July 21, 2009 by Charles Bingham

• New photo galleries posted on Shutterfly

Shoppers look for deals at the first Sitka Farmers Market of the summer on July 18, 2009.

There have been a couple of new photo albums posted on the Sitka Local Foods Network page on Shutterfly (a photo-sharing site). There is an album of photos from Saturday’s first Sitka Farmers Market of the 2009 summer. There also is a photo album of photos from 2008 events, and an album of historical photos from 1898 to the late 1920s (used with permission from the Sitka Historical Society and Museum).

Click this link to go to the Shutterfly site where there are some new photo albums posted.

Sarah Williams shows off a hat she made to sell at the Sitka Farmers Market.

July 20, 2009 by Charles Bingham

• Alaska Dream Salmon wins first Table of the Day Award

Julie Jordan of Alaska Dream Salmon receives the Table of the Day award from Kerry MacLane for the first Sitka Farmers Market of the season

Julie Jordan of Alaska Dream Salmon receives the “Table of the Day Award” from Sitka Farmers Markets co-coordinator Kerry MacLane after the season’s first market on July 18. The Sitka Local Foods Network selected her table — which featured three varieties of fresh salmon and rock fish caught on the F/V Saturday — to receive the $25 cash prize, an Alaska Farmers Market Association tote bag, a selection of locally grown herbs and a certificate of appreciation. An identical prize package will be awarded to a deserving vendor at each of the four remaining Sitka Farmers Markets. The second market of the season takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, at Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall.

Keep your eye on this site, because a photo gallery from the first Sitka Farmers Market of the season will be posted later this week.

July 20, 2009 by Charles Bingham

• Sitka Farmers Market preview in July 17 paper

In case you didn’t see it, the Daily Sitka Sentinel previewed the first Sitka Farmers Market of the season with a front-page article and photo in the Friday, July 17, 2009, issue of the paper. Click the link below to read a PDF version of the Sentinel story (PDF requires Adobe Acrobat to read, which is a free download from Adobe).

SENTINEL-SitkaFarmersMarket17July2009

July 16, 2009 by Charles Bingham

• Eight fun facts about Saturday’s first Sitka Farmers Market

1. The first of five scheduled Sitka Farmers Markets this summer takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall on Katlian Street.

2. More than 20 local vendors will be selling fresh veggies, fish, art and more.

3. The Gajaa Heen Dancers will be selling fry bread as a fundraising project for the group. Other ready-to-eat food includes black cod, crepes and fresh oysters.

4. Live music will be provided by the Sitka Blues Band inside the hall. Also, an open jam session will take place under a tent outside — all musicians are welcome.

5. Registered participants in the state’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program can exchange $5 vouchers for fresh produce from one of several approved stands. The Sitka Farmers Market is the first market in Southeast Alaska authorized to process WIC vouchers.

6. The children’s craft activity this market focuses on healthy eating and is called “eating by the colors.” Please bring the kids!

7. Creating the Sitka Farmers Market was selected by Sitka residents as a top community health priority at the 2008 Sitka Health Summit.

8. This event is sponsored by the Sitka Local Foods Network, Alaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood, Baranof Island Housing Authority, Sitka Conservation Society, the Alaska Farmers Market Association and the SEARHC Health Promotion and Diabetes Prevention programs.

Musicians play in the jam session tent

Grilling black cod collars from the Alaska Longline Fisherman's Association

July 14, 2009 by Charles Bingham

• First Sitka Farmers Market is this Saturday

SitkaFarmersMarketSign

The first of five Sitka Farmers Markets this summer will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, July 18, at the ANB Hall. The Sitka Blues Band will provide music inside the hall and other local musicians are welcome to join an open jam session outside the hall. The children’s activity focuses on healthy eating and is called “eating by the colors.”

Over 20 local vendors will be on hand to sell, barter or trade fresh vegetables, herbs, teas, flowers, berries, plants, salmon, art and more. Ready-to-eat food includes grilled black cod, crepes, fry bread and more. Additionally, there will be information on home gardening and building your own greenhouse. The Sitka Farmers Market is the first farmers market in Southeast Alaska authorized to accept WIC vouchers.

For more information, contact Linda Wilson at 747-3096.

Checking out the first 2008 Sitka Farmers Market

July 13, 2009 by Charles Bingham

• This week’s e-newsletter

Preparing produce for sale

Here is a link to this week’s Sitka Local Foods Network e-newsletter from Linda Wilson. There are notes about the first Sitka Farmers Market of the season on Saturday, and about an open house held Sunday afternoon at Florence Welsh’s Forget-Me-Not Gardens.

Click here for this week’s e-newsletter (July 12 edition)

July 10, 2009 by Charles Bingham

• Food booths need permits for Sitka Farmers Markets

SitkaFarmersMarketSign

Those vendors who plan to prepare and serve food at this year’s Sitka Farmers Markets must obtain a temporary food service permit from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s Food Safety and Sanitation program office at 901-C Halibut Point Road in Sitka.

By regulation, if the application is submitted after Monday, July 13, the fees are doubled. Applications are available in an envelope attached to the door at the ADEC office. Call Greg Johnstone at 747-8614 if you have any questions or need to get a permit.

Due to the danger of botulism, and other health considerations, only a certified commercial processor can sell canned foods. NO home canned goods are allowed, except for jams and jellies. All vendors selling prepared foods at the market MUST have a food handling permit.

The ANB Hall kitchen is a certified commercial kitchen and will be available for vendor use. The kitchen will be open at 7:30 a.m. the morning of each market. If you know that you will need it, please reserve the oven by calling Linda Wilson at 747-3096 or sending an e-mail to lawilson87@hotmail.com. Please be aware there will be a number of people using the kitchen at the same time, so you will need to be prepared to share space.

Click here for a detailed guide to safe food handling.

WaitingForCrepes

July 6, 2009 by Charles Bingham

• Sitka to host five farmers markets in 2009

SitkaFarmersMarketSign

Sitka to host five farmers markets in 2009

The Sitka Local Foods Network will host a series of five Sitka Farmers Markets this summer on alternate Saturdays starting July 18. These markets will give Sitka residents a chance to buy and sell locally produced food and crafts.

The Sitka Farmers Markets take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 18, Aug. 1, 15, 29 and Sept. 12, at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall and the adjacent Baranof Island Housing Authority-owned parking lot (between the waterfront and Katlian Street). The markets feature local seafood (fresh, frozen and cooked and ready to eat), locally grown and harvested fruits and vegetables, live entertainment, locally brewed and roasted coffee, kids’ activities, music, local arts and crafts, and a variety of other items gathered or made in Sitka. We emphasize local products and lots of fun.

“In 1970 there were only 340 farmers markets in America, and by 2006 there were more than 4,385. I think this dramatic growth is attributed to the many layers of social and economic benefits these markets offer,” said Doug Osborne, a health educator at the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC). “Last year, several participants said Sitka’s markets were among the highlights of their summer.”

Sitka Farmers Market Co-Coordinator Kerry MacLane has participated as a vendor at many public markets over the last 20 years. He said, “Farmers markets are a great place to spend a Saturday morning with your neighbors, enjoying healthy and tasty local produce, hot coffee and fresh-cut flowers. The Sitka Farmers Markets also are great for people who want to sell and eat locally caught fish.”

The Sitka Farmers Market started as a community project from the 2008 Sitka Health Summit. This event is sponsored by the Sitka Local Foods Network, Alaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood, Baranof Island Housing Authority, Sitka Conservation Society, the Alaska Farmers Market Association and the SEARHC Health Promotion and Diabetes Prevention programs.

Vendor fees are just $5 per market, with both indoor and outdoor table options available. We are the first farmers market in Southeast to accept WIC coupons. To learn more or to sign up for a table, contact Sitka Farmers Market Co-Coordinator Linda Wilson at 747-3096 evenings or e-mail lawilson87@hotmail.com.