The Alaska Food Policy Council
At the ‘top’ or policy level tier of our Local Foods Campaign, ACE is working to implement policy that will strengthen Alaska’s food system.
As of 2010, ACE has teamed up with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Obesity Prevention and Control Program, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Farm Bureau, the Alaska Division of Agriculture, and AK Root Sellers to form the first Alaska Food Policy Council (FPC).
The long term goals of the Food Policy Council will be to identify barriers to building a viable Alaskan food system, create a strategic plan to address these barriers, and make the necessary recommendations to decision makers to implement this plan. Diverse stakeholders from around the state have been invited to participate, including representatives for commercial farmers, farmers’ markets and CSAs; fisheries and fish processors; distributors; institutional purchasers; private-sector businesses; legislators; consumers; Alaska Native tribal organizations; food security organizations; environmental organizations; and local, state and federal government agencies.
The first in-person meeting of the AK Food Policy Council is on May 18th and 19th in Anchorage. Over 60 stakeholders have been invited to participate. The meeting will begin with an all-Alaskan lunch catered by Rob Kineen of ORSO, a presentation on ‘What is a Food Policy Council?’ with national expert Mark Winne, and a lay of the land Expert Panel presentation to discuss ‘Food Issues in Alaska’. For the next two days, the group will begin to take on the task of forming the FPC itself, including setting the overall direction and forming subcommittees to continue the work over the next several years. Ultimately, the FPC will create a strategic plan to address hurdles to building a strong food system, and advise decision makers on how to implement this plan.
There are already about 50 FPCs across the country, so as we grow we have many opportunities to learn from other groups. To learn more about FPCs, check out the Food Security Coalition website.
ACE envisions the establishment of this FPC as the first step toward a longer term goal of establishing a more permanent entity. During the second session of the 26th Alaska State Legislature, ACE had the opportunity to meet with a diverse group of legislators, all of whom received the idea to form the AK Food Policy Council with enthusiasm. Learn more about the potential for legislation supporting a stronger AK food system by checking out our proposal for an Alaska ‘Food, Farms, and Jobs’ Act.
Feel free to e-mail Alli with questions, or call 274-3662. Please check back to this website for updates on the work of the Food Policy Council.
