As May marches on, the list of farmers market options continues to grow. This week, the Spenard Farmers Market joins the fun.
"Spenard Farmers Market kicks off this Saturday under the windmill in beautiful, downtown Spenard, Alaska, with a wide range of tasty, Alaska-grown and caught products," market chairperson Mark Butler says.
Among the Spenard highlights this weekend are fresh shrimp from Prince William Sound by Glacier Seafoods; Wild Rose Harvest with berry-flower honey, wild berry and hot pepper jams, black current vinegar, herb planters and honey-herb dog treats; honey, rhubarb plants and raspberry starts from Midnight Sun Farms; and Northern Flowers with hanging baskets, dahlias and perennials.
Anchorage Farmers Market
The Anchorage Farmers Market is back for week three, and Sarah Bean of Arctic Organics says "gardening season is ramping up, as is planting season on the farm! The wind has finally abated enough to spread fertilizer and compost without it blowing away before it hits the field, paving the way for transplanting the first crops of the year."
Bean says Arctic Organics will have fresh arugula at the market, along with plenty of vegetable and flower seedlings, including tomato plants. The tomatoes include "many Siberian types bred for growing outdoors in the far north, and classic greenhouse types as well."
Other vendors lined up for Saturday include AD Farm, Ed & Tina's Kraut & Pickling, Happy Valley Chickens' eggs, Matanuska Gardens, Northern Flowers, Persistent Farmer, Seldovitch Farm, Shaggy Mane Shroomery, Sun Fire Ridge and Turkey Red Café with breads and treats.
South Anchorage Farmers Market
Arthur Keyes of the South Anchorage market says last week's opening was full of surprises, and customers should expect more.
"The surprise on Saturday was from Matt Hale of Harvest Point Farms," Keyes says. "He brought a beautiful selection of fresh-picked radishes and leafy greens. He is doing a fantastic job out there at his Point Mackenzie farm. The Harvest Point Farm booth will be a reason for customers to come early to see what surprises Matt brings with him."
New to the market this week is Wild Scoops. They will have pre-packaged pints of local ice cream along with cones and cups.
"We love highlighting Alaskan products and ingredients from other local farmers and businesses," says owner Elissa Brown. "We collaborate with many of the other vendors at the market."
This week's ice cream flavor lineup includes Yukon Gold, made with homemade Alaska potato chip toffee and a fudge ripple; Wild Blueberry, made with Alaskan blueberries; and Chaga Chocolate Meringue, made with chaga from Far North Fungi, along with steeped shiitakes "to enhance the mushroomy flavor, and then throw in homemade chocolate meringues and fudge," Brown says.
Arctic Choice will have a nice selection of Alaska seafood, including halibut and rockfish, both in fillets and stuffed portions; side stripe and spot shrimp, black cod, Copper River salmon, and oysters.
Daisy Nicolas of Drool Central will be at the market with a variety of dog treats including her "Cohohitos," dried Alaska salmon skin with meat.
Earthworks Farm will have a full lineup of Abeille Alaska beeswax and honey body care products, along with "glazing honey," which owner Dee Barker describes as "honey that has been extracted from wax cappings and as a result has had some heat applied. This is still a great 'out of season' honey that is suitable for culinary purposes."
Thankful Thursdays
There will be raw dog food, Denali Dog Treats, Alaska Sprouts, local honey, fresh chicken and goose eggs, salsa, Alaska seafood, grass fed beef and birch syrup. Rosie's Pasta will be there with angel hair, fettuccini, pasta bowls and spinach spirals and there will be glacier water for sale as well.
Farm 779 will have coconut kefirs, fermented krauts, kvass, kombucha, keto snacks and food-grade body products at the Thursday market. Farm 779 is also at Saturday's South Anchorage market.
Center Market
AD Farm will be at all three indoor markets with his regular lineup of pork cuts (chops, sausage, loin roast, bone, fat and more), some storage potatoes and carrots, raspberry jam, pumpkin butter, raw honey and eggs — chicken, duck, goose, turkey and guinea.
Also look for these items and vendors: Alaska Sprouts, Alaska Flour Co., Evie's Brinery, Mosquito Mama, Windy River Farm, Tonia's Biscotti, Jonsers and Monica's Confection Connection.
Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him at akmarketfresh@gmail.com.
Local farmers markets
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; Fourth Avenue Indoor Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 333 W. Fourth Ave.
Saturday in Anchorage: Anchorage Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 15th Avenue and Cordova Street; Anchorage Market and Festival, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Third Avenue between C and E streets; Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Fourth Avenue Indoor Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 333 W. Fourth Ave.; South Anchorage Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., O'Malley Sports Center; Spenard Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 2555 Spenard Road
Sunday in Anchorage: Anchorage Market and Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Third Avenue between C and E streets; Fourth Avenue Indoor Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 333 W. Fourth Ave.