Wasilla Farmers Market thriving through community comradery

WASILLA — The Wasilla Farmers Market is in its third week and so far, everything has been going smoothly with a high volume of attendance, according to Eric and Susan Bush who oversee the market.

With numerous events and markets cancelled due to COVID-19, they both said they’re happy to be able to keep this long standing tradition going and plan to keep it going for the rest of the summer.

“We’ll be here,” Susan said.

All of the vendors are following social distancing measures with six feet in between them and sanitization tools at each booth. There’s also sanitization stations at each of the market entrances.

“Everybody wants to come back. Us Valley people, we know what danger is… Everybody knows we all take of each other. It’s like a big family here,” Eric said.

An assortment of vendors sold various goods ranging from jams and honey to furniture and pottery. The local produce is coming in next week, according to Susan. She said several farms will be offering their products and that’s where most of the excitement over the market comes.

The Wasilla Farmers Market has been around for several decades and has seen a steady growth over the years. Eric and Susan said many of the regular vendors followed them from the previous and smaller market near the Wasilla Library.

Eric has lived in the Valley most of his life and Susan has been here over 20 years. They both have every intent to stay put and continue to foster community connections across vendors, customers and the greater community.

“We gotta stick together and watch out for each other. We’ve got to,” Eric said.

Jessica Goldman runs Awe Shucks Oysters and this is her first year vending at the Wasilla market. She said it’s been a great experience so far.

“I think all the vendors are super friendly,” Goldman said.

Susan noted that Goldman is one of several new vendors this year, with at least three more coming next week.

“I’d love for people to know that I’m here,” Goldman said.

Goldman also is also a vendor at the Friday Fling in Palmer and at the Clock Tower in downtown Wasilla every Thursday. She said that she picks up oysters from the airport every Wednesday morning, fresh from Prince of Wales. She said that she enjoys getting to meet so many people through the various markets.

“I love these vendors. These are hardworking people,” Gordon said.

Goldman lives in Wasilla. She said it’s very important for Valley residents to shop local, especially during this time.

“We are like the heart of the community.,” Goldman said. “The local artists, the restaurants... Those are the people that we love in our community. Those are the people that we need to support.”

The Wasilla Farmers Market runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Wednesday through the summer, wrapping up the second week of September.

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