Not into fishing? Direct order sockeye has begun. Plus, our warm summer means beautiful berries are headed to the farmers markets

Catch 49, the Alaska Marine Conservation Council’s community supported fishery, is back and this summer Alaskans can choose from two iconic sockeye fisheries — Copper River and Bristol Bay — to fill their freezers.

In addition to the two sockeye fisheries, customers can purchase shares of Kodiak jig rockfish, Gulf of Alaska halibut and Southeast coonstripe shrimp. The ordering period closes on Aug. 5.

Catch 49’s program funds the nonprofit Alaska Marine Conservation Council’s efforts to protect Alaska’s marine ecosystems and promote healthy, ocean-dependent coastal communities.

Anchorage customers can pick up their seafood every Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. at Catch 49’s new distribution location, 636 E. 15th Ave., in the former Wild Scoops test kitchen. Customers outside Anchorage can pick up their seafood at designated dates beginning Aug. 8 in Fairbanks, Aug. 10 in Seward, Aug. 17 in Homer and a date to be determined in the Mat-Su Valley.

To order or for more additional information, visit catch49.org.

Food preservation classes

The Cooperative Extension Service is offering a series of food preservation classes in Anchorage.

Classes are 6-7:30 p.m. Thursdays in the Loussac Library Learning Commons on the fourth floor of the library. Gina Dionne, of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service, will teach the classes.

Class lineup includes:

- Jams and jellies, July 25

- Pickles, flavored vinegars and sauerkraut, Aug. 8

- Dehydrating fruits and vegetables, Aug. 22

- Packaging foods to be frozen, Sept. 12

- Introduction to canning, Sept. 26

Classes are $25 each, or the full series of five classes for $100.

Registration and more details are available at bit.ly/AOC_Harvest. For more information, contact the Anchorage Extension office at 907-786-6300 or Dionne at gddionne@alaska.edu.

Farmers market highlights

The summertime harvest continues to grow, with raspberries showing up at multiple markets.

Spenard Farmers Market: Mark Butler says the “growing season is fully underway” and the market will have multiple produce vendors, including Chugach Farms, Four Tern Farm, Dinkel’s Veggies, Midnight Sun Farm, Wildrose, the Pickle People and Mallard Handcrafted.

Mark Dinkel says the highlights are tomatoes and raspberries. “Our tomatoes are at their best right now. Lots of them with great flavor,” Dinkel says. “The super-warm weather of July has produced the best tasting and most bountiful supply of raspberries I’ve seen in years.”

South Anchorage and Midtown farmers markets: Barb Landi says “cauliflower in all the rainbow colors are now on stage plus green beans including yellow and purple shades. A few things we don’t see often are garlic and fennel: Vang Farms and Anchor Point Produce both have garlic, and Harvest Point farm has fennel.”

Landi says the Peony Coop returns to the market, too. Rempel Family Farm has raspberries, green beans and new potatoes in addition to their wide variety of other produce.

Anchorage Farmers Market: Ben Swimm says to be on the “lookout for the first Alaskan honey of the year, as Nunaka Valley Honey will be at market with their locally raised product.” Swimm’s own Brown Dog Farm has first-of-the-year sunflowers at the market, which will be included in many of their mixed bouquets this week.

Muldoon Farmers Market: The list of produce at the Muldoon market is lengthy and includes several new items, including carrots, red and golden beets, new potatoes, strawberries and raspberries.

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

Local farmers markets

Friday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Midtown Mall

Friday outside of Anchorage: Palmer Friday Fling, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., South Valley Way

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; Anchorage Midtown Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., BP Alaska; Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Midtown Mall; Jewel Lake Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 8427 Jewel Lake Road; Muldoon Farmers Market, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Chanshtnu Muldoon Park; 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 outside of Anchorage: Healy Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Mile 249.2 Parks Highway; Highway’s End Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Delta Junction; Homer Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Ocean Drive; Tanana Valley Farmer’s Market, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 2600 College Road, Fairbanks

Sunday in Anchorage: Anchorage Market and Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Third Avenue between C and E streets

Tuesday outside of Anchorage: Food Bank Farmers Market, 3-6 p.m., Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, 33955 Community College Drive, Soldotna

Wednesday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Midtown Mall; Northway Mall Market, 9a.m.-4 p.m., 3101 Penland Parkway; South Anchorage Wednesday Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., near Dimond Center Hotel; Wednesday Market at Airport Heights, 3-7 p.m., Fire Island Rustic Bake Shop, 2530 E. 16th Ave.

Wednesday outside of Anchorage: Highway’s End Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Delta Junction; Homer Farmers Market, 2-5 p.m., Ocean Drive; Soldotna Wednesday Market, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Soldotna Creek Park; Tanana Valley Farmer’s Market, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 2600 College Road, Fairbanks; Wasilla Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Iditapark/Wonerland Park

Thursday in Anchorage: Thankful Thursdays market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Midtown Mall

Thursday outside of Anchorage: Peters Creek Farmers Market, 3-7 p.m., American Legion Post 33, 21426 Old Glenn Highway