For Sarah Bean of Arctic Organics and the Anchorage Farmers Market, it's time to say, "Farewell, summer."
That's happening this weekend, as Arctic Organics' farm stand at 1305 N. Smith Road in Palmer and the Anchorage Farmers Market both shut down for the season. The farm stand is open 5-7 p.m. Friday.
"It's been a particularly benign autumn, without the usual unbearably cold last markets — knock on wood — to convince shoppers that it's time to stop for the season," Bean said..
Arctic Organics will have a large selection of potatoes, including Yukon gold, magic Myrna, yellow Finn, Desirée, red French fingerling, magic Molly purple and mini mix. Other items include orange, yellow and purple carrots; red, golden and Chioggia beets; purple top and snow apple turnips; Brussels sprouts; cabbage; celery; leeks; onions; tomatoes; peppers; cucumbers; zucchini; broccoli shoots; kohlrabi; baby lettuce mix; mustard greens; collards; chard; arugula; and herbs, including end-of-season bulk basil in half-pound bags.
Arctic Organics also is preparing for its winter special orders, which Bean says will begin Oct. 24. More information on the deliveries is available at arcticorganics.com.
Rob Wells, "The Persistent Farmer," is bring dahlia blooms to the final market of the season. "Thanks to the gentle, extended fall, the flowers continue to open and shine," he said.
Northway Mall Wednesday Market
"We are still selling," Lesley Dinkel of Dinkel's Veggies said as most outdoor markets are shutting down.
The Dinkels will have carrots, cabbage, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, sweet onions, cauliflower and pumpkins at the Northway Mall on Wednesday. They also will be at Wasilla Lake from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Wednesday and Saturday.
Thankful Thursdays
Indoor shoppers will find a nice selection of items at the Thankful Thursdays market inside the Midtown Mall.
Farm 779 will have just the right answer for turmeric lovers — turmeric kombucha, turmeric kraut and turmeric kefir. Farm 779 also has plenty of krauts, kvass, coconut kefirs and "fat bombs" in Kona coffee and cacao chip flavors. From the canine-oriented side of the business, look for food for dogs, including locally raised beef pucks or chubs.
Elderberry Essentials is bringing a new vegan-keto friendly jar cake to the market. The cake is covered in an organic elderberry-blueberry sauce. They will also have their regular items, including three blends of elderberry syrup, elderberry glycerite and gummies.
Harvest Point Farm will have microgreens, salad greens, carrots and lavender. Duane Clark has grass-fed beef cuts and offers special-order quarters, sides or whole beef. Clark also has local raw honey and salsa.
Center Market
Alex Davis of AD Farm says as the season winds down, there is plenty of work to do at the farm.
"Potato harvest is done, as are orange carrots, and hopefully one or two other varieties will be in storage for your continued eating pleasure all winter," he said.
This week at the market, Davis has carrots in four colors, beets, Brussels sprouts, red and green cabbage, five varieties of cauliflower, salad mix, kale, Yukon gold potatoes, German butterball potatoes, fiesta potatoes, peanut potatoes and magic Molly potatoes. His pork cuts include chops, roast, fresh side, breakfast sausage, spicy sausage, Italian sausage, chorizo, hocks, soup bones, fat, 40-pound custom meat boxes and half and whole hogs available by special order.
Local farmers markets
Wednesday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Midtown Mall, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Northway Mall Wednesday Market, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Northway Mall
Thursday in Anchorage: Thankful Thursdays market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Midtown Mall, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street
Thursday outside of Anchorage: Peters Creek Farmers Market, 3-7 p.m., 21426 Old Glenn Highway, Chugiak
Friday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Midtown Mall, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street
Saturday in Anchorage: Anchorage Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 15th Avenue and Cordova Street; Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Midtown Mall, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street