August 15, 2002
Thursday - 12: 20 am

Palmer - More Alaska-grown produce will be used by the State of Alaska under arrangements announced by Gov. Tony Knowles Wednesday while visiting a farm in Palmer

--- Vegetable sales account for $5.5 million; barley, hay, and oats $4 million; livestock $3 million; and milk $3 million.

with Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Pat Pourchot and Division of Agriculture Director Rob Wells. While in Delta Junction at a Farm Tour luncheon, the Governor announced Agriculture and Conservation Board re-appointments and an appointment to a newly created Alaska-Alberta Commission.

"Last year, Alaskan farmers produced record crops of potatoes and other vegetables. The potato crop was worth over $3 million in cash receipts, one-tenth of the value of the more than $30 million dollar cash receipts from all farm marketing," Knowles said. "This is an Alaska success story we should be proud of."

NANA Development Corporation, and their 30 year-old subsidiary NANA Management Services, holds a food service contract with the Alaska Department of Administration (DOA) to supply the Pioneers' Homes. NANA also supplies the Mt. Edgecumbe school, the University of Alaska, and North Slope oilfields service companies. Working with Administration Commissioner Jim Duncan, NANA has agreed to step up compliance with the letter and spirit of Alaska product preference laws.

The agreement was announced at the Palmer farm of Ben and Suus VanderWeele, who received the Farm Family of the Year award in 2001 from the Alaska State Fair. VanderWeele Farms is one of the largest produce farms in Alaska, marketing potatoes, carrots, four varieties of lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, radishes and zucchini.

Helvi Sandvik, President of NANA Development Corp., signed a letter to the VanderWeeles

--- Photo Gallery View Photos of the Agriculture Tour

during the visit, saying: "NANA Management Services is committed to supporting Alaskan-owned businesses. In keeping with our goal of buying Alaskan Grown products, NANA commits to buy 70 cases per week of 90-count potatoes from VanderWeele Farms for as long as the supply lasts. We also commit to purchasing other Alaskan Grown products, such as leaf and iceberg lettuce, and carrots."

DOA also will amend its contract language with Food Services of America, which supplies the Corrections Department and the Alaska Marine Highway. The new language will require FSA to list Alaskan grown produce available each week, giving state workers making food purchases an easy and simple tool for purchasing Alaska grown foods. DOA will also establish a tracking system of institutional food purchasing.

"We've once again proved our best markets for Alaskan Grown are right here in Alaska. The Knowles-Ulmer administration will continue to encourage - and when appropriate - require, retailers, wholesalers, and state and federal institutions to use products produced here," Knowles said.

Knowles also visited Arctic Organics, a Palmer farm owned by River and Sarah Bean, which is a large supplier of produce to local farmers markets. In Delta Junction, the Governor and DNR officials joined the annual Delta Farms Tour, sponsored by the UAF Cooperative Extension and the Delta Chapter of the Farm Bureau. Knowles visited the Alaska Farmers Co-op., lunched on locally grown food, and toured the Northern Lights Dairy.

In his luncheon address to the agriculture community, Knowles announced two re-appointments to the Board of Agriculture and Conservation:

Andy Andrews, a potato farmer from Delta, who has operated a family farming operation in Alaska since 1973. Andrews has served on the Board of Agriculture and Conservation since 2001 and will fill a three-year seat through September 2005. "Andy and his wife Mary are great examples of the decent, hard-working people that Alaskan farmers are," Knowles said.

Sam Lightwood, a hay and beef producer from Kenny Lake in the Copper River valley area, has been an active farmer since he homesteaded in Kenny Lake in 1963. He raises livestock, cattle, pigs, and chickens. Lightwood served on the Board since 2000 and will also fill a three year seat. Said Knowles: "Sam is committed to sustainability and wise-use practices and has been a valuable member of the former Agricultural Revolving Loan Fund and the Board of Agriculture and Conservation."

At a Wednesday luncheon, Knowles also announced his first appointment to a newly formed council. The Alaska-Alberta Working Group's goal is to advance commercial, cultural, and educational ties between the state and province. Knowles and Alberta Premier Ralph Klein are jointly appointing council members. The first to be named is Dr. James Drew, a former dean of the School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management and Director of the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (now retired).

Knowles has issued an Executive Proclamation, "Delta Farm Tour Day," to encourage all Alaskans to recognize the importance of agriculture in our lives, and to thank farmers and

--- Listen to the Governor's remarks- RealAudio

their families who generously open their farms to host visitors.

DNR Commissioner Pat Pourchot summarized the day by saying: "Agriculture fulfills one of the core themes of the Knowles/Ulmer administration: family values and jobs that are based on renewable natural resource development."

There are about 600 farms in Alaska, primarily in Palmer, Delta, Fairbanks, and Kenai, account for about 1000 farmers and 1750 horticultural (greenhouse) employees. About 920,000 acres of land are in use for crops and grazing. Total 2001 cash receipts for farming were over $30 million, with half from Southcentral Alaska and $8-10 million from the Tanana Valley. Of the $30 million, about half of the receipts are from greenhouse and nursery sales.

Reflecting on the strength of Alaska agriculture, Rob Wells, director of the DNR Division of Agriculture, said "Alaskan farmers continue to produce more quality products every year, sometimes under challenging conditions. I urge Alaskans to continue their support of agriculture by asking for Alaska Grown in the marketplaces and restaurants. Our products are always fresher by far."

Vegetable sales account for $5.5 million; barley, hay, and oats $4 million; livestock $3 million; and milk $3 million. There are 11 dairy farms in Alaska, three in Delta, eight in the Mat-Su. Anchorage, Eagle River, Fairbanks, Homer, Kenai, North Pole, Palmer, and Wasilla have Farmers' Markets.

This past Monday, Knowles proclaimed August 12-17 as "Farmers Market Week" in Alaska to increase awareness of the 10 farmers' markets around the state and the important contributions that farmers make to Alaska's economic and social well being.

Related Information:

Alaska Grown Program

Source of News Release:

Office of the Governor
Web Site

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