As anyone who has visited the 49th State knows, Alaska is huge. It’s bigger than the next three largest states, Texas, California and Montana….combined! A land of extremes, Alaska’s rural communities face unique challenges: massive stretches of land that are permanently frozen (permafrost), long, dark winters, summer days where the sun never sets, 6,640 miles of coastline, majestic mountains, glaciers and rivers. Producers are challenged by vast distances and limited transportation networks, while also threatened by coastal erosion and the effects of climate change. In this environment, a small but increasing number of producers are working to make big changes in the way local food and plant materials are grown and supplied within the state.
