Alex Davis is already thinking ahead to the Easter dinner table. And he has something special at the Center Market in preparation.
"We have a special treat for you for Easter," he said. "We will sell our bone-in loin roast for half off. Every market day from now until Easter."
Davis is at the Center Market Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. And he has more than just the loin roast available. Other cuts of his pasture-raised pork include chops, fresh side, ribs, liver, bratwurst, ground pork, a variety of sausages, feet and hocks.
Davis also has orange and purple carrots, four varieties of potatoes, goose and chicken eggs, raspberry jam, honey, grass-fed beef, live Alaska-grown lettuce, Alaska Sprouts items, Alaska barley products, Tonia's Biscottis and a variety of items from Evie's Brinery, including Alaska kimchi, lemon and dill kraut, and ginger citrus carrots.
Other vendors lined up for various Center Markets this week include Rempel Family Farm, The Persistent Farmer, Far North Fungi and Catherine's Cupcakes.
Rob Wells, The Persistent Farmer, will be back at Saturday's market with the last of his Alaska dahlia tubers. "Customers can look for closeout sale prices and by getting them planted this weekend should still enjoy success with these late summer bloomers," he said.
The Rempels will be at Saturday's market with grass- and veggie-fed yak meat and a selection of storage vegetables. Veggies include purple carrots, green cabbage, purple onions, snow apple turnips, kohlrabi, winter squash, parsnips and 12 varieties of potatoes.
Far North Fungi will be at the Wednesday and Saturday markets with fresh and dried blue oyster mushrooms.
Catherine's Cupcakes will be at all three markets this week with salted caramel, butterscotch, chocolate lover, chocolate sundae, cinnamon roll, and cookies and cream cupcakes.
Thankful Thursdays
The Thursday market will have meats, dog treats, probiotic foods and eggs among its many items.
Drool Central's Daisy Nicolas will be at the market with crunchy treats for dogs, including her fresh-baked "Pumpkin Chicken Muttfins" and "pupsicles" made from chicken and wild Alaska salmon broths.
Duane Clark will have Alaska beef, yak and seafood; honey and honeycomb; jams; salsa; zucchini relish; and a large supply of Clear Alaskan Glacier Water.
Farm 779 will have a large selection of probiotic foods, including regular, double thick, citrus and turmeric coconut kefirs, along with a "small batch" of cashew kefir, said owner Julie Meer.
"Dragon Kraut is back for spring," she said. "A beautiful magenta color with a little fire bite of flavor of this salt brine kraut make it an absolute springtime market favorite."
Other food options include several krauts, Yensis onions, kimchi, kombucha, beet kvass and vegan snacks. Meer also has body care items at her booth.
Non Essentials will be at the market with chicken and duck eggs, zucchini breads, pies and a large selection of specialty vinegars and oils.
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