Our Vision
The Alaska Farmland Trust envisions a future with thriving local food markets that will give Alaskans access to fresh, healthy food, and keep our farmers farming.
Introduction
Alaska’s Broken Food System & How We Can Fix It Together
Food is a $2 billion dollar industry in Alaska and, unfortunately, over 95% of the food consumed by Alaskans is imported from the Lower 48. Agriculture is a renewable resource that deserves more attention as a critical component of our state’s economic future.
A 2014 report commissioned by the Alaska Food Policy Council found that the acreage needed for Alaskans to feed themselves is not unattainable. Considering specialty crops that grow well in Alaska’s climate, the following acres need to be put into production to meet the needs of the entire state’s population:
Carrots: 200 acresCabbage: 200 acresLettuce: 600 acresPotatoes: 4700 acres
TOTAL NEEDED: 5700 acres
Why We Should Care About Increasing Our Food Production: Addressing Food Security
One in five Alaskans is considered food insecure. Access to affordable, healthy foods is a challenge for many. Thankfully, farms still exist to provide reasonably priced, nutritious and fresh vegetables. Fresh foods are nutritional foods. They last longer on shelves and in root cellars, are more easily accessible in remote communities and don’t rely on an international shipping system. By growing farms, we strengthen the health of our community.
The Strength of the Mat-Su Food System
Farms in the Mat-Su Valley are an incredible asset not only to our community, but to Alaska as a whole. Farms have community value, agricultural value, and future food production value. Farms, particularly in the Mat-Su Valley, have high quality agricultural soils, are centrally located, have demonstrated the ability to produce food, and are well-known and revered by community members.
About the TRUST
Across America, thousands of people are determined to conserve the places they value. Landowners have a deep connection to their land and know the gifts undeveloped properties provide their communities: clean air and water, fresh food, and sheer scenic beauty.
All too often, these special places disappear forever because of development. Many times, landowners may need to sell their property for retirement or other reasons. When the land is passed on to the next generation, heirs may be financially compelled to sell the land to pay off high estate taxes. New owners often choose to subdivide and develop the land. Developed land is land lost forever.
As 5,000 acres of land in the United States are consumed by development every day, many landowners are taking a stand to safeguard the places they love—productive farms, ranchland, forests—for their family and for future generations.
Americans who want to conserve their land can turn to land trusts—nonprofit organizations. It is from this noble purpose that the Alaska Farmland Trust was created in 2005. We’ve protected hundreds of acres of active farmland.
The Trust has always been committed to operating light and fast to keep administrative costs down and funnel the majority of our work towards our programs. We have diverse sources of income from corporate and individual donors, events, retail sales, program fees, grant funding and state funding.
OUR HISTORY
The Alaska Farmland Trust was founded with the support of Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation in 2005 and is governed by a board of directors. We are funded through generous individual donations as well as corporate and foundation grants. The Alaska Farmland Trust is a statewide effort to protect farmlands for future generations. Since it became a land trust in 2006, the Alaska Farmland Trust has worked to protect 381 acres of prime agricultural lands in Alaska.
2015
Establishing the Organization
The Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation (ARRC) is the non-profit Agricultural Lending Bank established in 1935 in support of the Matanuska Valley Colonist Project. In the early 2000’s the Board of Directors of the ARRC was discouraged by the rapid development of multiple farm properties in the greater Palmer area, specifically the Springer Loop System. In an effort to provide another option to landowners, the ARRC Board created the Alaska Farmland Trust.
2006 – 2015
Growing Into Land Protection
Established relationships with key partners including: USDA, State of Alaska, Mat-Su Farm Bureau, Palmer Soil & Water Conservation District, Mat-Su Borough. Closed and recorded first three projects demonstrating organizational capacity and success.
2008 Heaven 40 acres
2010 McCormick 80 acres
2011 $500,000 Legislative Appropriation
2012 $500,000 from Legislative Appropriation
2014 State Fair 40 acres
2015 – 2018
Building Community Trust
Completed two additional projects, protecting 140 more acres. Increased community engagement and understanding through sold-out events, awareness campaigns and partnerships with key stakeholders.
2016 MODC 73 acres
2018 Spring Creek Farm 74 acres
Sold-out community events: OxtoberFest, Drink Beer, Happy Hour in the Greenhouse, Save Farms!
2019 & Beyond
TOWARD OUR FUTURE
The Board of Directors has set the aggressive goal of protecting 5700 acres in the next 50 years. Our second long term goal is to establish an endowment fund large enough to protect available lands that require a quick turnaround instead of relying on USDA matching funding.
The average USDA funded project takes three years to complete, which is longer than many landowners have when faced with major life transitions in their families. Currently, we have 150 acres waiting for matching funding to protect it. If we had an endowment fund established, we could take immediate action to protect these lands.
The Alaska Farmland Trust envisions a future with thriving local food markets that will give Alaskans access to fresh, healthy food, and keep our farmers farming.