Farmers markets are open in communities across Alaska, selling locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Many parents come to the markets with their children, and we’ve come up with a way to keep kids busy and learning about what’s growing in local farms. Bring our Farmers Market Bingo Card and make a game of trying to find three items in a row or all of the items on the card.
Farmers Markets are cropping up across Alaska and becoming a popular way to get fresh produce, support local farmers and provide a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy. Depending on the market, there are also activities for kids, petting zoos, music and locally made crafts and foods.
Kelly Gerlach lives in the Glennallen area. There is a Wednesday market in downtown Glennallen at a local business parking lot. You can find fresh produce from a local farm in Slana, baked goods from the area, as well as music and fun activities for the kids.
Kelly’s daughter Brynna, age 13, enjoys the local market.
“I love the market because of the fun crafts, the petting zoo and the independence I feel when I have my own money and can buy my own food,” she said.
The Anchorage and Mat-Su Borough have 26 farmers markets, including five throughout Anchorage, three in Eagle River and the remaining 18 in and around Palmer and Wasilla. If you live nearby, walking or biking to the market is a great option as many markets have bike racks. The Fairbanks area (including Delta Junction and North Pole) has 15 markets, the Kenai area has 13 and the following rural areas have local markets: Bethel, Dillingham, Glennallen, Southeast (Haines and Sitka), and Valdez.
The Mat-Su farms sell fresh produce, eggs and meats in Anchorage. The Center Market, located in the Sears Mall in Anchorage, is the only year-round market. It is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. –4 p.m. The market has a wide variety of vendors that sell locally grown meats, vegetables, sprouts, spices, mushrooms and more.
Other markets may have only one vendor, but that vendor will have fresh vegetables, such as Dinkel’s Veggies at the Northway Mall in Anchorage. The Eagle River market at the VFW post is open on Tuesdays and has a handful of vendors with vegetables, pickled foods, jams, homemade crafts and a vendor that serves authentic Mexican food.
Families with lower incomes can purchase affordable fresh produce at the farmers markets. Low-income seniors and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants can use a coupon for up to $30 at participating farmers markets in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Homer, Kenai, Kodiak, Dillingham and the Palmer and Wasilla areas. Visit the State of Alaska’s Division of Public Assistance for more information.
Most markets run from early June to the end of September, at varying days and times, and some end earlier or go even later into the year. Teach your kids healthy eating habits and support local farmers by visiting a market near you. Make it a fun learning experience by taking the Farmers Market Bingo card. Go online to find a farmers market near you.