By Colin Peacock, AFPC Regional Food Business Center Co-Director
On Wednesday, February 14th, AFPC staff along with staff and farmers from the Farm Bureau of Alaska, testified before both the Senate and House Resources Committees. We were there providing feedback on both the Governor’s CROP Act (HB296/SB211) and efforts to date of the Alaska Legislative Food Strategy Task Force. As the Regional Food Business Center Co-Director I felt it was important to focus my testimony on helping smaller food producers of all kinds; mariculture, kelp, farmers and more. (You can check out video of my testimony here.) I understand from first hand experience from my history with the Salt and Soil Marketplace (Southeast Alaska’s Food Hub) that there are unique challenges and barriers for smaller scale producers and growers, from markets to transportation. But even through those challenges, we have incredible success stories where beginning and small farmers and food businesses end up growing to an integral part of the food chain. But what happens when there is success but barriers to growing into a larger producer? How can our policies help them grow even more?
There are several recommendations in the Food Security Taskforce report would help them grow and move into the larger markets, namely, the governor's office actually had incredible already documented success in asking Fred Meyers and a few other grocery stores to host some Alaska-grown products. That's a recommendation that's a low-hanging fruit in my mind and has already worked. That would be great to have, anything that gets more locally grown produce in larger grocery store shelves. And it would solve one of the major barriers that we have in growing our food producers to be larger part of our food system. If they have space on the shelves, the stores will look for them, and they can plan on that reliable sales that is needed to grow our smaller and medium sized producers.
These are also some of the most diverse producers in terms of the type of foods they grow and make, and their backgrounds. This diversity equals greater resilience in our local food chain in terms of producing more food in state, this is especially important when considering supply chain disruptions that have and can occur in barging our food up from the lower 48. The people that start their own food businesses are doing this out of passion and they want to move from being a mom and pop, nights and weekends business to something they do as a full time job and you can't do that without shelf space at larger markets.
Currently, our Division of Agriculture is buried within the Department of Natural Resources, where oil, gas, and mining issues historically take priority over agriculture. I support establishing a dedicated Department of Agriculture that would elevate agriculture’s profile and give it a seat at the Governor’s cabinet table. This would increase the executive branch’s focus on agriculture and lead to more attention and time being spent on agricultural issues in the legislature. This, in turn, would result in improved policies that better support the agricultural industry, which would expand the sector and increase access to local foods, thus improving food security.
In addition, a Department of Agriculture would allow for the consolidation of agriculture-related programs and services that are currently scattered across different departments. This would streamline communication and processes and make it easier for farmers and ranchers to access the resources they need. Moreover, a dedicated department would allow for better targeted staffing, ensuring that there are experts in place to address all the needs of the agricultural industry.
Reaching large markets for Alaskan farmers and ranchers is hampered by marketing and supply limitations. An Alaska Grown Marketing Institute (AGMI) would tackle both issues head-on. By promoting food grown and processed in Alaska, the AGMI would provide farmers and ranchers with the confidence to scale up production, ensuring that Alaskan grocery shelves remain stocked even during supply chain disruptions. This increased production would not only enhance food security but also create jobs and bolster our economy.
Look to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) for a shining example of how collective marketing can benefit an industry. Funded through industry assessments and USDA support, ASMI has spearheaded the growth of the Alaskan seafood industry by opening new markets. We can replicate this model for agriculture, providing a unified voice and marketing muscle for Alaskan farmers and ranchers.
I wholeheartedly endorse the creation and funding of an Alaska Grown Marketing Institute. Having seen firsthand the challenges farmers face with individual marketing efforts, I understand the immense value of gathering collective marketing and allowing the farmers to do what they do best. An AGMI can generate incredible dividends for Alaskan agriculture.
Lastly, the link between robust agricultural research and increased production is undeniable, as evidenced by the success stories of other states who've prioritized this investment. Alaskan farmers and ranchers, however, lack the capacity and time to conduct their own research due to their demanding workload. Furthermore, research conducted in the lower 48 states simply isn't applicable to our unique climate, daylight hours, growing season, and soil conditions.
This is where increased in-state research becomes crucial. It ensures agility and responsiveness to the evolving needs of our farmers, individual households, and communities striving for food security. The current state of research, however, requires significant investment in both equipment and personnel. This is a long-term commitment, demanding substantial funding.
As someone who has closely observed the agricultural landscape of Alaska, I can say that increased research with our universities represents one of the most effective ways to support farmers. The most successful ones rely heavily on data-driven insights into what grows best in their specific climate, region, and season. By testing different varieties and techniques, they continuously improve their yield and overall performance.
Our testimony was all about breaking down the current barriers for small-scale food producers in Alaska. We're pushing for a dedicated Department of Agriculture to shine a spotlight on farming issues, advocating for an Alaska Grown Marketing Institute to boost local products, and emphasizing the need for Alaska-centric research to help our farmers thrive. Let's get more local shelf space for local foods, give farmers the support they need, and create a future where Alaska's agricultural scene is flourishing.
