Resolution on "State Food Resource Development Working Group" Introduced in AK Legislature

HCR24 “Relating to the establishment and operation of a state food resource development working group” was introduced on 2/17/12 by Rep. Bill Stoltze. The Alaska Food Policy Council is an important piece of this resolution.

You can read the full resolution and follow its progress at http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=HCR%2024&session=27.

Applications for the 2012 Alaska Farmers' Market-Quest Card Program Now Available

The State of Alaska Division of Agriculture, Division of Public Health, and Division of Public Assistance are pleased to announce that the Alaska Farmers’ Market-Quest Card Program (FM-Quest) will be offering grants to six farmers’ markets during the 2012 market season (May – October) to enable them to accept Quest (Food Stamps) electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards.

The FM-Quest Program 2012 Market Season Grants will provide technical assistance to implement the program and up to $7200 per market for:
· one wireless EBT machine that accepts Quest and debit cards;
· transaction and service fees for six months;
· salary and payroll services for a dedicated staff person for six months; and
· miscellaneous program items, such as signage and start-up items;

If your market is interested in participating in this program, please contact Diane Peck at 907-269-8447 or email at diane.peck@alaska.gov for an application. Completed applications are due February 29, 2012.

For an application for USDA FNS authorization to accept SNAP benefits, visit www.fns.usda.gov/snap/ebt/fm.htm or call 1-877-823-4369. If you have any questions or need assistance applying for the USDA FNS authorization to accept SNAP, contact Cheryl Kagee at cheryl.kagee@alaska.gov or at 907-465-3354.

Alaska Food Policy Council Strategic Plan

The AFPC released its three-year strategic plan (PDF) on Jan. 12, 2012. The AFPC will be working on action planning on our top five priority strategies in a face-to-face meeting in the spring. (Parties interested in working on a committee to help with one or more of these should please contact Diane Peck.)

1. Develop, strengthen and expand the school-based programs and policies that educate about and provide healthy, local foods to schools (e.g., Farm to School Program, Agriculture in the Classroom, traditional foods in schools, school gardens).
2. Strengthen enforcement language in the Local Agricultural and Fisheries Products Preference Statute (AS 36.15.050), also known as the “Seven Percent” statute and Procurement Preference for State Agricultural and Fisheries Products (Sec. 29.71.040).
3. Advocate and participate in the development of community level and comprehensive statewide emergency food preparedness plan(s).
4. Develop AFPC’s role as research aggregator and resource.
5. Identify and support existing local food system leaders, projects, events, and activities that support Alaska’s food system.

A few highlights from the strategic plan:

overall mission of the Council: The AFPC improves our food systems for the benefit of all Alaskans.

AFPC vision: Healthy, secure food systems that feed all Alaskans.

AFPC core values:

• Alaska grown, harvested, caught, and made
• health
• community
• self-reliance
• interdependence
• justice
• stability and security
• sustainability
• safety
• prosperity

Emergency food supplies

An article in Alaska Business Monthly describes Governor Parnell's plan to budget $4.9 million in emergency food supplies around the state:

Governor Parnell's Budget Prioritizes Emergency Preparedness

December 9, 2011, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell today announced that his Fiscal Year 2013 budget will prioritize disaster and emergency preparedness. The governor’s budget proposal will include $4.9 million for emergency food supplies to be distributed and securely stored in several locations throughout the state. This appropriation, in conjunction with funding provided in last year’s capital budget for emergency power and water purification, will help communities prepare and provide critical emergency services.

“We are working to ensure that every community is prepared to respond in the case of an emergency or natural disaster with power generation, safe drinking water and food supplies,” Governor Parnell said. “Individual responsibility plays a key role when disaster strikes. Families should always have enough food and water on hand for seven days. We have seen the benefits of preparedness in the excellent response to the fall storms in Western Alaska, and the protection of life and property in those communities."

The budget will also include $3 million for a helicopter for the Alaska State Troopers so they can access remote areas. 

Food Recovery Pilot Project

The Department of Health and Social Services, Finance and Management Services, is soliciting Letters of Interest from eligible applicants for the Food Recovery Pilot Project.

The Food Recovery Pilot Project will coordinate efforts to collect prepared and/or perishable food from local businesses, such as restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, delicatessens, etc., with redistribution to organizations which provide food free of charge to Alaskans in need. Recovery efforts under this grant will require close collaboration among all community businesses that are food-based and those which distribute the food to needy Alaskans.

The target population is needy Alaskans. The service area is statewide with the exception of the Municipality of Anchorage, and the Fairbanks North Star and Matansuka-Susitna boroughs as those populations are served by Human Services Community Matching Grants.

To be eligible for consideration, Letters of Interest and the requested supporting documents must be received on or before 4:00 pm prevailing local time on Monday, December 19, 2011. The period of award for the program is the remainder of FY12, January 2012 through June 30, 2012.

For more information: http://notes4.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c156e7a8925672a0060a91b/89cabfec7dea83228925794b0066781b?OpenDocument


Contact Information:
Amy O’Mara, Grants Administrator
DHSS Grants and Contracts Support Team
PO Box 110650
Juneau, AK 99811-0650
Phone: (907) 465-4709
Fax: (907) 465-8678
E-mail: amy.omara@alaska.gov

Taste of Alaska results

From Margaret Adsit, director of the Alaska Farmland Trust:

Dear Alaska Food Policy Council,

During the 2011 Alaska State Fair, the Alaska Farmland Trust conducted the Taste of Alaska Challenge. This second annual taste test pitted “grown here” against “flown here” fruits and vegetables.  Many of the adults and kids who tried celery, radishes, carrots, strawberries, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes and milk tasted their first Alaska Grown produce at the Alaska Farmland Trust booth.  You can see the results of this taste test in the attached document.  We had over 1700 participants and got some really great responses.

The Alaska Farmland Trust would like to continue to this Taste of Alaska event at the Alaska State Fair 2012, but we would like to 1) bring in new partners to help make the Taste of Alaska more successful  and 2) expand the information that folks get when stopping at the booth i.e. more information on local markets, restaurants that sell local food, nutrition information etc.

 If you or your organization are interested in becoming a partner with the Alaska Farmland Trust to make the Taste of Alaska amazing for 2012, or to volunteer, please contact Margaret Adsit at:
 
Margaret Adsit
Executive Director
Alaska Farmland Trust
248 E. Dahlia Ave
Palmer AK, 99645
907-745-3336
www.akfarmland.com

"Preserving Alaska's Farmland for Future Generations"


Taste of Alaska white paper 2011 (pdf)

Request for Proposals for Native Agriculture & Food Systems Initiative Grants

First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) is now accepting proposals for the Native American food security grant project under its Native Agriculture & Food Systems Initiative (NAFSI). Through the generous support of Walmart, First Nations plans to make ten grant awards averaging $30,000 under NAFSI. The goal of NAFSI is to assist rural and reservation-based Native communities in developing or expanding locally-controlled and locally-based food systems that provide healthy foods to community members. A second goal is to support local food producers and local tribal economies. Native American-controlled, nonprofit 501(c)(3), tribal organizations designated as §7871 under the Internal Revenue Code, or community-based groups such as community garden projects, food banks and/or food pantries that serve Native communities are eligible to apply.

Proposals will be accepted online and must be submitted by no later than 5 p.m. Mountain Time on December 16, 2011. First Nations Development Institute will host two conference calls for interested applicants. These conference calls will allow potential applicants to ask questions about the request for proposal and the overall grant submission process. The first call will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2011, at 11 a.m. Mountain time. The second call will be held on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 2 p.m. Mountain time. See the information below and visit our website for more information (www.firstnations.org).For additional information about this program, please contact Jackie Francke at (303) 774-7836, ext. 17 or at jfrancke@firstnations.org. Application available at http://www.firstnations.org/node/172.