Groups representing various sectors of the Alaskan food system traveled to Juneau for legislative meetings, Lunch and Learns, and strategic planning. Organizations represented includeD:
Alaska Food Coalition + Food Bank of Alaska (multiple food banks and pantries from around the state)
Alaska Farm Bureau
Alaska Farmland Trust + farmers
Alaska Food Policy Council
Alaska Farmers Market Association + market managers
Alaska Food Coalition Re-cap
The Alaska Food Coalition (AFC) is a statewide group of over 125 non-profit, faith-based and state agencies working every day to help hungry Alaskans in communities like Anchorage, Bethel, Fairbanks, Nome, Juneau, Kodiak and many more. The Alaska Food Coalition’s goals are to support these organizations, to strengthen and coordinate public and private food and nutrition assistance programs, and to educate policymakers about Alaskan food needs. The mission of the Alaska Food Coalition is to collectively create food security for all Alaskans.
The 2020 Annual Meeting/Legislative Fly-in was a great success! A huge thanks to all the attendees who made it amazing! Because we had such a successful ask this year, I'll start with that.
The Ask: Our ask this year was for Legislators to urge the Governor to roll back our current SNAP ABAWD three-month time-limit waiver and align with the Federal rule that goes into effect April 1.
The Result: Legislators were not only interested in what we had to say, but wanted to act!
Senate HSS Committee Hearing: Commissioner Crum presented to the Senate HSS committee. During the hearing, Senator Begich asked some very good questions on area exemptions under the ABAWD Waiver. Check it out for yourself here
Juneau Fly-in - Some Highlights:
· We held a very well-attended Lunch and Learn at the Capitol on Improving Access to Food in Alaska. This was the first of a series of Lunch and Learns on the Food System as part of Food Security Week
· Our Appetizers with Advocates reception at In Bocca al Lupo was hoppin' - It was really well attended by both legislators and their staff and allowed us to follow-up on some of our meetings from the day
· We met with 58 of our 60 legislators!
Alaska Food Policy Council
Organized Wednesday’s Lunch & Learn, focused on “Innovative Efforts to Reduce Food Waste.
Representative Geran Tarr & AFPC Advocacy Committee at the Alaska Grown Dinner, hosted by Alaska Farm Bureau.
the Alaska Food System
A graphic used during Food Security Week to help illustrate links between food system components
