afpc events & conferences
2025 Alaska Food Festival and Conference Recap
By Robbi Mixon, Executive Director, AFPC
Every 18 months, the Alaska Food Policy Council hosts the Alaska Food Festival and Conference- a statewide gathering of food systems practitioners, researchers, producers, and anyone interested in Alaska’s food systems. Our theme, location, and partners may change each event, but our goals remain the same:
- To increase awareness of Alaska food issues among the general population.
- To provide training, resources, and networking opportunities to increase involvement in local food issues by community members and decision-makers; and
- To 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.
This spring, we hosted our 8th Alaska Food Festival and Conference, which took place from March 27–29, 2025, in Kodiak, marking the first time the event was held off Alaska’s road system – and the first time it has sold out in-person tickets before the event! We also offered virtual participation options, allowing for over 80 people to attend without traveling. In all, the gathering brought together over 315 food producers, kelpers, fishers, advocates, educators, policymakers, and more from across the state and beyond to discuss food security, grants and funding, local agriculture, and other sustainable food systems topics.
With the immense support of our planning partners, Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute, Kodiak Area Native Association, Kodiak Harvest Food Co-op, and Intertribal Agriculture Council, and the help of over 50 volunteers and planning committee members, we were able to present over 65 conference sessions. We also offered several pre-conference events, including a half-day Business and Grant Planning Workshop, a Kelp Life Cycle Tour, a social gathering at Double Shovel Cider hosted by Alaska MEP, and a film screening hosted by the Kodiak Harvest Food Co-op and Cama’i Club, and CAMP.
Ka‘iulani Odom, Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance
By hosting the event in Kodiak, a community accessible only by air or sea, we aimed to highlight the unique challenges and opportunities faced by off-road system communities in Alaska. Despite logistical challenges, the local and regional food systems work occurring on the island of Kodiak is immense and inspiring! To help visitors learn more about the lands and waters where the conference was being held, the conference commenced with the lighting of a traditional seal oil lamp by Dehrich Chya of the Alutiiq Museum, who also provided participants with an overview of the history and cultures of Kodiak.
Throughout the first day of the conference, we heard from legislative guests, support agencies like the Alaska Division of Agriculture and the Department of Public Health, and enjoyed presentations about youth agriculture initiatives and home gardening. The day had a large focus on Indigenous food systems topics, like Clam Gardens, USDA Meat processing, and traditional foods preparation, which included a demonstration by UAA’s Traditional Kitchen Chef Flora Deacon. Attendees enjoyed a co-keynote address by Ka‘iulani Odom, Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance, and UAA Associate Professor Melissa Chlupach, focused on traditional foods and community health.
To close the day, we hosted a Social Mix and Mingle Event and honored our 2025 Alaska Food Heroes. At each conference, we recognize individuals and organizations with the “Alaska Food Hero Award.” Selection is based on the work they have been involved with over the past 18 months. Awardees demonstrate a substantial impact on Alaska’s food system, transform an aspect of their community’s food system, and make a difference in Alaska’s prosperity, health, and self-reliance.
- Lorinda Lhotka, Alaska DEC Food Safety & Sanitation Program – Outstanding Service Award
- Don McNamara & Donna Rae Faulkner, Oceanside Farms
- Melissa Chlupach, UAA Dietetics & Nutrition
Keynote speaker. Dune Lankard, founder of Native Conservancy
Saturday was another information-packed day! Keynote speaker. Dune Lankard, founder of Native Conservancy, shared about his life’s work and highlighted the role of mariculture in healing oceans and supporting Indigenous-led food sovereignty efforts. Initiatives like Alutiiq Grown, Local Food Purchasing, Regional Food Business Centers, food hubs, reindeer and poultry production, and other topics were explored. Saturday also featured a homemade food fair, where local vendors showcased cottage food products such as dried kelp and kelp popcorn, exemplifying the potential of small-scale food entrepreneurship.
As we reflect on the 2025 Alaska Food Festival and Conference, it’s clear that this gathering was more than just an event- it was a celebration of Alaska’s journey toward food sovereignty and community resilience. Hosting the conference in Kodiak underscored AFPC’s commitment to greater inclusivity and brought together a diverse group of participants spanning sectors, united by a shared commitment to strengthening Alaska’s food systems.
The conversations, exchanges, and seeds of collaboration that took place during the conference have set the stage for continued progress. As we look ahead to the next gathering in the fall of 2026 (location and date TBD), the momentum and excitement generated in Kodiak serve as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when communities come together to share knowledge and break bread.
P.S. Stay tuned- recordings of conference presentations will be available soon on our website.
