GFC

The City of Palmer and Friday Fling are hosting a "Meet Your Farmer" Day on August 20.  This will be the last Friday Fling of the year and we're using that day to kick off the Division of Agriculture's annual EAT LOCAL CHALLENGE!  The Eat Local Challenge is a week long state-wide event encouraging Alaskan consumers to buy local produce.
 
We are asking local growers to sign up for a 2-hour time slot on August 20 beginning at 11 AM and ending at 6 PM.  This will be an opportunity for you to meet and greet the public and explain what you do on your farm and why buying and eating local is the best choice.  There will be a small area designated if you want to bring items from your farm for display only.  If you are interested in signing up for a 2 hour block please contact Jenny Vanderweele at 746-1508 or email her by August 1.
 
Please let her know the following things:
 
Who will be attending
Your contact number (telephone or cell)
What time slot works best for you
If you'll be needing a spot for display

Seeing red in 2009?   So was Carol Kenley, but for a very good reason.  With great enthusiasm,  "Let's talk rhubarb", says Carol.    The rhubarb plant is plentiful in Alaska and more recently harvesters, like Carol are collaborating on ways to better utilize it for cutting edge health and nutritional applications.   Carol is fortified by the spirit of her family's tradition - in fact they were Alaska's 2009 Farm Family.     

Ingredients, a documentary film will be shown on December 20, 2009 at UAA's Rasmuson Hall  The film will show from 4-5 with a discussion afterwards.  There will be a panel discussion following the showing featuring "Delicious" Dave Thorne, Rob Kineen, and the film's producer, Brian Kimmel (among others). The discussion will continue at the Spenard Roadhouse.  Donation requested is $5 per person and proceeds go to the Food Bank of Alaska.   More questions?  View the attached brochure or contact Mara Kimmel.

There has been a global paradigm shift this year.  If you don't feel it - don't read on.  

One of those paradigm shifts has occurred in local food sourcing.   In 2009, the local food movement has more traction then ever with its demonstrated energy and carbon emissions savings, as well as the direct relationship to its value in creating sustainable communities. The value proposition of going local has been made to commercial buyers like Whole Foods and Walmart who quantified the savings and changed out their entire supply chain.   The USDA has created programs and policies to support a breadth of national efforts.     In fact, The National Restaurant Association has just recently published results from its Top List of Hottest Menu Trends for 2010  That survey of more than 1,800 American Culinary Federation member chefs shows locally produced food and beverages in the top five of menu trends.  Local food sourcing has become mainstream.

I've always felt that the link to local was, however, missing something.     I couldn't put my finger on it, until late last summer.

Alaska And The Tin Can

"Wean Alaska away from the tin can."

Such was the apt declaration made in a Fourth of July address at Anchorage by Col.O.F. Ohlson, General Manager of the Alaska Railroad.  The assertion was aimed at the general practice of Alaskans in consuming enormous quantities of imported canned foods which can be supplied by Alaskan farms.

Note:  There are initiatives sprouting all over Alaska (and the US for that matter) that address self-sufficiency.   We wonder who took note in 1935 when Col. O.F. Ohlson made these short, but insightful remarks.

USDA is seeking to engage stakeholders and producers to hear not only their concerns about the National Animal Identification System, but also potential or feasible solutions to those concerns.  The information and ideas gathered will assist Secretary Vilsack in making decisions about the future direction of animal traceability in the United States.

Your views and input are important, and USDA looks forward to hearing from you.

Learn more about the NAIS Dialogue

Submit your comments and potential solution

A series of listening sessions throughout the country is scheduled.  Locations and other details will be posted once they are finalized..

Stakeholders may pre-register for a session here
NAISSessions@aphis.usda.gov.

There are many signs to the beginning of an Alaskan summer such as the  first site of an ice-free sidewalk, anew born moose and the opening day of the Farmers Market.  This year the Anchorage Farmers Market opens May 2, 9 AM to 2 PM.  The market is located at 15th and Cordova and a map is linked on their site here.

The market is organized by River and Sarah Bean of Arctic Organics, a long-time Alaska organic farm family.  We suggest that it is NOT too early to do a little pre-shopping in advance of the 2009 summer season.   They have a new website with more information on their farm, the market, products and their CSA program (community supported agriculture).   Get informed for the best possible shopping beginning May 2nd.   

http://www.akrhubarb.blogspot.com/

Delta farmer, Bryce Wrigley, is anxious to engage with others on moving Alaska toward more self-reliance on energy, as well as food.

As head of the Delta Soil and Water Conservation District and the Alaska Farm Bureau, he is squarely placed in the middle of the energy and food storm in Alaska.      Last year's energy price hikes reeked havoc with old agricultural business models at the same time that the fertilizer plant that had been supplying fertilizer to Alaska's farmers closed its doors.

It was a wake-up call on nearly every piston of the agriculture engine.      Fortunately, Bryce and a group of Delta farmers and ranchers were already experimenting with new technologies and products that could open the door to commercial opportunity and make some solid headway toward self-reliance on energy and food.