2025 Alaska Food Festival & Conference Planning Partner Highlight - Kodiak Harvest Food Co-op

By Sundance Visser, Finance and Operations Director, AFPC

In just over two months (March 28-29, 2025), we will be convening in Kodiak at the 2025 Alaska Food Festival & Conference. Registration is open, we are still accepting Alaska Food Hero nominations, and the day before the conference (March 27) is filling up with fun, educational pre-conference activities. We invite you, our food systems supporters, to get involved! 

AFPC’s goals for the conference are to:

1. Increase awareness of Alaska food issues among the general population;
2. Provide training, resources, and networking opportunities to increase involvement in local food issues by community members and decision-makers; and
3. Increase connections and build community between the public, Alaska food businesses, NGOs, governmental entities, Tribal entities, and others to support local economic development and innovative solutions.  

Each month, we are introducing one of AFPC’s conference planning partners. You can read about KALI and KANA in previous posts. Kodiak Harvest Food Co-op (KHFC) is a cooperatively owned business with nearly 700 members. KHFC’s mission is to “provide Kodiak communities with quality food choices that are locally sourced, economically sustainable, and environmentally responsible while promoting education and engagement.” KHFC began back in 2016 in a grassroots process of community engagement and market study. KHFC continues to grow and evolve, opening its first brick-and-mortar storefront in 2022, weekly produce boxes, and a variety of community events. The store is a bright, fresh space filled to the brim with a selection of local and regional goods, pantry essentials, organic produce, and bulk options.

KHFC’s board members are playing an active role on the conference planning committee. We appreciate their creative ideas, willingness to collaborate, and strong community connections. Attendees will hear more from them at conference sessions and should expect a surprise in their swag bags! 

“So much of the work that we do at Kodiak Harvest invites collaboration for sustainable, secure food options in rural Alaska, and we’re so excited that the Alaska Food Policy Council is hosting local food conversations in Kodiak this spring! Being on the conference planning committee has offered an inside look at the work and passion that goes into these events, and I can’t wait to share that with those traveling for the conference and our local community alike.” – Myra Scholze, KHFC Board Chair.