewide farmers markets is available at www.alaskafarmersmarkets.org.

Dale Walberg at Mile 5.2 Greenhouse in Eagle River can help you scratch your gardening itch with 20 varieties of herbs in six-packs and 4-inch pots, northern climate tomatoes, several varieties of chili peppers and a number of berry and fruit options, including, apple and cherry trees, raspberries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries, saskatoons, sea buckthorns and cranberries. Visit the greenhouse seven days a week or stop by the South Anchorage Farmers Market on Saturday, where Mile 5.2 will be one of the vendors.

It's nice to enjoy all the wonders of spring -- maybe even early summer if you want to call it that -- but some proper planning now can put food in your freezer for the winter months too.

Alex Davis from A.D. Farm will be at the Anchorage Farmers Market and the Downtown Market and Festival this weekend. He'll have raspberry plants, fresh eggs, sweet breads, cookies and some root vegetables. But the big news is he's taking deposits for butcher pigs slated for October delivery to your freezers. Don't miss out on this chance to get stocked up for the long winter months because they're coming -- even if it's too nice out now to think about it.

Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. If you have information for a future Market Fresh column, please e-mail sedwards@adn.com.

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