01/29/2013 11:15 AM House ECON. DEV., TRADE & TOURISM
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Overviews (s): Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Overview and Seafood Marketing Efforts | |
| HCR1 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HCR 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRADE AND
TOURISM
January 29, 2013
11:16 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Shelley Hughes, Chair
Representative Lynn Gattis
Representative Bob Herron
Representative Pete Higgins
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Kurt Olson
Representative Lance Pruitt
Representative Harriet Drummond
Representative Geran Tarr
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEWS (S): ALASKA SEAFOOD MARKETING INSTITUTE OVERVIEW AND
SEAFOOD MARKETING EFFORTS
- HEARD
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1
Relating to the establishment and operation of a state food
resource development working group.
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HCR 1
SHORT TITLE: STATE FOOD RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT GROUP
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STOLTZE
01/24/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/24/13 (H) EDT, RES
01/29/13 (H) EDT AT 11:15 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
SUSAN BELL, Commissioner
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave introductory remarks prior to the
presentation by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI).
TYSON FICK, Communications Director
Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI)
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a PowerPoint presentation
entitled, "Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute," dated 1/29/13.
REPRESENTATIVE BILL STOLTZE
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Speaking as the sponsor, introduced HCR 1.
KEVIN BRENNAN, Executive Director
Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 1.
BRYCE WRIGLEY, President
Alaska Farm Bureau
Delta Junction, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 1.
REX WRIGLEY
Delta Junction, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 1.
DEAN HAMBURG, Chair
Public Policy & Legislation
Alaska School Nutrition Association; Administrator
U.S. Department of Agriculture National School Meal Program
Kenai School District
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 1.
KATE VEH
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Speaking on her own behalf, testified in
support of HCR 1.
KYRA WAGNER
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Speaking on her own behalf, testified in
support of HCR 1.
LARRY DEVILBISS, Mayor
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 1.
TAFFINA KATKUS, Consultant
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCF 1.
DELENA JOHNSON, Mayor
City of Palmer
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 1.
DANNY CONSENSTEIN, State Executive Director
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Farm Service Agency for Alaska; Member
Governing Board
Alaska Food Policy Council
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 1.
MARY SULLIVAN, Director
Department of Advocacy and Agency
Anchorage Food Bank of Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 1`.
JOE BALASH, Deputy Commissioner
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered his department's support for HCR 1.
DARREN SNYDER, 4-H Youth & Development and
Agriculture/Horticulture Agent
Southeast District
Cooperative Extension Service
University of Fairbanks
University of Alaska; Member
Governing Board
Alaska Food Policy Council
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 1.
JIM SACKETT, CEO and President
Toghotthele Corporation
Nenana, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 1.
MIKE O'HARE, Deputy Director
Division of Homeland Security/Emergency Management (DHS&EM)
Department of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA)
Fort Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Stated his division would comply with HCR
1.
ACTION NARRATIVE
11:16:44 AM
CHAIR SHELLEY HUGHES called the House Special Committee on
Economic Development, Trade and Tourism meeting to order at
11:16 a.m. Representatives Gattis, Higgins, Johnson, Olson, and
Hughes were present at the call to order. Representatives
Herron, Pruitt, Drummond, and Tarr arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
^OVERVIEWS (S): ALASKA SEAFOOD MARKETING INSTITUTE OVERVIEW and
SEAFOOD MARKETING EFFORTS
OVERVIEWS (S): ALASKA SEAFOOD MARKETING INSTITUTE OVERVIEW and
SEAFOOD MARKETING EFFORTS
11:17:29 AM
CHAIR HUGHES announced that the first order of business would be
a presentation by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI).
11:18:20 AM
SUSAN BELL, Commissioner, Department of Commerce, Community &
Economic Development (DCCED), gave introductory remarks prior to
the presentation by ASMI. Ms. Bell stated there is urgency in
the state to diversify the economy, create jobs, and attract
investment. Her department is working to address energy costs
and the development of infrastructure to support industry, and
is much focused on marketing Alaska's goods and services - such
as seafood, tourism, forest and mineral products, and film - and
to make connections to markets worldwide. Another part of
creating a solid foundation and an attractive business climate
is to work towards low taxes and fees, stability, and reasonable
regulation. She advised that future testimony to this committee
by various divisions of DCCED will be particularly focused on
the economic development activities of the state and engaging
with the private sector in the key area of marketing. In
addition, DCCED is collaborating with the private sector and
other agencies in the areas of financing, market research,
economic analysis, providing technical assistance and training,
and connecting businesses to services provided by the state and
other entities.
11:20:59 AM
TYSON FICK, Communications Director, Alaska Seafood Marketing
Institute (ASMI), Department of Commerce, Community & Economic
Development (DCCED), provided a PowerPoint presentation
entitled, "Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute," dated 1/29/13.
He said ASMI staff members are busy; for example, last week
there were promotions scheduled in France, Spain, China, and
Brazil, along with an informational tour of Europe. In
addition, the foodservice, retail, and communication sections
are working on videos and press interviews, and are preparing
for shows in the U.S. Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is a
public/private partnership of the state and the seafood
industry, governed by a board of directors that is appointed by
the governor, and its single focus is on increasing the value of
Alaska's seafood resource. The Alaska statutes authorizing ASMI
direct that it promotes Alaska's seafood generically, and
prohibits promotion by geographic region or specific brand. He
pointed out that when Alaska became a state the notion of
sustainability and sustained yield was part of its constitution.
Mr. Fick called attention to slide 5 which was a breakdown of
ASMI's funding and budget request, and he advised that ASMI is
restricted in the amount of spending allowed with the intent
that it carry funds forward and work to build savings against
the possible loss of federal funds. The total spending plan is
approximately $22.5 million for the coming year.
11:26:49 AM
CHAIR HUGHES asked for an explanation of the voluntary tax.
MR. FICK recalled that in 2003 the tax structure and the
composition of the board of directors changed; in fact, now all
processors pay .05 percent into a fund that is subject to a vote
by the industry. In further response he said, "Once the vote
was taken and the tax is taken, now everybody that ... processes
fish or sells fish directly - like the direct marketers - then
they would pay into this marketing fund. If the decision is
made to go back and revisit the issue, then [the processors]
could vote out the tax and basically eliminate ASMI."
CHAIR HUGHES observed that industry funds provide the bulk of
ASMI's funding.
11:27:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS asked how much the industry contributes
per year.
MR. FICK said the amount is based on .05 percent of the ex-
vessel value; 2011 was an historic high year with an ex-vessel
value of approximately $2.2 billion. For the past five years,
the value has been closer to $1.7 billion thus the tax has been
in the $8.5 million to $9 million range. He returned attention
to slide 6 and said voting members of the board consist of five
processors and two harvesters. There are four ex-officio
members - one member each from the governor's office, DCCED, the
House of Representatives, and the Senate. In addition, advisory
committees offer the board specific industry knowledge in
salmon, halibut-sablefish, shellfish, whitefish, international
marketing, foodservice marketing, and retail marketing. Slide 8
was an organizational chart that indicated the species and
operational advisory committees make recommendations directly to
the board. He said there is also a customer advisory panel made
up of some of the largest seafood customers who have been
invited to advise staff on how they are doing and how to
improve. Mr. Fick assured the committee that ASMI looks at
every opportunity to coordinate marketing efforts with other
organizations and events; for example, the Great Alaska Seafood
Cook-off; "Ocean Mysteries" on television; tourism marketing;
the Alaska SeaLife Center; Alaska Airlines; and other countries.
The institute also works with other governmental departments
such as the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), the
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (USDA).
MR. FICK stated that the Alaska seafood industry accounted for
52 percent of the total U.S. harvest in 2011 - which is less
than 2 percent of the global harvest - and pointed out that the
above percentage underlays the importance of marketing. The
Alaska seafood industry is the state's largest private sector
employer, seafood is the state's largest export, and the
industry provides very important job opportunities to rural
communities. Mr. Fick noted that Alaska Marine Lines attributes
the seafood industry with a 10 percent cost savings in overall
shipping. In response to Representative Drummond, he clarified
that the volume of containers leaving with frozen seafood lowers
the cost of products coming to Alaska. Slide 12 was a pie chart
indicating the composition by volume of the Alaska seafood
harvest. About 80 percent of the total harvest is pollock,
groundfish, and cod; in fact, pollock is the largest commercial
fishery in the U.S. Calling attention to the high value of some
species, he noted that salmon makes up 14 percent of the harvest
but 31 percent of the value, and halibut and sablefish make up 1
to 2 percent of the harvest and 17 percent of the value. Slide
14 illustrated that Alaska seafood is supplied to a huge global
market, although exports to the U.S. are roughly 50 percent of
the total. Seafood is also re-exported from other countries
like China; in fact, ASMI has recently opened an office in
Brazil to support businesses that ship cod to Spain and Portugal
and re-export to Brazil. Slide 15 was a graph indicating the
historical wild and hatchery stock salmon harvest from 1900 to
2010; hatchery stock now accounts for about 30 percent of the
total harvest. He pointed out there were increases in the
harvest around the time of statehood, and in 1976 after the
passage of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act which established a state-managed 200-mile
fishery conservation zone.
11:36:27 AM
CHAIR HUGHES asked what accounts for the downturn in 1990.
MR. FICK was unsure and will provide an answer at a later date.
Slide 16 was a graph indicating global salmon supplies, the
average ex-vessel price of Alaska salmon, and the wholesale
price of farmed salmon. He said this information proves that
even with an increased global supply of salmon, the value of
Alaska wild salmon continues to go up. As a matter of fact, the
value of farmed salmon is declining thus wild Alaska salmon has
developed a strong niche in the market and created a preference
for wild salmon. Furthermore, as the value of salmon has
increased over the last 10 years, so has the value of fishing
assets such as permits and boats. However, there are challenges
to the fishing industry including economic unrest in the
European Union which has depressed prices, and illegal,
unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing - particularly Russian
king crab fishing which has created about a 25 percent decrease
in ex-vessel value for Alaska fisherman.
CHAIR HUGHES asked if the illegal fishing takes place in Alaska
waters.
11:38:48 AM
MR. FICK explained the illegal fishing takes place in Russian
waters and is evidenced by discrepancies between trade data and
published quotas for the legal harvest. Another challenge is
the whitefish supply that has rebounded in the Atlantic Ocean
thereby lowering global cod prices. Chile and Norway have
increased their farmed salmon supply and the effect of
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) remains an unknown.
Competing proteins such as imported seafood and marketing
promotions targeted toward the U.S. market present difficulties
for the Alaska industry, however, the biggest challenge is the
proliferation of eco-labels and the reaction to the withdrawal
of salmon from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
Certification Program. He explained the reasons for the
withdrawal are: to maintain market access; maintain non-
governmental organization (NGO) control of the fishery
management process; prevent brand erosion; and avoid the ongoing
and increasing costs of certification. Mr. Fick recalled that
in 2005 MSC sought to divide Alaska salmon management into 64
units and language on the packaging of seafood products in the
United Kingdom claimed co-management. Also, the Alaska hatchery
programs are under attack. Slide 21 was a graph that he said
illustrated the appropriate role of NGOs which is equal to that
of stakeholders and United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) guidance. However, the certification program
has "put a roadblock between the seafood product and the
marketplace and if you have control of the market to where we
can't take our product to market without a certification ...
that NGO that has control of the market can impose whatever they
want as far as mandates on fisheries management." At the same
time, the Alaska brand has been replaced by MSC. As the Russian
pollock fleet is close to being certified, this is particularly
a problem because the official species name is Alaska pollock
thus packaging on Russian pollock could read "MSC certified
Alaska pollock." Furthermore, [the Russian fleet] does not have
observer coverage, a plan to reduce bycatch, or worker safety
rules, and operates in a less competitive situation.
11:42:38 AM
MR. FICK advised the current situation is that retailers are
more accepting of the FAO-based Responsible Fisheries Management
Certification. He explained that the reason other
certifications seek to usurp the Alaska brand is because Alaska
Seafood is the second most commonly specified brand on U.S.
menus, second only to Angus beef. Slides 27 through 58
illustrated many marketing promotions through cafes and quick
service restaurants, and some of the many merchandising
materials available to the food service industry. The institute
also offers consumer research to every major retailer and has
materials available at the point of sale and on the retailers'
web sites. Other marketing efforts include educational
programs, events at universities, menus, chef seminars, trade
advertising, consumer media relations, crisis communications,
global food aid, food photography, and international activities
in 21 countries. Mr. Fick concluded that ASMI is in the news
and in the industry news, and he feels ASMI's future is bright.
11:48:01 AM
HCR 1-STATE FOOD RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT GROUP
11:48:05 AM
CHAIR HUGHES announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1, Relating to the establishment
and operation of a state food resource development working
group.
11:48:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE BILL STOLTZE, Alaska State Legislature, informed
the committee he is introducing HCR 1 in order to integrate the
resources within existing departments and agencies thereby
improving support for agriculture - and food policy in general -
through better coordination of services. The resolution
pinpoints the departments, agencies, and groups that have a role
in agriculture from the Department of Health and Social Services
(DHSS) which administers Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food
and nutrition programs, to the Department of Corrections (DOC),
which makes many agricultural purchases. In fact, efforts by
Representative Stoltze, other legislators, farmers, and
wholesalers have been successful in increasing DOC's purchases
of local agricultural products from $32,000 in FY 08 to $113,000
in FY 11. House Concurrent Resolution 1 seeks for all
departments, agencies and the University of Alaska (UA) to be
more proactive in promoting and utilizing agriculture in Alaska.
Last year's capital budget included an appropriation for the
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED)
to approve Alaska Grown, Alaska Wild Seafood, and Alaska
Husbandry products. He noted two previously successful
programs: the promotion of vegetables and the salmon supplied
to the Galena City School District by Kaltag Fisheries.
Representative Stoltze advised the resolution has wide support.
11:52:56 AM
CHAIR HUGHES asked how the resolution will "fill a gap that the
[Alaska] Food Policy Council isn't currently filling?"
REPRESENTATIVE STOLTZE said the council is a private group which
agrees that Alaska needs a better food policy. Although the
resolution is as inclusive as possible, the administration will
have to invite participants. In further response to Chair
Hughes' question on the membership of the group, he expressed
his belief that for the resolution to be successful, the
administration will have to agree [to the membership],
therefore, for the resolution to set out the membership of the
group would have been counterproductive.
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES noted the resolution brings eight
departments and UA together so it will potentially have impact
across the state.
REPRESENTATIVE STOLTZE stated he was open to incorporating good
ideas into HCR 1.
11:56:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND stated her interest in the resolution,
noting her urban district includes "enormously successful"
farmers markets stocked with products from other districts. She
has heard that Alaska produces less than 5 percent of the food
that is consumed in the state, and said she supports any way to
increase that.
CHAIR HUGHES recalled in the 1950s Alaska produced 50 percent of
the food consumed.
REPRESENTATIVE STOLTZE surmised that Alaska has been a victim of
efficiencies and better transportation.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND observed the Anchorage School District
has a large food service facility that serves 20,000 students
each school day. She opined school food service facilities
should be utilized each non-school day to process food and
support community and state programs such as WIC.
CHAIR HUGHES expressed her belief that part of what the working
group authorized by HCR 1 will address is recommendations
regarding similar opportunities.
11:59:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STOLTZE agreed.
CHAIR HUGHES reminded the committee that the nutritional value
of food declines with time after harvest. She invited public
testimony.
12:00:15 PM
KEVIN BRENNAN, Executive Director, Kodiak Regional Aquaculture
Association, stated his support for the resolution, saying that
it is a good move for the state. The Kodiak Regional
Aquaculture Association is one of seven regional corporations
that run salmon hatcheries and perform salmon enhancement
projects across the state along with many non-regional, private,
nonprofit salmon hatchery systems. He advised that hatchery
production salmon account for about 30 percent of the statewide
salmon harvest. The association seeks to encourage action by
the state to help with food security and food resources.
Unfortunately, many view salmon hatchery systems as commercial
fishery-driven and profit based; however, hatcheries have
expanded their roles to support food security. The United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has identified
fish as a single food that can be used to address all aspects of
world malnutrition. Hatcheries produce fish for the commercial
fishery, subsistence, personal-use, and sport fisheries as well.
Mr. Brennan gave an example of a hatchery that stocked sockeye
into a barren lake and provided a source of food for the local
community. Sport fish programs along the road system produce
for local use and support tourism. The association board of
directors passed a resolution in 2012 that read in part:
We acknowledge our role as a food producer and commit
to working in a collaborative multi-disciplinary
manner to address the issues and challenges of food
security at a local, regional, and global level ...
12:05:37 PM
BRYCE WRIGLEY, President, Alaska Farm Bureau, encouraged the
adoption and implementation of HCR 1. He cautioned that food
security in Alaska is subject to disruptions of its
transportation system such as the closure of the highway last
summer; the only way for Alaska to become more food secure is to
produce a greater amount of food within the state. Mr. Wrigley
expressed his appreciation that the resolution brings many
diverse agencies together in order to resolve the problem of
food security.
12:07:54 PM
REX WRIGLEY agreed with the previous speaker and expressed his
support of HCR 1.
12:08:24 PM
DEAN HAMBURG, Chair, Public Policy & Legislation, Alaska School
Nutrition Association, and the administrator for the U.S.
Department of Agriculture National School Meal Program, Kenai
School District, expressed the association's support of HCR 1
because it is a step toward improved food security for Alaska
families. Efforts to support locally sourced and processed
foods are best for kids and adults. Those responsible for
providing school meals to the 43 percent of Alaskan families who
qualify for free and reduced school meals are challenged by the
need to source foods from outside Alaska, and welcome HCR 1 as a
positive step towards bringing quality foods and increased
quantities of Alaska foods to the Alaskan children served by
school meal programs.
12:10:52 PM
KATE VEH, speaking on her own behalf, expressed her support of
HCR 1. She said her community is excited about local foods and
the government should support the public.
12:11:49 PM
KYRA WAGNER, speaking on her own behalf, informed the committee
she is involved with the cooperative extension state advisory
board, the local food workgroup of the Alaska Food Policy
Council, the Homer farmers market, and growers who are using the
USDA High Tunnel Grants for Organic Farmers. Her community is
networking to identify local food systems and it is apparent
there is a need to expand small scale production and
distribution. Ms. Wagner said the resolution creates a point of
contact for information and an infrastructure for collaboration
between state agencies.
12:14:23 PM
LARRY DEVILBISS, Mayor, Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Borough, said
he is a farmer and the former director of the Division of
Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, who has been
involved in the farming industry since childhood. He recognizes
the frustration felt by Alaska farmers who cannot market their
products; for example, Alaska has long held the capacity to
saturate the potato market, yet farmers are unable to market to
state agencies such as the Department of Corrections - even
after the passage of Alaska-preference legislation. Although
the marketing of carrots has been successful for 15 years, "the
state agencies are the hardest ones to get products into." As
mayor, Mr. Devilbiss seeks to increase the percentage of
locally-produced foods because the creation of ready markets
will encourage the next generation of farmers.
12:18:27 PM
TAFFINA KATKUS said she was a consultant representing
agriculture for the Mat-Su Borough and a raspberry farmer. She
expressed her support for HCR 1, pointing out the importance of
working together to make Alaska self-reliant. Farmers are
unsung heroes - without whom we could not get by - because they
provide food. From her experience she has learned that
solutions and answers come from many people and she has high
expectations that the working group created by the resolution
will look at the environmental impacts that are a major factor
in economic expansion, and that the legislature will study
policies affecting entrepreneurs. Ms. Katkus stated that
farmers in the borough are producing more than one-half of the
state's local production of crops and meat and repeated her
support for the resolution.
12:22:41 PM
DELENA JOHNSON, Mayor, City of Palmer, expressed her support for
HCR 1 which holds a vision to address the needs of all Alaskans.
The issue of food is universal and nonpartisan thus this subject
deserves the collaborative effort requested by the resolution.
Palmer has a 100-year history of agriculture in the region, but
agriculture has had a place in Sitka and Kodiak even longer;
this is a statewide issue and applies to everyone throughout the
state. Ms. Johnson stressed that farmers are hardworking and
government should work as hard. In fact, federal, state, and
local governments put up a lot of hurdles to farming and
legislation can help. She encouraged the governor to study this
issue closely, and pointed out that tourists are also interested
in Alaska farming.
12:26:43 PM
DANNY CONSENSTEIN, State Executive Director, U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency for Alaska, and a member
of the governing board, Alaska Food Policy Council, said he is
in strong support of HCR 1. He agreed that importing 95 percent
of the food consumed in Alaska creates vulnerabilities; however,
there is also a health issue when citizens do not have access to
local and fresh food leading to obesity, diabetes, and heart
disease. The broken food system also limits economic
opportunities for local workers because of "hemorrhaging all of
our food dollars to the Lower 48." Mr. Consenstein pointed out
the resolution recognizes the problem and proposes that the
first step toward a solution is the coordination of state
agencies. Federal and local jurisdictions such as USDA are also
trying to improve by the coordination of their agencies. He
relayed that the food policy council will be forwarding policy
recommendations to the legislature regarding improvements the
state can make in infrastructure, training opportunities,
procurement, and marketing.
12:31:19 PM
MARY SULLIVAN, Director, Department of Advocacy and Agency,
Anchorage Food Bank of Alaska, stated her organization's strong
support for HCR 1, saying improved coordination is a necessary
and viable answer to hunger problems and food security issues in
the state. She informed the committee that the food bank and
other anti-hunger advocates agree that this is a good
resolution.
12:32:24 PM
JOE BALASH, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Natural Resources (DNR), stated that DNR - as one
of the named agencies in the resolution - offers its support for
HCR 1 and looks forward to working for this effort.
12:33:02 PM
DARREN SNYDER, 4-H Youth & Development and
Agriculture/Horticulture Agent, Southeast District, Cooperative
Extension Service, University of Fairbanks, University of
Alaska, and a governing board member of the Alaska Food Policy
Council, expressed his strong support for HCR 1. He said the
resolution recognizes the importance to all Alaskans of
developing a strong and secure food system that provides jobs,
healthy communities, food for the hungry, and a secure food
supply chain. Over 130 representatives have joined the Alaska
Food Policy Council because of challenges such as food dollars
that could stay in Alaska and create jobs; health concerns for
disease and contaminated food; and the high cost of food. The
vision of the council is for a healthy and secure food system
that feeds all Alaskans, and its mission is to improve the food
system for the benefit of all Alaskans. Initiated in 2010, the
council is an independent organization that is open to anyone
and is working to connect people from different areas of the
food system, focus attention on the problems of the food system,
and elevate policy to strengthen the food system. Members work
to strengthen the local agriculture and fisheries product
preference statute and to increase state agencies' purchase of
Alaska agricultural and fish products, and have collaborated to
pilot-test the Alaska Farmers' Market-Quest Card program. Goals
of the council's 2012-2015 strategic plan are: all Alaskans
have access to affordable, healthy, local foods; Alaska's food-
related industries have a strong workforce; the food is safe and
supplies are secure; the food system is sustainable; and that
Alaskans are engaged in their food system. Mr. Snyder expressed
the council's appreciation for the legislature's support and
encouraged the governor to establish a state food resource
development working group.
12:37:13 PM
JIM SACKETT, CEO and President, Toghotthele Corporation,
informed the committee Toghotthele Corporation is the Alaska
Native village corporation of Nenana. He expressed the
corporation's support of HCR 1 and requested an amendment which
read:
Following the words, "to work collaboratively with
Alaska Native regional corporations" insert "and
village corporations"
MR. SACKETT explained that the regional corporations own the
sub-surface estate, but village corporations own the surface
estate where the food is actually grown. He noted that the
rising cost of energy will affect the cost of transportation and
growing food locally will become even more important. He
pointed out that Nenana is geographically located in the center
of the state with a highway, railroad, and barge system to move
food to the western cities.
12:38:55 PM
MIKE O'HARE, Deputy Director, Division of Homeland
Security/Emergency Management, Department of Military &
Veterans' Affairs stated that his division is one of the named
agencies in the resolution that would be required to coordinate
with others to provide food reassurance and the utilization of
domestically grown and harvested food. He assured the committee
the division does incorporate locally grown and harvested food
resources in its catastrophic food assurance plan.
12:40:06 PM
CHAIR HUGHES closed public testimony.
12:40:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON moved Conceptual Amendment 1 which read:
On page 5, line 9, following "Alaska Native regional"
insert "and village"
12:40:44 PM
CHAIR HUGHES objected for the purpose of discussion.
12:41:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON observed that village corporations have
the surface rights in their respective jurisdictions and this is
an appropriate amendment to the resolution.
12:41:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STOLTZE spoke in support of the amendment.
12:42:14 PM
CHAIR HUGHES removed her objection. There being no further
objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted.
12:43:09 PM
[HCR 1 was held over.]
12:43:28 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Economic Development, Trade and Tourism
meeting was adjourned at [12:43] p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HCR 1 Sponsor Statement Jan29.pdf |
HEDT 1/29/2013 11:15:00 AM |
HCR 1 |
| ASMI - EDTT.pdf |
HEDT 1/29/2013 11:15:00 AM |
|
| HCR1 Support Letters Jan 29.pdf |
HEDT 1/29/2013 11:15:00 AM |
HCR 1 |
| HCR 1 Support letters (2) Jan 29.pdf |
HEDT 1/29/2013 11:15:00 AM |
HCR 1 |