Sitka Farmers Market
Gets Underway Saturday
The Sitka Local Foods Network is kicking off its 12th season of markets 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, July 6, at the ANB Founders Hall.
‘‘We rebuilt some of the vitality of the market over the last couple of years, and now we’re hoping to build on that momentum,’’ said Sitka Local Foods Network president Charles Bingham, who is assisting Sitka Farmers Market manager Nina Vizcarrondo for the third year.
“We learned a lot over the past couple of years, and we hope we’ve been able to move on from our mistakes and make the markets better,” he said. “We regained a lot of the vendors we lost in 2016, and that brought back a lot of the community-gathering-place feel to the market. We still want to see more local food producers at the market, but we know now we need to develop those outside the market, which is one reason we launched the Sitka Food Business Innovation Contest in 2018. We want the market to be a great way to connect with neighbors and support local entrepreneurs.”
New this year is the Bicycle Benefits program, where people who ride their bikes to the market and show their Bicycle Benefits helmet stickers can get 20 percent off produce at the Sitka Local Foods Network farm stand at the Sitka Farmers Market.
The Sitka Local Foods Network also has applied for a Certified Naturally Grown status for St. Peter’s Fellowship Farm communal garden, where most of the produce sold at the SLFN farm stand is grown.
Other innovations started in 2017 included a kids vendor program for ages 12 and younger, and new Alaska Grown food products for sale at the Sitka Local Foods Network’s farm stand. Both are continuing in 2019.
In addition to freshly grown produce from the St. Peter’s Fellowship Farm communal garden, Alaska Flour Company barley products from Delta Junction, Evie’s Brinery fermented foods from Anchorage, Barnacle Foods kelp salsa and kelp pickles from Juneau, Bridge Creek Birch Syrup from Homer, and Chugach Chocolates from Girdwood will be on sale.
‘‘We also have fish vendors back this season,’’ Bingham said. ‘‘There still is a focus on local and Alaska food products, with the Alaska Grown products being a way to inspire Sitka food entrepreneurs to try making new food items locally. The more local products we have, the more the money circulates in Sitka’s economy.’’
“Come support your community at our farmers markets,” Vizcarrondo said. “By working toward Sitka’s food sovereignty, shopping local reduces our food miles. Food doesn’t get any fresher than this.”
Farmers markets are planned 10 a.m.-1 p.m. July 6, 27, Aug. 10, 17, 31, Sept. 7 and 21. The markets feature a variety of locally grown produce, seafood, cottage foods, a hot lunch, locally made arts and crafts, live music and fun.
The Sitka Farmers Market was the first market in Southeast Alaska to accept Alaska Quest (SNAP) electronic benefits transfers (EBT) and WIC farmers market coupons. It has a matching program in which SNAP and WIC clients can double up to $20 of their benefits in local produce. It is the only farmers market in the state authorized to match WIC farmers market coupons. The past two years the market received grants from the Sitka White Elephant Shop to help with the matching program.
“It’s so important to make sure local food is accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy,” Bingham said.
The April 2008 Sitka Health Summit planted the seeds for the Sitka Farmers Market, as Sitka residents chose starting a local foods market as one of their community wellness initiatives for the year. About the same time, St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church was looking for a way to put some recently cleared land behind the church’s See House into use for a community project.
St. Peter’s offered to lease the land to the group that became the Sitka Local Foods Network for $1 a year, and in May 2008 a group of Sitka residents built raised garden beds and planted a variety of crops. Later that summer, there was enough produce grown at St. Peter’s to supply the first three Sitka Farmers Markets starting in August 2008.
Five markets were held in 2009, followed by six markets each year from 2010-15, and seven markets since 2016. Under lead gardener Laura Schmidt, the production of local produce at St. Peter’s has grown each year, and there now are satellite gardens, such as one on land owned by Pat Arvin.
Most of the food grown at St. Peter’s and the satellite gardens is sold at the Sitka Farmers Market, but there has been enough for the Sitka Local Foods Network to also have a table when Chelan Produce is in town and to sell to local school lunch programs and restaurants. The money raised helps support the Sitka Local Foods Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in its mission “to increase the amount of locally produced and harvested food in the diets of Southeast Alaskans.”
To learn more about the Sitka Farmers Market and how to become a vendor or volunteer, contact Nina Vizcarrondo at 738-9301 or Charles Bingham at 623-7660, or email sitkafarmersmarket@gmail.com. The Sitka Local Foods Network website, http://www.sitkalocalfoodsnetwork.org/, has more info on the markets and links to vendor rules and registration forms.
In addition to vendors, volunteers are needed to help set up and take down the market and to sell food at the SLFN farm stand.
The Sitka Local Foods Network receives sponsorship funding from the Alaska Comprehensive Cancer Partnership, the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, the Sitka White Elephant Shop, Sitka True Value, Harry Race Pharmacy, ALPS Federal Credit Union, Sea Mart, Market Center, and a host of individuals.
Local Cook Passing along
Healthy Southern Dishes
Lessons on making healthier versions of classic Southern dishes will be offered at the upcoming Sitka Kitch class, ‘‘S’lightly Southern Cooking’’ with Kayla Caprice.
The class will be 6-8:30 p.m. on Monday, July 8, at the Sitka Lutheran Church, 224 Lincoln Street. This class is part of a new Cooking With Kayla Caprice class series this summer, and is a fundraiser for the Sitka Kitch.
“In this class we will be going over some classic southern fare, and ways to make it a little healthier, and easier to do,’’ Caprice said. ‘‘We will learn other ways to ‘fry’ chicken, classic southern biscuits two different ways, talk (and eat) fritters, and make a dark molasses Ginger Cake. So come on, y’all, let’s get cookin’!”
Caprice, who is from Florida, currently works as a line cook at Ludvig’s Bistro in Sitka.
She grew up around the ocean and fishing. Her mother was a chef and the Food Network was her favorite channel growing up. She has a background in early childhood development and school-age instruction, with an emphasis on cooking and nutrition. She moved to Seattle three years ago to pursue her love of cooking, learning, teaching, and community involvement.
She has been helping educate adults and youths on cooking, nutrition and the food system with The Beechers Foundation in Seattle for more than two years. There she runs before- and after-school programs with cooking and baking clubs, as well as the school garden. She also assists in classes at Culinary Essentials in Ballard under Chef Nora Dummer, cooked at the Artist Home for the Doe Bay Music Festival on Orcas Island, worked at Firefly Kitchens (a fermentation company in Ballard), and taught the culinary summer camp at The Stroum Jewish Community Center on Mercer Island in Washington.
“Cooking for yourself is very important to me, as is loving good food,” Caprice wrote. “I believe everyone and anyone should have access to good food and be able to feed themselves, and the tools they need in order to do so.”
The class costs $40, which is part of a new all-inclusive fee system. Register and pre-pay using credit/debit cards or PayPal on the EventSmart page, http://sitkakitch.eventsmart.com (click on class title).
Free Volleyball
Camp July 23-24
A free volleyball camp with Lauren Schad, professional European volleyball player and Nike N7 ambassador, is planned July 23-24 at the Blatchley Middle School.
Grades 6-8 will meet 10 a.m.-noon, followed by grades 9-12 from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
To register or more information email Zallen@alaskandreamcruises.com.
Annual Property
Taxes are Due
The city’s finance department reminds taxpayers real and personal property tax bills have been mailed and are due Aug. 30.
Those taxes not paid – or postmarked – by 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, will become delinquent, with progressive penalty and interest applied, the city said.
Payments may be made online by creating an account at xpressbillpay.com. Cash, check and credit card payments are being accepted at the customer service desk at 100 Lincoln Street between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Additionally, credit card payments may be made via phone by calling 747-1818. Payments sent via mail can be sent to 100 Lincoln Street.
Super Saturday
Event at Fire Hall
The annual Super Saturday fundraiser for the Sitka Fire Department will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, July 27, at the fire hall.
Chili, hot dogs and beverages will be for sale. Grace Larsen’s famous fry bread will be available. A silent auction, the bouncy castle, dunk tank and fire house also are planned.
Tables are available for a donation to sell garage sale treasure, independent ventures, crafts and other items. To sign up for a table, call 747-6875 or 747-1860 to leave a message.
T’ai Chi Chih
Set for Saturday
T’ai Chi Chih Practice will be 10 a.m. Saturday, July 6, behind Sitka Public Library.
Volunteer Positions
On City Boards
Volunteer positions are available on the following municipal boards and commissions:Animal Hearing Board, Building Department Appeals Board, Historic Preservation Commission (at-large seat), Library Commission, Local Emergency Planning Commission, Planning Commission, Police and Fire Commission, and Tree and Landscape Committee.
Individuals may submit a letter of interest and board application to the Municipal Clerk’s Office at 100 Lincoln Street. Applications are available online at www.cityofsitka.com or at the clerk’s office. For further information, call Melissa at 747-1826.
‘Affordability’ Topic
Of City Workshop
The city Health Needs and Human Services Commission will host an open Affordability Solutions Workshop 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at Centennial Hall.
The purpose of the gathering is to generate and evaluate ideas, strategies and proposals to help year-round residents by reducing the cost of necessities while maintaining or improving services, public health outcomes, and quality of life.
For information call Melissa Henshaw at 747-1826.
Faculty Art Share
Planned Sunday
Sitka Fine Arts Camp’s faculty will present an evening Art Share of music, writing and dance 7 p.m. Sunday, July 7, at the Sitka Performing Arts Center.
The event is open to the public with a suggested donation of $5.
STA Swim
Canceled
Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Strengthening Families through Healthy Activities open swim at the Mt. Edgecumbe High School pool on Saturdays and Sundays open has been suspended due to the budget veto and pool closure.
Volunteer Work
Party at Boathouse
The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society will hold a volunteer work party at the Japonski Boathouse 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, July 6.
Volunteers will meet at the boathouse for a short training on historic preservation before beginning the hands-on work, repairing one of the boathouse’s original walls.
All are invited to join in.
