The Alaska Culinary Association touts its support of wild fisheries. The following is their position statement supporting the conservation and scientific management of fisheries and seafood stocks to ensure their sustainability and the well-being of marine environments around the world. See full story below for their policy.

The Food Bank of Alaska is interested in working with a seafood processor to find creative solutions in your business to help hungry Alaskans.  Can you help Food Bank of Alaska and your hungry neighbors? Contact Reg Buchanan at FBA at (907) 272-3663 to discuss donation options.    FBA works efficiently to provide the right food at the right time to the right people. Alaska seafood is the right food for many hungry Alaskans. They have a year-round demand for emergency food assistance, including a high need for fresh protein sources. 



Food Bank of Alaska is dedicated to eliminating hunger in Alaska. Each year, FBA distributes millions of pounds of food across the state to provide our partners with a consistent source of nutritious food for the more than 83,000 hungry Alaskans they serve.

Amy DeBruhl, Development Manager
Food Bank of Alaska, 2121 Spar Avenue
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
T 907.222.3112 direct, 907.272.3663 main, F 907.277.7368

Alaska Sea Grant's, Sue Keller has supplied the agenda and ppt presentations from the Aleutians Basin - Energy-Fisheries Workshop last month.   Here's the link.
_____________________________

Sue Keller
Science Editor/Publications Manager
Alaska Sea Grant/University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-5040
fnsk@uaf.edu
(907) 474-6703 * FAX (907) 474-6285
_____________________________

Wow!  A great new publication called My PROCESS EXPO 365 News

It is designed to be the global food and beverage and processing industry's leading daily news coverage offered  by PROCESS EXPO and The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA). My PROCESS EXPO 365 News brings you full-text breaking stories on developments in all major sectors of the manufacturing industry, powered by feeds from hundreds of premium news sources.    Check it out - no matter the type food/beverage or bio product you produce.  We think you'll like it.  Here's the link.

April 2, 2008, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin announced the establishment of the Governor’s North Star Awards for International Excellence. The awards will be presented annually to honor Alaska businesses, schools and other organizations that have improved life in Alaska through international activity. The program provides the opportunity to recognize Alaskans’ international accomplishments in trade, investment, transportation and educational, cultural, humanitarian and scientific exchanges.

“International markets and companies trust Alaska’s stable, transparent business climate. They appreciate the creativity and friendliness they find in our state,” Governor Palin said. “I want to honor Alaskans who connect us all to the world. The North Star Awards are a good way to celebrate the international know-how of Alaskans.”

Alaskans may nominate themselves, others, businesses, schools, organizations or other groups for the awards. Awards may be given in several categories in any given year but will not be given in all categories each year. The Export Council of Alaska and others will assist the State of Alaska in reviewing nominations.

Nominations are due April 30 and should consist of no more than five pages of material explaining the nature and success of the international activities that have occurred in the five-year period prior to the award. Nominations should follow the North Star Awards outline. The outline is available at http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/2008-TradeNominationForm2.pdf.

For more information, contact Patricia Eckert, Governor’s Office of International Trade at (907) 269-7450.

Thank you Gary Jensen - Program Manager for keeping us informed on the developments -

AQUACONTACTS MAIL GROUP NEWS --April 4, 2008
Please note the following federal register notice of the next public meeting of the National Organic Standards Board and several important points relating to organic standards for aquaculture products (finfish and plants):
·   The Livestock Committee will present recommendations on the use of fish feed and open net pens in regards to the development of organic aquaculture standards for finfish.
·  The Crops Committee and the Livestock Committee will jointly present their recommendation on the development of standards for organic aquatic plants in organic aquaculture.
·  The NOSB meeting agenda and proposed recommendations may also be viewed at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.
·   Comments on proposed NOSB recommendations may be submitted by May 5, 2008 in writing to Ms. Frances at either the postal address above or via the internet at http://www.regulations.gov only. The comments should identify Docket No. AMS-TM-08-0021. It is our intention to have all comments to this notice whether they are submitted by mail
or the internet available for viewing on the http://www.regulations.gov Web site.
·   Requests from individuals and organizations wishing to make oral presentations at the meeting are due by the close of business on May 5, 2008. Requests to make an oral presentation at the meeting may also be sent by May 5, 2008 to Ms. Valerie Frances at the postal address above, by email at valerie.frances@usda.gov, via facsimile at (202) 205-7808, or phone at (202) 720-3252.
 
Please refer to the full text of the federal register notice below for complete details and information.

The March-April 2008 issue of USDA's "Rural Cooperatives" magazine features two Alaska coop stories - one on energy and one on arts.  Thanks again Dan Campbell for a great magazine. Visit site below to download current issue. 

The Alaska Vocational Technical Program will be hosting its Spring 2008 Culinary Academy Dinner.  Attached is an invitation to the AVTEC Guest Chef Dinner,  scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2008.  This is the dinner that AVTEC’s Alaska Culinary Academy holds annually to raise funds towards scholarships for culinary students.  In the past, we’ve been able to award scholarship checks to two or three culinary students a year through the generous support of our guests.
RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED - Click here for invitation. The 2008 Featured Guest Chef is Patrick Hoogerhyde of Orso's Restaurant  - Anchorage. Call for reservations or more information:  Linda Carpenter, AVTEC Administration, 809 2nd Avenue, Seward, AK  99664, linda.carpenter@avtec.edu or linda.carpenter@alaska.gov
1-800-478-5389, (907) 224-4163    (907) 224-4144 fax

February 29, 2008
  
AFDF Alaska Salmon Product & Co-product Project Request for Proposals - 2
 The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation’s mission is to develop opportunities and
efficiencies in harvesting, processing, and transporting Alaska’s fishery products and co-products to domestic and international markets.  AFDF is soliciting interest in further research and development work to investigate potential new products with alternative uses of salmon, including beneficial use of salmon processing waste materials.

Vicki wrote to invite those with recipes utilizing Alaska product to submit them to her for possible inclusion in the new "Agriculture in the Classroom"  recipe booklet that the national consortium is producing.
They are trying to showcases some of the signature products in each state.  Vicki thinks that a good seafood or berry recipe might best represent Alaska, but all Alaska grown and based product is welcome. Deadline is fast approaching, so please contact Vicki directly at contact below with your recipes and/or ideas.

Victoria Naegele, Director
Alaska Agriculture in the Classroom
907-746-2172
Fax 746-2173
9788 N Waldo Reed Rd.
Palmer, Alaska 99645
www.agclassroom.org/ak