There's now a farmers market in Midtown Anchorage 4 days a week

The Mall at Sears is an indoor shopping extravaganza with four weekly farmers markets — Wednesday through Saturday. Freshly grown Alaska chives or kale? Check. Cashew kefir? Yep. And "salmon roll" dog treats? Yes, again.

The Center Market sets up inside the mall on Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays. And the appropriately named Thankful Thursdays has vendors at the mall on Thursdays.

Thankful Thursdays

Farm 779's Julie Meer said cashew kefir "is all the rage" this week at her booth. It's "silky, delicious and packed with lacto-fermented goodness," she said. Also look for regular, turmeric, citrus and double-thick coconut kefirs; old-world-style salt brine ferments featuring Alaska-grown vegetables; beet kvass; ginger and turmeric kombucha; vegan and gluten-free snacks including chocolate and cacao double chocolate cookies; and coconut and bee-based body products.

Alaska Pasta Co. will be featuring gluten-free fettuccine and five varieties of ravioli: smoked salmon, three cheese, butternut, "kitchen sink" and garlic chicken with tarragon.

Non Essentials will be at the market with specialty bread loaves, pies and birch and berry syrups. Also at the Non Essentials booth — chicken and duck eggs by the dozen and a variety of infused oils and vinegars.

Duane Clark will have salsa, jams, zucchini relish, honey, honeycomb, seafood, and grass-fed beef and yak.

Daisy Nicolas of Drool Central will have those salmon roll dog treats, featuring Alaska salmon skins, along with other crunchy treats for your canines. Nicolas will only be at the market until 2 p.m., so don't dally.

Center Market

Time is running out to get dahlia tubers from The Persistent Farmer. "I will be planting mine this week, so that means in April I will need to stay close to home in the greenhouses," Rob Wells said. He will be at the market on Wednesday and Saturday. He will have a wide variety with him this week; Wells also offers to start the growing process by planting tubers and delivering them in May.

Alaska Seeds of Change will be at Wednesday's market with fresh Alaska-grown greens, including bok choy, chervil, chives, kale, a lettuce mix and Swiss chard. The greens are freshly harvested Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning. They are at the market from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. only.

Monica's Confection Connection will be at all three markets with a wide variety of sweet treats, including gourmet brittles, regular and salted caramels, gummies and fudge. Among the fudge flavors are root beer and mint chocolate.

Need more for that sweet tooth? Catherine's Cupcakes also plans to be at all three markets with the newest cupcake flavor — butterscotch. Other cupcake options include salted caramel, chocolate lover, chocolate sundae, and cookies and cream.

Alex Davis will be at the market with his booth stocked with a little bit of everything from Alaska: grass-fed beef; Alaska-grown vegetables, including fresh live lettuce; honey; Tonia's Biscotti items; Alaska Sprouts selections; Alaska kimchi from Evie's Brinery; eggs; and, of course, his pasture-raised pork. Davis' pork cuts include bratwurst, loin roast, chops, fresh side sliced and slab, ground pork, Italian sausage, spicy sausage, breakfast sausage patties, ribs, roast, bone for broth, fat for rendering, liver, feet and hocks. He also is taking orders for whole or half hogs set for butcher later this spring.

Earthworks Farm will be at all three markets featuring Alaska Muleskinner soap, which includes spruce needles as a cleaning abrasive. They will also have their beeswax and honey moisturizing cream and other body care items.

On Wednesday and Saturday, Far North Fungi will have fresh blue oyster mushrooms, as well as dried blue oysters and powdered oyster mushrooms, which Gabriel DeGange said is "great for sauces or use as a breading substitute."

Rempel Family Farm will be at Saturday's market with orange and purple carrots, green cabbage, purple onions, turnips, kohlrabi, winter squash, parsnips and potatoes.

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

Local farmers markets

Monday in the Valley: Colony Farmers Market, noon-6 p.m., 610 S. Valley Way, Palmer

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

Thursday in Anchorage: Thankful Thursdays market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

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

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