Alaskans can support local agriculture by celebrating Alaska Agriculture Day on Friday, May 15, by seeking out and purchasing products produced in Alaska, and by educating young people about the vital role agriculture plays in Alaska’s economy.
Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a proclamation commemorating the day in recognition of the importance of agriculture to the daily life of all residents. It also shows appreciation for all farmers and producers in the state of Alaska.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Division of Agriculture will not be able to mark the event with a public gathering as in previous years. Instead, the division invites Alaskans to visit their webpage for information on where to find farmer’s markets, stores, and retailers that support the “Alaska Grown” program and where they can buy directly from farmers, growers, and producers around the state.
Alaskans are also invited to visit the Alaska Grown Facebook page where they can read the division’s Alaska Agricultural Day post thanking Alaska farmers for always being there, and for working hard to feed and supply Alaskans, even during difficult times.
Rusty Foraker of the Alaska Plant Materials Center offers advice to gardeners in the area: “For our climate right now, it’s been – we’re still getting cold to even some frost at night. For Southcentral, I usually recommend – dependent upon the crops, as some crops such as cold crops or cool-season crops, such as broccoli and cabbage, those transplants could be placed outside maybe by May 15 and give you about seven to ten days. Usually, I’ll plant those right around Memorial Day. There are others that you want to wait until probably June 1 because, it’s not a guarantee, but we don’t usually get a frost or a hard-enough frost to damage them after June 1.”
Members of the public are encouraged to like the aforementioned Facebook post, to leave a comment supporting Alaska farmers, and to share the post with the hashtags #stillfarming and #thankafarmer for a chance to win an Alaska Grown gift basket.