The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it’s National Farmers Market Week through Saturday.

If the USDA paid attention, they’d know that just about every week is farmers market week in Alaska. We have market options nearly every day of the week. Pick your favorite market, or try a new one, and celebrate with some beets, kohlrabi, kettle corn, sweets or whatever.

You’ll have lots of options.

“What a great week this has been,” says Carol Kenley of Kenley’s Alaskan Vegetables & Flowers, which will be at the South Anchorage Wednesday market. “The vegetables have loved the rain and now the sunshine — it couldn’t be better!”

And all the sunshine and warm temperatures has at least one grower thinking maybe they planted the wrong items this year.

“Why didn’t we grow cantaloupe and peaches this year?” asks Sarah Bean of Arctic Organics and the Anchorage Farmers Market. “We’re having another heat wave in Southcentral Alaska when we should be heading into the rainy month. Zucchini is producing with a vengeance in this heat. Now is the time to freeze them, make zucchini relish and zucchini bread! Basil is also loving it! It’s still a good time to get large bunches in order to put pesto in the freezer for winter.”

Below is a rundown of some of the market highlights.

South Anchorage Farmers Markets

On Wednesday, Kenley’s will have tomatoes, basil, onions, snow apple turnips, celery, carrots, beets, raspberries and other items.

“Last week we had baby carrots, but this week they are more like teenage carrots,” Kenley says. “We love all of the colors that carrots come in now, from the traditional orange, to white, purple, yellow and red.

“Now peas come in just one color so far, and that is green and we will have green peas, both shelling and snow peas. They are popular, so come early for these.”

Saturday’s South Anchorage market will have its regular full lineup of vendors. This week the market will host the antique tractor club.

Rempel Family Farm will have first-of-the-year purple carrots, along with regular carrots, sugar snap peas, artichokes, green beans, collards, green onions, spinach, zucchini, lettuces, cauliflower and loads of other vegetables, flowers and yak meat.

Kristy Schenk of Arctic Choice reminds shoppers that seafood goes great with fresh market vegetables.

“With this gorgeous weather this week, what better than to fire up the barbeque to grill some fresh Alaskan seafood with your farm fresh veggies,” she says. “Sockeye and kings are running for at least another week and would be tasteful over the grill on a cedar plank. Side-stripe shrimp marinated and grilled or put on a kabob with your veggies will cause the taste buds to dance.”