Interested in buying Alaska's first and only locally manufactured cheese?   Orders are being taken for orders delivered later this Spring (2008).   Country dairy will be manufacturing the product utilizing 100% Alaska dairy.  Packages are available at 3 levels.

• $30 - 2lb block of cheese and a Cheese Futures Certificate.
  
• $90 - 6lbs of cheese and an Alaska birch cheese knife.
  
• $150 - 10lbs of cheese, cutting board made of Prince of Wales greenstone or Alaska birch. 
  

Checks or credit cards accepted at the Alaska Farmers and Stockgrowers, Inc, P.O. Box 871765, Wasilla, Alaska  99687.   Got cheese or questions?  907.746.0044.

Where does your food come from?

In a global economy, we know our food may come nearly anywhere in the world. The recent push for locally grown foods is helping people focus on products grown and processed locally. But ask the average school-age child the source of his or her food and the answer will likely be the local supermarket or fast-food restaurant.

This year, The Matanuska Valley is expanding its menu of foods well beyond its famous produce. Two separate companies are well on their way to processing of new food and beverage products. The first belongs to Kyle and Sandy Beus of Teelands Mercantile (Wasilla) and is for artisan cheeses, ice cream and candy. The second is by Rob Wells of Robert Wells and Company, LLC. for Alaska Natural Milk (hormone free) which will be the first guaranteed all-local milk product.  Each company is leveraging its business and production experience with the growing demand for specialty products for consumers and commercial buyers.

The Southside Market provides a newsletter to their customers on what's new, product availability and general information on their local offerings.  Read up on it below and sign up for their latest. For more information about the market, contact Arthur Keyes, South Anchorage Farmers' Market Manager, at 354-5833, or at amkeyes@mtaonline.net.