Legislature(2019 - 2020)BARNES 124
02/12/2020 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR25 | |
| Presentation(s): Food Coalition Representatives | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HJR 25 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 12, 2020
1:23 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative John Lincoln, Co-Chair
Representative Geran Tarr, Co-Chair
Representative Grier Hopkins, Vice Chair
Representative Sara Hannan
Representative Chris Tuck
Representative Ivy Spohnholz
Representative Dave Talerico
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative George Rauscher
Representative Sara Rasmussen
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 25
Encouraging the President of the United States, the United
States Congress, and the Governor of the state to assist the
National Park Service in its efforts to ensure long- term access
into Denali National Park and Preserve by way of the existing
roadway.
- MOVED HJR 25 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PRESENTATION(S): FOOD COALITION REPRESENTATIVES
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HJR 25
SHORT TITLE: ENSURE ACCESS INTO DENALI PARK
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) TALERICO
02/03/20 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/03/20 (H) RES
02/12/20 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
DON STRIKER, Superintendent
Denali National Park and Preserve; Acting Regional Director
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Denali Park, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support during the hearing of
HJR 25.
SARAH LEONARD, President/CEO
Alaska Travel Industry Association
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support during the hearing of
HJR 25.
CLAY WALKER, Mayor
Denali Borough
Healy, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support during the hearing of
HJR 25.
JENNA HAMM, Co-Owner
Camp Denali and North Face Lodge
Denali Park, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing of HJR 25.
RACHAEL MILLER, Co-Chair
Alaska Food Policy Council
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided comments during the presentation
by Food Coalition representatives.
CARA DURR, Director of Public Engagement
Food Bank of Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided comments during the presentation
by Food Coalition representatives.
SUZANNA CALDWELL, Recycling Coordinator
Anchorage Organics Recycling
Solid Waste Services
Municipality of Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a PowerPoint presentation
entitled, "Anchorage Organics Recycling" during the presentation
by Food Coalition representatives.
ANDY MERGENS, Senior Director
Nutrition Services
Anchorage School District
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a PowerPoint presentation
entitled, "Transforming the Experience" during the presentation
by Food Coalition representatives.
SCOTT MUGRAGE, President
Alaska Farm Bureau, Inc.
Delta Junction, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided comments during the presentation
by Food Coalition representatives.
RITA JO SHOULTZ, Owner
Alaska Perfect Peony
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a PowerPoint presentation
entitled, "Update on Alaska Peony Industry and Division of
Agriculture Peony Programs" during the presentation by Food
Coalition representatives.
KELLI FOREMAN, Assistant Executive Director
Kodiak Baptist Mission/Heritage Farm and Ranch
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented a video and provided comments
during the presentation by Food Coalition representatives
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:23:48 PM
CO-CHAIR GERAN TARR called the House Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:23 p.m. Representatives Tuck,
Hannan, Hopkins, Rasmussen, Talerico, Lincoln, and Tarr were
present at the call to order. Representatives Rauscher and
Spohnholz arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HJR 25-ENSURE ACCESS INTO DENALI PARK
1:24:24 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR announced the first order of business would be
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 25, Encouraging the President of the
United States, the United States Congress, and the Governor of
the state to assist the National Park Service in its efforts to
ensure long- term access into Denali National Park and Preserve
by way of the existing roadway.
1:24:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO, speaking as the sponsor of HJR 25,
informed the committee on the only road through Denali National
Park and Preserve (Denali Park), at mile marker 45.4, known as
Polychrome Pass, the road is moving and cracking. He
paraphrased from the sponsor statement [included in the
committee packet] which read [original punctuation provided]:
Sponsor Statement for House Joint Resolution 25
Denali is Alaska's most well-known National Park. The
park road is 92 miles long and parallels the Alaska
Range, travelling through low valleys and high
mountain passes. Along the route there are many
opportunities to view wildlife roaming the unfenced
land, view peaks of Denali when the sky permits and
view incredible landscapes all along the way. Denali
park road is also the only road into the park and
services the Kantishna area on the back side of the
park. Without this road there is no access to the park
or the area. Keeping the access road into Denali
National Park for the enjoyment of residents of the
Kantishna area and visitors alike is a point of
paramount significance to many of those who plan to
travel throughout Alaska. A section of road at mile
marker 45.4 has become increasingly unstable and needs
immediate attention. I urge you to support HJR 25 to
encourage action on this significant piece of
infrastructure. Please call my staff at 907-465-4527
for any questions.
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO pointed out the Park Road provides the
only access to private businesses in Kantishna and to the large
park campground at Wonder Lake, thus the access road is critical
for residents and visitors. He noted Denali Park is visited by
approximately 600,000 tourists per year and the Eielson Visitor
Center, which is located beyond the problem with the road, is
one of the park's most popular destinations. Speaking from his
prior experience in the tourism industry, Representative
Talerico stated Denali Park is a key component in the
itineraries of visitors who travel to many other destinations in
Alaska and cautioned about the impact to the travel industry by
the closure of the Park Road.
1:29:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO noted the Park Road is also critical to
the lottery which allows private vehicle road access in the
fall; the lottery is very popular and is entered primarily by
Alaska residents. In addition, active military personnel have
an opportunity to drive the Park Road at no cost in the fall.
The intent of HJR 25 is to demonstrate that the legislature
recognizes the importance of the Park Road to the visitor
industry, Alaska residents, and active military and to encourage
a temporary repair and plans for long-term repair. He urged the
committee to support HJR 25.
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS expressed his support for HJR 25 and
noted the Fairbanks North Star Borough has indicated its
support.
1:34:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ expressed her support for HJR 25 and
recalled her personal experience camping in Denali Park.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN expressed her support and recalled her
personal experience in Denali Park.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK recalled his personal experience in Denali
Park and expressed his support for HJR 25.
1:39:30 PM
DON STRIKER, superintendent, Denali National Park and Preserve
and Acting Regional Director, National Park Service (NPS), U.S.
Department of the Interior, expressed his support for HJR 25.
He said NPS recognizes the importance of outdoor recreation to
Alaska and Alaskans; in addition, tourism is a major economic
driver in the state. For American tourists on their first
cruise, a tour of Denali Park and Glacier Bay National Park and
Preserve are preferred destinations; in fact, Denali Park
receives over 600,000 visits each year. Visitors to the park
spend $600 million in direct spending, and the visitor industry
supports over 8,150 jobs statewide, which together comprise
nearly $1 billion in total economic output for the state. Mr.
Striker said NPS seeks to ensure access to Denali Park to fulfil
its responsibility as a good neighbor and to ensure that first-
time visitors return to Alaska. Finally, he said HJR 25
underscores the importance of state/federal and public/private
partnerships to sustaining access to Denali Park.
1:42:53 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR opened public testimony on HJR 25.
1:43:02 PM
SARAH LEONARD, president/CEO, Alaska Travel Industry Association
(ATIA), informed the committee the 680 members of ATIA and
businesses that depend on safe and efficient access into Denali
Park support HJR 25. Alaska's national parks are experiencing a
backlog of maintenance needs; in fact, one-half of Denali Park's
deferred maintenance budget of $54 million is due to
deteriorating conditions along the Park Road. A lack of safe
and reliable access into the park would create economic impacts
throughout Alaska's visitor industry. Tourism is important to
the state's economy and national parks contribute to the success
of Alaska's tourism; she referred to previous testimony and
advised if the Park Road were to close for an extended period,
hotels, tour operators, restaurants, and all facets of the
tourism industry statewide would suffer severe economic impacts.
MS. Leonard said ATIA supports the efforts of NPS and the
legislature to ensure a timely opening of the Park Road this
summer, and a long-term solution.
1:45:35 PM
CLAY WALKER, mayor, Denali Borough, expressed support for HJR 25
and said the Denali Borough Assembly will consider a similar
resolution because the importance of the Denali Park Road to the
economies of the state, and the Denali Borough, cannot be
overstated. Furthermore, road accessibility into the Denali
Park wilderness is unique to the park. He spoke of his personal
experience working in the park and said as mayor, he sought
support from the Alaska congressional delegation. Mayor Walker
said a closure at mile 43 would affect Toklat, Stony Hill,
Eielson Visitor Center, Wonder Lake, and Kantishna, all of which
are premier destinations. He urged for cooperation and support
from federal, state, and local governments.
1:48:27 PM
JENNA HAMM, co-owner, Camp Denali and North Face Lodge, informed
the committee her business is one of four lodges at the end of
the Park Road that rely on road access. She expressed her
support for HJR 25 and agreed support for the bill from
legislators is critical to sustaining the tourism economy at
both local and state levels. She asked the committee to
consider adding two points: businesses are located at the end
of the road in Kantishna; the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act (ANILCA), Section 1110(b), grants businesses a
right to reasonable access for economic purposes, which has been
provided by the Park Road. She urged the committee to seek a
partnership between the state and NPS in order to extend
resources.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked for clarification on the businesses in
Kantishna.
MS. HAMM said she and her husband operate two lodges, Camp
Denali and North Face Lodge; Camp Denali has been in operation
since 1952. There are three other lodges, Kantishna Roadhouse,
Skyline Lodge, and Denali Backcountry Lodge.
CO-CHAIR LINCOLN asked for clarification of access guaranteed by
ANILCA.
MS. HAMM said ANILCA, [Section 1110(b)] relates to rights of
reasonable access for economic and other purposes.
1:52:18 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR, after ascertaining no one further wished to
testify, closed public testimony.
The committee took a brief at-ease.
1:53:09 PM
CO-CHAIR LINCOLN moved to report HJR 25 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, HJR 25 was reported out of the House
Resources Standing Committee.
^PRESENTATION(s): FOOD COALITION REPRESENTATIVES
PRESENTATION(s): FOOD COALITION REPRESENTATIVES
1:54:05 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR announced the final order of business would be a
presentation by Food Coalition representatives.
1:54:15 PM
RACHAEL MILLER, co-chair, Alaska Food Policy Council (AFPC),
said she hoped the issue of food access remains at the forefront
of everyone's mind and is incorporated into public policy. Food
is a transdisciplinary cause ranging from emergency and disaster
preparedness, and economic development, to ensuring public
wellbeing. Ms. Miller said she is a business professor at
Alaska Pacific University (APU) and manager of APU's Kellogg
Farm Campus in Palmer. She observed food is a bipartisan issue;
this year the Alaska Food Coalition has focused food security
week on food production, waste, and access. Ms. Miller advised
the purpose of AFPC is to connect, inform, and advocate; for
example, AFPC worked with the Municipality of Anchorage to
provide seed funding through a mini grant program, commissioned
reports in 2014 and 2018 to reveal opportunities in food
infrastructure investment, and will host its fifth or sixth
Alaska Food Festival and Conference at the University of Alaska
Anchorage (UAA). She surmised most believe a food system in the
supply chain extends from production to end waste; however, a
food system includes culture, language, and family, and begins
with choice. In Alaska, food security means enough to eat and
share. She described food security work as hard, difficult,
sad, and "a long play." Further, AFCP has found that Alaskans
import 95-98 percent of their food, thus Alaska is highly food
insecure. In addition, importing food costs $2 billion and if
some of that money stayed in the state it would have a positive
local economic impact; in fact, direct to consumer sales in
Alaska are increasing. Alaska Food Policy Council also found
there are opportunities in Alaska for infrastructure that
supports food processing, production, and storage, and for
reducing barriers to food start-ups. The 2017 [Census of
Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture] showed Alaska is
leading the nation in new farmers; however, farming in Alaska
differs from that in the Lower 48 and agricultural policy needs
to reflect the difference.
1:58:33 PM
MS. MILLER related her personal experience in the food industry
and advised Alaska agricultural policy, by default, must
exercise "triple bottom line philosophy," and value social,
ecological, and economic or financial bottom lines. She urged
the committee to consider people, planet, and profit when
addressing food policy and to support the agricultural industry,
decrease the state's carbon footprint, and strengthen local
economies. Some programs to support farmers are: land access
programs; allowing farmers to provide workers' compensation
policies; building the agricultural labor pipeline; supporting
indigenous food programs, such as the program at the Alaska
Native Medical Center; supporting policy for herdshare programs
to increase value-added projects; supporting the Division of
Agriculture to expand and to eventually export agricultural
products; supporting reliable and affordable transportation;
addressing senior benefits and other policies. Ms. Miller
concluded Alaska could be a model of food systems for others
around the world, with similar circumstances, and urged for
investment in land-based agriculture in Alaska.
2:03:17 PM
CARA DURR, director of Public Engagement, Food Bank of Alaska,
and board member, AFPC, turned to the issue of food access. She
said the Food Bank of Alaska has instigated a produce box
program to subsidize excess produce from Meyers Farm, Anchor
Point Farms, and Ridgeway Farms, to reduce the price of produce
in the Bethel area. The program is beneficial to the farms by
increasing demand for their products, and to residents who need
and want produce, but who cannot afford the high price of
produce. The program has provided 35,000 pounds of produce to
45 communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta area. Another
federal program, the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentives
Program, allows Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
recipients double credit for the purchase of produce, and she
described the benefits of the program; however, she was unsure
whether the food bank would apply for the program because it
requires a 100 percent match to federal funds. Ms. Durr
recalled a similar program at farmers' markets that supported
local farms and low-income residents and that is no longer
funded by the state. She urged the committee to keep the
aforementioned programs in mind.
CO-CHAIR TARR asked how the food bank in Anchorage has statewide
impact.
MS. DURR explained Food Bank of Alaska doesn't distribute food
directly to individuals but has 150 partners statewide.
Regional food banks distribute in their regions.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked for more information on Meyers Farm.
MS. DURR said Meyers Farm is a farm in Bethel that uses root
cellars and other innovative methods to farm and market
products.
2:11:44 PM
SUZANNA CALDWELL, recycling coordinator, Anchorage Organics
Recycling, Solid Waste Services, Municipality of Anchorage,
provided a PowerPoint presentation entitled, "Anchorage Organics
Recycling" and said another part of food security is the
consideration of waste products. She said most of the food
discarded goes into the landfill, but there are ways to keep
food out of the landfill and promote food security. Solid Waste
Services (SWS) at the Municipality of Anchorage (Anchorage)
operates the Anchorage Regional Landfill; the landfill accepts
300,000 tons of trash each year and plans to keep the landfill
open until 2063. After closure, Anchorage will be forced to
ship trash out of state, or to other regions of the state, at
great expense. To extend the life of the landfill, commodities
are recycled and shipped out of state, with the exception of the
local recycling of organics (slide 1). Recycling organics makes
sense because approximately 25 percent of residential solid
waste is organic material, such as food scraps and yard debris.
She estimated an effective curbside organics recycling program
would remove up to 50,000 tons per year from the landfill, and
including commercial entities would remove an additional 40,000
tons; these programs are recommended by city planners. She
pointed out organic material decomposes in a landfill and
produces methane, which is a greenhouse gas; the landfill
collects and uses methane to generate power, but 25-33 percent
is flared. However, organics that are composted can be used by
the community and returned to the food system. In 2016, the
community of Anchorage requested municipal composting programs
to support local businesses and farmers (slide 2).
2:16:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked what barriers prevent Anchorage from
using all of the methane gas.
MS. CALDWELL said SWS is working to expand the power project;
one possible alternative use of the gas would be to power a
leachate evaporator that would reduce the amount of leachate to
be disposed of. In further response to Representative Tuck, she
stated the available power generated by methane exceeds the
amount needed to power the generators at Joint Base Elmendorf
Richardson.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK suggested garbage trucks and transfer trucks
could be converted to use methane gas.
MS. CALDWELL explained SWS has three parts to its organics
program: curbside organics, which is residential curbside
collection; community compost, which is a drop-off program;
Anchorage School District (ASD) organics, which collects food
waste for use in composting (slide 3). Firstly, slide 4
illustrated accepted and not accepted materials in the
residential program; she noted SWS composters do not currently
have the ability to compost compostable containers. In
addition, meat and bread are not accepted for animal control
reasons, although the pilot program will slowly transition
toward accepting other materials. Ms. Caldwell further
explained curbside organics is the focus of the pilot program;
curbside organics collects comingled food scraps and yard
trimmings and is known as the pink cart program established
after a yard waste pilot in 2017 (slide 5). She said the
program has 800 participants, which is the maximum possible with
existing infrastructure, and has a waiting list of 500
households. Anchorage has two solid waste collection service
areas that are served by SWS and Alaska Waste, which also has a
small collection program. In 2019, 271 tons of material were
collected, and she said new infrastructure would allow the
program to continue to expand (slide 6).
2:21:17 PM
MS. CALDWELL continued to slide 7. Secondly, the community
compost program has two locations where residents who do not
have curbside services can drop-off organics and pick up
finished compost. In 2019, 143 yards of compost were
distributed; currently there is no drop-off location to recycle
yard waste. Thirdly, SWS partners with ASD to capture food
scraps. In 2020, eleven schools are participating; one
challenge is that the schools must collect clean organics to
produce compost (slide 8).
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ questioned why Anchorage no longer
recycles glass for road maintenance.
MS. CALDWELL said glass is not used in road construction because
only a certain amount can be used in the construction of a
roadbed, therefore, it is not cost-effective. Currently SWS
seeks projects that can use 100 percent recycled glass - such as
pipe bedding - which are successful.
2:26:47 PM
ANDY MERGENS, senior director, Nutrition Services, Anchorage
School District (ASD), provided a PowerPoint presentation
entitled, "Transforming the Experience." He said ASD seeks to
make a fundamental change in meal service across the district.
Currently, ASD serves meals at elementary schools, and some
middle and high schools, in plastic trays already containing
portions of food; ASD intends to return to serving food on trays
served by lunch staff and reusing the trays after cleaning. Mr.
Mergens said this change would allow ASD to introduce different
menus and local products, eliminate packaging, and reduce food
waste. He described how meals differ between elementary and
upper level schools and stressed the plan is to transition away
from disposable, one-time use plastic and paper trays (slides 1
and 2). He restated the transformation would allow ASD to bring
changes to menus and reduce waste. The National School Lunch
Program, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, requires that students are offered five food
components and students are required to take three components,
one of which is a fruit or vegetable. He described in detail
how serving trays that are not prepackaged will allow more
student choice and will reduce the amount of food that is
prepared, served, and uneaten. Further illustrated on slide 3
was that 18 tons of paper packaging goes into the landfill each
year, and he noted reusable trays will pay for their investment
in four and one-half months.
2:32:11 PM
MR. MERGENS continued to slide 4 that was a timeline. The pilot
program began at Service High School in March 2019, and has
expanded to nearly seven schools. The goal is to replace and
change to reusable tray service at all middle and high schools
by the end of 2021. The program started at high schools because
they are better equipped and staffed, and many of the middle
schools will require extensive renovation to enlarge kitchens,
and he elaborated. He cautioned the May 2025 goal of
districtwide implementation may be aspirational. He pointed out
the service style change will increase the amount of ingredients
and other products sourced from Alaska growers; in 2018, ASD
replaced powdered mashed potatoes with freshly cooked potatoes
from the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) valley, at lower cost. In
addition to about nineteen tons of potatoes, ASD purchases
eighteen tons of carrots from the Mat-Su valley each year and
may expand to broccoli in season. Further, ASD is purchasing
local beef and hopes to obtain flour grown from Alaska wheat
(slide 5). Mr. Mergens concluded with the following challenges
to changes in food service (slide 6):
• new equipment and infrastructure in schools
• kitchen staff training
• the new service is time-consuming
• food supply does not match school year
• new equipment for central facility
• increase in supply of local produce
• processing local produce
• shortage of cold storage
2:40:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS asked whether breakfast is part of school
meal service.
MR. MERGENS said yes.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN related her experience teaching in a high
school showed her that many students take the required meal
items offered and immediately leave them in a "share bin" for
others.
MR. MERGENS agreed.
CO-CHAIR TARR advised facets of [AS 36.30.332 Classification of
Alaska products, the Alaska Products Preference] statute may
allow ASD to purchase more Alaska Grown products due to recent
increases in the preference percentage.
MR. MERGENS said when school is in session, ASD is the single
largest food service in the state and thus can drive the supply
and profitability of local products.
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ made remarks in support of Alaska
agriculture and increased quality of food for school children.
2:47:45 PM
SCOTT MUGRAGE, president, Alaska Farm Bureau, Inc., said he
farms in Delta Junction with his wife and family and has a herd
of cattle with nearly commercial production. Mr. Mugrage
informed the committee the potential for agriculture in Alaska
is phenomenal and unique; he opined Alaska will become the
future breadbasket for the nation. He referred to an earlier
discussion of fire prevention and suggested land cleared for
firebreaks should be used for agriculture; in fact, if farmed,
farmers would maintain firebreaks and save maintenance costs.
He spoke in support of the Agricultural Revolving Loan Fund
(ARLF), Division of Agriculture, Department of Natural
Resources, which is vital to Alaska's agricultural industry and
provides the most flexible and available capital funding to
Alaska farmers. He said the ARLF loan balance is approximately
$13 million-$14 million. Speaking as president of the farm
bureau, Mr. Mugrage advised there is continued interest in
farming operations in Alaska and he regularly shares information
about opportunities. His farm has 800 cattle; he markets beef
from Homer to Fairbanks.
2:53:14 PM
RITA JO SHOULTZ, owner, Alaska Perfect Peony, provided a
PowerPoint presentation entitled, "Update on Alaska Peony
Industry and Division of Agriculture Peony Programs." Ms.
Shoultz said Alaska Perfect Peony is a family farm in Fritz
Creek of 25 acres that utilizes high tunnels, ponds, creeks,
four fields, and coolers (slides 1-2). When the farm began 14
years ago, there was little information on how to grow peonies;
now many organizations support the peony industry (slide 3).
The Alaska Grown program is extremely important to peony farms,
and of 200 peony farms, 92 Alaska Grown members are peony
producers (slide 4). Certified American Grown is a program to
which over 56 percent of U.S. cut flower growers belong and that
holds an annual convention in Washington, D.C. (slides 5-7).
Alaska peonies are famous now and are seen on television, and
she described events and magazine articles featuring her peonies
(slides 8-16). In fact, Homer is now officially called the City
of Peonies (slide 17).
2:57:12 PM
MS. SHOULTZ said July is American Grown Flowers Month (slide
19). However, the Division of Agriculture (DOA), Department of
Natural Resources (DNR), is the most effective supporter of the
peony industry (slides 19 and 20). The Western United States
Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) is a federal
organization which has recently turned attention to the cut
flower industry in Alaska (slides 23 and 24). Phytosanitary
inspection permits are required to market peonies to a growing
international market, and because only DOA can issue the
permits, she urged for DOA funding (slide 25). Ms. Shoultz
presented several slides of overseas activities (slides 26-27).
The cut flower industry is huge - 600 million stems will be
imported through Miami for Valentine's Day - (slides 28-29).
Alaska has no cooling stations thus flowers are shipped with ice
packs. Slide 30 was a map which illustrated Alaska is a
shipping gateway to the world, but shipping is impossible
without phytosanitary permits. Also important to the industry
are "state-run" grant programs that award grants issued by the
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, one of which collects data on her farm (slides 31-
33). Other grants apply to Hawai'i, Washington, and Alaska.
She gave an example of extraordinary service provided by DOA
employees. Bees are kept on the farm to help remove mold from
the flowers (slide 38). The Federal State Marketing Improvement
Program (FSMIP) is another program to support exporting and
overseas marketing (slides 39-40). Large trade shows and
reality shows provide exposure - DOA also helps farmers in this
regard (slides 41-42).
3:03:32 PM
MS. SHOULTZ observed tourism is the next area of new growth for
agriculture; a large group from the farm bureau in Kentucky
visited the farm, and she expressed appreciation for [House
Bill] 217 [passed in the Thirtieth Alaska State Legislature],
which helped farmers establish farm tours (slides 43-44). Slide
46 illustrated results of the 2017 Census of Agriculture which
indicated overall in the U.S., agriculture was down 3.2 percent,
and in Alaska agriculture was up 29.9 percent, mostly in the
Kenai Peninsula (slides 45-48). She cautioned new farmers lack
marketing experience - thus are challenged by marketing - and
provided an example of a new marketing campaign (slide 49).
There followed pictures of Alaska Perfect Peony Farm (slides 50-
56).
3:06:14 PM
KELLI FOREMAN, assistant executive director, Kodiak Baptist
Mission/Heritage Farm and Ranch, informed the committee Heritage
Farm is the only Grade A certified goat dairy in Alaska.
A video was shown from 3:07 p.m. to 3:12 p.m.
MS. FOREMAN spoke of her hope for the future of dairy farming in
Alaska.
3:12:46 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 3:12 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HJR 25 Version M 2.3.20.PDF |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 25 |
| HJR 25 Sponsor Statement 2.5.20.pdf |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 25 |
| HJR 25 Supporing Letter - Robert Wallace 02.11.20.pdf |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 25 |
| HJR 25 Fiscal Note-LEG-SESS 02.11.2020.pdf |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 25 |
| HRES Division of Agriculture Peony Programs Handout 2.11.20.pdf |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
Agriculture |
| HRES Food Security in Alaska Presentation - Anchorage School District Green Brief 2.11.20.pdf |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
Agriculture |
| HRES Food Security in Alaska Presentation - Organics 2.11.20.pdf |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
Agriculture |
| HRES Web Peony Programs Presentation 2.11.20.pdf |
HRES 2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM |
Agriculture |