Alaska is one of five states with the most insecure food resources in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
One reason? Only a small percentage of Alaska’s food is produced in-state. That’s why state and federal officials are trying to get a better idea of how much food Alaskans actually raise and grow.
And it’s with that goal in mind that the Matanuska Experiment Farm will host a meeting on food security from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 24 in Palmer.
Stephen Brown, a professor of agriculture extension, said anybody interested in food security is invited to attend.
“The only requirement to attend is that you eat food,” Brown said.
Part of the meeting is informational, but there is also a survey for people to fill out to help understand food production and the perception of it.
There are many aspects of in-state food production, including hunting and gathering, as well as traditional agriculture, that are unique to Alaska, Brown said.
“We also have a lot of people that are raising food to feed themselves but don’t necessarily consider themselves farmers,” Brown said. “These are all things that are not well understood in Alaska.”
The Wednesday meeting is in Room 208 of Kerttula Hall at the Matanuska Experiment Farm on South Georgeson Drive.
More meetings on food security are set to follow at locations around the state.
Casey Grove is host of Alaska News Nightly, a general assignment reporter and an editor at Alaska Public Media. Reach him at cgrove@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Casey here.
