Volunteers sought for food security project

May 15, 2017

Marmian Grimes

Alaska is one of five states the U.S. Department of Agriculture considers to have the least secure food system, with a reported three- to five-day food supply available.

To better understand how food moves through Alaska, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service is working with the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service on a food-mapping project. Mat-Su and Anchorage area farmers, gardeners, restaurant owners, chefs, fishermen and others interested in food distribution are invited to participate in a meeting from 1-4 p.m. May 24 in Room 208 of Kerttula Hall at the Matanuska Experiment Farm. Palmer agent Steve Brown will talk about food mapping and administer a survey.

Brown said the USDA's goal is to better understand the food system with the ultimate goal of improving food security.

“They’re trying to get people’s perceptions on how it works,” he said.

He notes that the three- to five-day food supply does not taken into account local foods that are grown in gardens, gathered or hunted.

Anyone who wishes to participate in the project is asked to sign up with the Palmer district Extension office at 907-745-3360. The farm is located at 1509 S. Georgeson Drive in Palmer. For more information, contact Brown at 907-745-3639.