Culture

Bees are buzzing and farmers markets are launching into summer

Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of the planting season.
That means it's time to get to the farmers markets and stock up on plants for summer. The good news is there are lots of options. And the weather has been more than favorable.

"This rain is doing wonders for seed germination and alleviating transplant shock, as we fill our field with seeds and veggie starts," says Sarah Bean of Arctic Organics and the Anchorage Farmers Market. "The weather is finally almost fully settled, just in time for Memorial Day weekend! In spite of the 'early spring' we've all been marveling about, in the end, Memorial Day still reigns as the safe planting weekend this year.

"For gardeners we'll have vegetable and flower seedlings and potato starts, whose varieties are well-suited to Alaskan growing conditions."

And Dee Barker from Earthworks Farm says the bees are proving that our early spring is quickly turning into summer.

"This year, our apple trees by our back door are laden with blossoms and they are 'humming' noisily with all the bees from our hives that are bumping heads with the bumble bees," Barker says. "It is quite the cacophony! Summer has arrived. We are very grateful for the rains we've had as this is the time we usually experience drought, making it difficult to care for our seedlings in the fields. So far they are doing well with the combination of rain and sun we've had."

Some of the market highlights include the following.

South Anchorage Farmers Market

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Fresh Copper River salmon will be available for holiday weekend grillers.

"The wait is over," says Kristy Schenk of Arctic Choice. "We're excited to have fresh Copper River sockeye salmon available in a variety of forms. Copper River sockeye salmon will go perfect with pastas and fresh vegetables sold at the market.

"Also starting to make an appearance is the sweet, sushi grade side stripe shrimp out of Prince William Sound."

Schenk says Arctic Choice also will have a variety of fresh and frozen seafood this week.

Sweet Caribou will be featuring its signature cupcake, "campfire delight," this week. "For this sweet treat, marshmallows are toasted to perfection, made into a filling and inserted into a Belgian chocolate cupcake," owner James Strong says. "They are then topped with a malt chocolate buttercream. They are perfect for the first holiday weekend of the summer! We will also have our solstice special, chinook classic and German chocolate cupcakes, along with toffee blondies, chocolate brownies, mixed berry bars and hazelnut chocolate rice krispy treats."

Sweet Caribou's macaron lineup includes chocolate lovers, chocolate vanilla, creamsicle, orange carrot ginger, rose lychee, passionfruit and chocolate raspberry.

Earthworks Farm will have several honey-based products, including a new handmade liquid shampoo infused with honey, hair conditioner, perfumes and skin care products, along with Valley produced honey.

Other vendors lined up for Saturday include: Three Bears Farm, Wild Scoops, Joan's Salmon Burgers, Gray Owl Farm, Flattop Farm, Sweet Water Farm, Drool Central, Non Essentials, Pam's Veggies, Farm 779, Alaska Pasta, Sweet and Sassy Kettle Corn, The Blue Poppy, All Wood Brand Pellets, Northern Flowers, Country Garden Farm, Joan's Jams and Jellies, Mat Valley Meats, La Grassa, Mary Jane's Cinnamon Rolls and Glacier Valley Farm.

Center Market

Alex Davis will be at both the Wednesday and Saturday markets with the perfect pork for the grill, including bratwurst, suckling pigs, loin roast, pork chops, fresh side and other options, including sausage.

Davis also will have storage carrots, eggs, Alaska Sprouts items including basil and tofu, and Alaska Flour Co. barley products.

La Grassa will have a large selection of pastas at the Center Market on Wednesday, including a new broccolini, roasted garlic and mozzarella ravioli. Other choices include vegan basil strozzapreti; goat cheese and herb ravioli; vegan sweet potato and cashew ricotta ravioli; mushroom gnocchetti; and original and spinach hand-cut noodles.

Country Health Foods will be at the Wednesday market with beef, yak and lamb cuts, along with salsa, zucchini relish, honey and jams.

Farm 779 is featuring its new body balm with helichrysum oil, along with Lazy Mountain gold and rosemary magnesium. Food products include coconut kefirs, fermented Valley source vegetable krauts, kombucha, kvass and their "Perfect Snack. Farm 779 will be at Wednesday's market.

Also on Wednesday, Sweet Caribou will have macarons, cupcakes and other sweet treats.

Spenard Farmers Market

This weekend's vendors include Chugach Farm, Brown Dog Farm and Simple Living Farm with fresh greens and vegetables. And the Spenard Jazzfest will provide music.

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"Perennial plants and flowering annuals will be abundant; you'll also find locally produced organic Alaska salmon fertilizer for your garden or greenhouse," market manager Andrea Trent says.

"This week we'll be debuting fermented probiotic beverages from Alaska Wild Culture and delicious varieties of curries and soups from N&P Thai Thai Kitchen. Unique to Spenard, you will find steam punk bling from Silver Linings Treasures and scandalous feminine accessories from VivaVoom Brr-lesque."

Anchorage Farmers Market

Vendors scheduled this week include Arctic Organics, Brown Dog Farm, Northern Flowers, Persistent Farmer, Seldovitch Farm, Alaska Sea Ag fertilizers and Turkey Red baked goods.

Bean says Arctic Organics will have tomato plants; an assortment of petunia, nasturtium, herb and mixed flower hanging baskets; fertilizer blends; and basil, arugula and lettuce.

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

Local farmers markets

Monday in the Valley: Colony Farmers Market, noon-7 p.m., Palmer Depot

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

Wednesday in Fairbanks: Tanana Valley Farmer's Market, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 2600 College Road

Friday in the Valley: Friday Fling, 10-5 p.m., across from the Visitor's Center

Saturday in Anchorage: Anchorage Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 15th Avenue and Cordova Street; Anchorage Market & Festival, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Third Avenue and E Street; Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; 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
Saturday in Fairbanks: Tanana Valley Farmer's Market, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 2600 College Road

Sunday in Anchorage: Anchorage Market & Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Third Avenue and E Street

Sunday in Fairbanks: Tanana Valley Farmer's Market, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 2600 College Road

Steve Edwards

Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. He writes the Market Fresh column weekly and can be reached akmarketfresh@gmail.com.

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