Fresh snow and fresh fish -- that's the theme this week.
"What a wonderful week to enjoy fresh Alaska seafood," says Dannon Southall of 10th & M Seafoods in Anchorage. "Even though the snow is falling outside and temps are below freezing, we have amazing selection of fresh Alaska seafood to choose from."
At the top of Southall's list is fresh troll-caught king salmon from Southeast. "Salmon have been a very hard find this winter. The weather has finally started to ease up a little in Southeast, allowing the guys to get out and fish, instead of being beat up while fishing."
Pricing is not yet available on the salmon as the fish hit the docks in Southeast on Tuesday morning.
Southall expects to have both head-on fish and fillets. It's possible some white kings will be available, but he suggests calling to verify.
Also fresh this week are yellow eye rockfish from the Gulf of Alaska. "These amazing rockfish fillets are considered to be the best of the rockfish family," Southall said. They are $9.95 per pound.
Also available are fresh Alaska true cod for $5.95 a pound and plenty of exotic fish, including fresh marlin, tuna and mahi-mahi.
John Jackson at New Sagaya Markets has similar good news to report on the seafood front.
"Fresh cod is still in and looking real nice," he said. "Alaska rock fish has been making occasional appearances as well. Fresh side-stripe shrimp out of Southeast were beautiful last week and they moved out quick. We are still looking at getting more of the shrimp in by Thursday or Friday for the weekend.
"Talking about fresh and beautiful, Southeast bairdi crab will be fresh in our seafood department by Thursday or Friday. ... In my opinion these large cousins of the snow crab are some of the best eating crab in Alaska."
At the Center Market
There are still plenty of options at the winter farmers market inside The Mall at Sears. The Center Market is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.
This week, the Rempel Family Farm will have certified organic stripetti squash, carrots, parsnips, three varieties of beets and seven varieties of potatoes.
Duane Clark of Country Health Foods will have his items, along with those by Alex Davis of A.D. Farm. Clark's items include frozen Alaska seafood, grass-fed beef, locally raised chicken, locally produced honey and goat cheese.
A.D. Farms items include yellow, purple and white carrots; three varieties of beets; peanut, German butterball and French fingerling potatoes; and parsnips. Also available will be cuts of pork, jams and fresh eggs.
Monday night, Hott Stixx restaurant hosted a fundraiser for Davis' son, Gideon. Another event is possible after Fur Rondy wraps up.
Here is Clark's report of the fundrasier: "Spent a great evening at Hott Stixx with our great customers and met some new ones. There was a lot of great support for Alex and Kathy. Mike (Dodge) and Rob (Kinneen) and the staff at Hott Stixx did a fantastic job hosting the event."
Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. If you have a suggestion for a future Market Fresh column, please contact him at sedwards@adn.com.
By STEVE EDWARDS
Daily News correspondent