Food Systems Network Gatherings, afpc events & conferences
Recap Blog: January 2025 Alaska Food Systems Network Gathering
By Meghan Hargis, Special Events Coordinator, AFPC
The Alaska Food Policy Council kicked off the new year with our first gathering of the Alaska Food Systems Network on January 23rd. Held virtually, these quarterly meetings bring together community members, food system advocates, food producers, policy experts, and more from across Alaska to engage in meaningful conversations about the future of food systems in our state.
Highlights from the January Q1 Gathering
The meeting opened with a warm welcome from the AFPC team, who set the stage for a gathering to connect, advocate, and inform, modeled around our organization’s mission. The gathering provided an overview of our Alaska Regional Food Business Center (RFBC) and an introduction to a new staff member, Ellen Olack, RFBC Programs Manager, a quick look at AFPC’s 2025 policy priorities that we will advocate for in Juneau and beyond, and featured two wonderful guest speakers!
Activity showing who was present at the meeting, by name on the map and by organization logo on the right!
Guest Speakers & What They Shared
We were honored to host two stellar guest speakers: Amanda Swanson from the Alaska Division of Agriculture and Gretchen Fauske from the Alaska Small Business Development Center. Both shared their expertise and offered insight into the grant programs their organizations offer.
The Alaska Division of Agriculture administers the USDA federally funded Specialty Crop Block Grant. This grant seeks to increase production, consumption, access, knowledge, and sustainability of Alaska Grown specialty crops, sustain farmers’ livelihoods, and strengthen local communities. Amanda shared a cadre of information on what products are eligible under this grant and how to apply. For more information, see the Alaska Division of Agriculture website.
The Alaska Small Business Development Center has a Mini-Grant Funding Support Program specifically designed to help small businesses. Gretchen shared that the mini-grants can help small businesses cover costs associated with legal, accounting, or financial services. These services can help businesses prepare stronger applications for loans, grants, and other forms of financing, increasing their chances of receiving the necessary funds to sustain their operations. For more information on their offerings and the mini-grant program, visit https://aksbdc.org/.
Other Topics Discussed
In addition to our guest speakers, we shared information about several upcoming events, hosted by AFPC and our partner organizations. These events include our fast-approaching 2025 Alaska Food Festival & Conference, hosted this year in Kodiak! The event will span 2 days, March 28-29th, with pre-conference events scheduled on the 27th. This conference is being offered on a hybrid platform, so while we hope to see many of you in person, there are virtual tickets available if travel to Kodiak is a barrier. Register for your ticket now!
Other upcoming events and trainings, funding opportunities, job postings, and calls for collaboration can be found on our Opportunities Portal. This portal is open for all Alaskan agencies and organizations to utilize – if you have an opportunity to share with others in your Alaska Food Systems Network, please add it to the portal!
What’s Coming Up
Looking ahead to the second quarter of 2025, we will host another exciting gathering on April 30th, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. This gathering promises to continue the conversation on food systems resilience and provide a platform for networking and collaboration among food systems professionals and community members.
Stay tuned for updates on guest speakers, discussion topics, and more information as we approach the Q2 Gathering. Whether you’re a seasoned food systems advocate, producer, or educator, or just beginning to get involved, we encourage you to mark your calendars and join us for this event!
Sign up for the April 30th Alaska Food Systems Network Gathering today!
