One of the most exciting weeks of the year is here – the Copper River salmon fishery opened Monday.
But don't expect an overload of fresh salmon at the stores right away.
"It looks like fishing was not very good Monday in the first opener of the Copper River," says Dannon Southall of 10th & M Seafoods. "Fisherman were able to catch a few sockeye and king salmon. We will have both headed and cleaned sockeye and kings in house all week."
While the Copper River is a little slow, Southall says the Gulf of Alaska is producing an array of fresh seafood, including fresh halibut, cod and black cod. Fresh headed and cleaned halibut in the 10- to 20-pound range is $10.95 per pound, while cod filets are $5.95/pound and black cod filets are $14.95/pound. Fresh shrimp will be in the store this week too, Southall says.
At the markets
The growing season continues to sprout, with another market opening on Friday – the Friday Fling in Palmer.
The farmers are taking advantage of great conditions.
"We're making the most of the extended planting season this year, loving the warm weather and working around the wind," says Sarah Bean of Arctic Organics and the Anchorage Farmers Market.
And Rob Wells of the The Persistent Farmer says "I am still wrapping my head around the earliest spring I've seen."
Here are some of the market highlights.
South Anchorage Farmers Market: With 20 vendors lined up for Saturday, there will be plenty of options for marketgoers.
Arctic Choice will have fresh Copper River salmon as dressed fish, whole filets, 1-pound filets and stuffed portions. Other seafood options include frozen salmon, halibut and cod.
Earthworks Farm will have a variety of body care items, including their orange sherbet Bundt and crazy cupcake soaps, along with a honey-scented shower gel. Dee Barker says they also will have "gourmet" honey from the Valley.
La Grassa will have a variety of pastas, including vegan basil strozzapreti; goat cheese and herb ravioli; vegan sweet potato and cashew ricotta ravioli; kale, leek and feta ravioli; asparagus and fontina cheese ravioli; and mushroom gnocchetti.
Sweet Caribou will have a variety of sweet treats, including macarons, cupcakes, brownies, Rice Krispie treats and granola bars. The macaron lineup includes passionfruit, birthday cake, triple lemon, red velvet, passionfruit-orange-guava, mocha and Almond Joy.
Spenard Farmers Market: The market highlights food, music, art and a little bit of everything – perfect for Spenard. Music is provided by the artists of Spenard Jazz Fest.
"The market will be loaded with perennial plants, herbs and flowers, handmade yard art, locally grown vegetables, freshly baked bread and pies and a large variety of local artisan vendors," said market manager Andrea Trent. "We will also have fresh Alaska wild-caught seafood and shrimp. Artist Duke Russell will be at the market painting portraits and selling prints of 'The Spenardian.' We are also excited to have a new food vendor who will be cooking up traditional southern Cajun and Creole offerings from Mimi's Kitchen."
Anchorage Farmers Market: Vendors scheduled this week are Arctic Organics, Bushes Bunches, Northern Flowers, The Persistent Farmer, Seldovitch Farm, Alaska Sea Ag fertilizers and Turkey Red baked goods.
Arctic Organics will have arugula and lettuce from the greenhouse, along with vegetable and flower seedlings and potato starts, whose varieties are well-suited to Alaska growing conditions. Bean says he also will have an assortment of petunia, nasturtium, herb and mixed flower hanging baskets, and fertilizers.
The Persistent Farmer will have seed potatoes, a variety of tomato plant starts, stevia plants in terra cotta pots and a selection of dahlia plants.
Center Market: The indoor market features vendors on both Wednesday and Saturday.
A.D. Farm will be at both markets and Alex Davis says he has a 44-pound pig in the freezer that's perfect for a summertime barbecue. He also has half and whole hogs for special order. At the market, he will have bratwurst, suckling pigs, loin roast, pork chops, ground pork, sausage and other cuts. Davis also has carrots, eggs, Alaska Sprouts items and Alaska Flour Co. barley products.
Farm 779 will be at Wednesday's market with whole food probiotics, including ginger kombucha, Valley-sourced certified organic vegetable krauts, beet kvass, three varieties of creamy coconut kefir and an almond coconut snack mix. Julie Meer says they will introduce a new body product this week featuring helichrysum oil. Look for Farm 779 at Saturday's South Anchorage Market too.
Also on Wednesday, look for Alaska Black Cod with a variety of seafood options, including Prince William Sound side stripe shrimp; Sweet Caribou with macarons and other treats; and Country Health Foods with beef, yak, lamb, honey and salsa.
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
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: Duane's Top Shelf Farmers Market, 2-7 p.m., 1507 N. Double B St., Palmer; 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