Published on 11 February 2007

Beyond the fun, great food, site visits, educational programs and collaboration between supply chain partners, we needed a solid metric. What was the true financial impact to our companies? The initial survey of event participants estimated nearly $2,000,000 of new business as a result of GFA 2007. We were pleased to learn that these results reflected transactions for the smallest through largest companies participating. A follow up survey will occur in November for a final tally, but we're thrilled! Thank you again to our sponsors for helping make this happen.

For those unable to attend and continue to ask about the event? It is challenging to provide a 5 minute recap, but we have provided highlights of the event at this link,

We thought you'd appreciate the photo above of Ruby Hollembaek's (Interior Game Ranch) daughter, Leslie, with the famed Crab Captains and crew comparing notes on operating a Bison Ranch in Delta, Alaska with harvesting Crab nearly 1000 miles away in the Bering Sea. The connections were unbelievable!

The Bottom Line

For those that attended Global Food Alaska 2007, take a look at the objectives we established for the event and give us your feedback on how we did? They are listed below and we think that through your support and involvement, we made a great start! Thank you.

Global Food Alaska - 2007 (objectives):

• Set the stage to think bigger maximizing Alaska’s bounty – water, land and location, demonstration of the bigger picture – living off of our bounty.

• Bring together the collective knowledge of local and national and international experts.

• Recognize leaders who have succeeded or beat the odds – in making commercial success of Alaska’s bounty. Recognize and feature Alaskan leaders who succeeded to develop globally competitive businesses – doing the nearly impossible.

• Reduce the isolation of segmented areas of interest. Identify and maximize common ground. Bring together the leaders in seafood, water, by-products, biodiesel, nutraceuticals, produce, meats and value added and profile common ground in terms of markets, infrastructure and supply chain and encourage collaborative pilot partnerships to support better and stronger business.

• Introduce new products and services that support stronger and more efficient supply chains in and from Alaska to maintain and enhance competitive products.

• Identify common barriers and focus areas of work to combat those barriers for this industry. Individuals who are reluctant to share their successes, due to the proprietary nature, will share the barriers to further growing their business.

• Bring buyers, market and investors to Alaska.

Again - the link to the highlights of GFA 2007 - http://www.globalfoodcollaborative.com/GFA.html