Wasilla Farmers Market going strong all summer

WASILLA— The Wasilla Farmer’s Market is in full swing, featuring a variety of vendors, food trucks, and farm-fresh produce grown right here in the Mat-Su Valley.

The summer harvest has arrived with a full array of fruits and vegetables to choose from.

Yasinta Shumaker runs Black Bear Farms with her husband Bob. She said that her six-year-old son George loves to help out at the farm and at the market. She said they’ve had a lot of customers this season, and she’s thankful for having this market as a venue. She said the amount of exposure it offers participating vendors is invaluable.

“It helps the small farmers,” Shumaker said.

8th year at Market, Some of these people feeling family, known for years

“The people are very supportive. It’s a beautiful market. I love it,” Shumaker said. “It’s a beautiful way to bring the community together.”

Wasilla Farmer’s Market managers Eric and Susan Bush not only oversee the weekly market but also sell their own wares through their small business The Pottery People. She was happy to report that their sales have been going very well this summer, and many of the participating vendors have had a lot of foot traffic as well.

“It’s been going good this year. We’ve actually had a good solid turnout every week. It’s been steady,” Susan said.

Desirae Cupps is participating in the market for the first time this season with a face painting booth she’s running with her friend. She said it’s a new and exciting step to take.

“We wanted to do this on a whim. We just went for it,” Cupps said with a laugh.

Cupps said her favorite part of this experience has been the opportunity to see children’s faces light up when they see the finished product in the mirror.

“It’s just enjoyable,” Cupps said. “We might do this again next year. It was a ton of fun.”

Cupps said that venues such as the Wasilla Farmers Market serve a very important role in the community.

“It gives people a way to get out to see more local art and local things that happen around us. I think we should bring in more things like this during the summertime. It basically brings out the ‘Valley part’ of us,” Cupps said.

Whether it’s handcrafted jewelry, food truck snacks, and drinks, or original works of art, there’s always something to find each week at the Wasilla Farmers Market.

“We’ve got a good variety,” Susan said.

The Wasilla Farmers Market runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Wednesday near Wonderland Park. The market runs through the second week of September.

For more information, call 907-357-1464 or visit wkhsociety.org/wasilla-farmer-s-market.html

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com