AFPC’s developing relationship with Kawarek’s Reindeer Herders Association is an excellent example of the energy and strength that can grow from collaboration. Read all about how we helped support their priorities in the latest BLM Environmental Impact Statement.

AFPC welcomes our newest staff member Meghan Hargis, our Special Events Coordinator. She is born and raised Alaskan with a passion for food security that continues to grow from her work and life experiences. Learn more about our new team member!

Read all about our recent Rhodiola market research project conducted by Spork Consulting. It sheds light on the potential and challenges of Rhodiola farming in Alaska, revealing significant interest and opportunities for local growers.

In honor of National Food Truck Day, we sat down with Darrin Huycke, the Spenard Food Truck Carnival manager, to discuss the benefits of food trucks in our communities.

Representatives from various state and federal lending programs presented information on the types of loans, terms, eligibility requirements, and more. Additionally, they highlighted the use of mariculture activities and the benefits of leasing equipment and real estate. Support for beginning farmers was also discussed, with a focus on offering tailored solutions for long-term success.

What is the Farm Bill, how will it affect Alaskans, and where are we now? Learn all about it and what it holds for our producers and consumers here.

Guest blog by Lunia E. Oriol, AFPC Intern - 2023-2024 AK Food Strategy Task Force (one of many roles and talents). They explore how food systems planning could be utilized to address food security in the Mat-Su borough.

We had partners travel across oceans and states to join us in Homer to discuss the evolution of our Regional Food Business Center. Read about our adventures and learnings together.

Over the first week of June, Robbi and Rachel were in DC on behalf of the Alaska Food Policy Council as part of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)’s Anti-Hunger Policy Conference. Learn more about the trip and what our biggest takeaways were.

A collaborative blog from Claire Marshalek & Meghan Hargis, Alaska Farmers Markets Association, and Leah Moss, AFPC.

Amid the hustle and bustle of a farmers’ market, there is an often-overlooked aspect that deserves our attention and appreciation: food safety. Read more about what the behind-the-scenes work to keep us safe looks like.

Last week we hosted a webinar on the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program (RTCP), the first of many training opportunities that our Alaska Regional Food Business Center will be hosting. Here is what we learned:

The 33rd Session of the Alaska State Legislature adjourned shortly after midnight on May 15. The final hours were marked by intense activity, with language from stalled bills merging into moving ones. A lot of bills passed the Legislature addressing our food system - we’re excited to review the session alongside our 2024 policy priorities.

AFPC Board Member Ron Meehan and Regional Food Business Center Co-Director Colin Peacock attended the 2024 Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP) Retreat in Sitka last month! The SSP is a dynamic collective that fosters cultural, ecological, and economic resilience across Southeast Alaska by coordinating diverse skills and perspectives. Read about their trip!

This work is not done in a vacuum. It takes tons of community and interagency cooperation. As AFPC developed policy priorities for 2024, we looked for recommendations that seemed achievable in the short-term, and/or had some momentum behind them. While working on advancing these priorities, the depth of interconnectedness has become increasingly apparent.

For National Shrimp Day we sat down for a chat with the Shrimp Whisperer to discuss the profound connection he has to Alaskan shrimp and reconnect with the joy of harvesting sustainable Alaskan seafood.

Read more about the process of building out our latest report: How the Alaska “Food Hub” Network Can Best Move Forward. According to report author Ken Meter, "This report represents a crucial step towards building a more resilient and effective food hub network in Alaska. By identifying common challenges and offering innovative solutions, we can ensure the continued growth and success of our local food systems."

Check out the latest guest blog by UAA Dietetics Student, Victoria Tucker and learn about the evolution of Food Co-ops as a means of community support and investment in each other spanning from the19th century to now!

Guest Blog by Silje Hildebrand, UAA Dietetics Student
In honor of National Gardening Month, they dive into the cost and nutritional benefits of growing a home garden.

Our AmeriCorps Intern Summer Sweet closed out her year with us and takes a moment to reflect on what she learned and how she was able to grow her perspectives in her Public Health studies.

Our Regional Food Business Center Co-Director Colin Peacock recently had the incredible opportunity to attend the Alaska Just Transition Summit in Juneau. He came away with some great teachings, inspiration and ways for us to collectively work better to build a more resilient Alaska. READ MORE