Global Food Collaborative
Members Working Together For Stronger And Better Business Across The
Supply Chain of Food, Beverage and Agri-Products
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Who Are These Collaborators?If you think you know...
LAST ISSUE: Last issue's collaborators? Former State Legislator, (North Pole Alaska and ALWAYS Alaska Food Champion) Jeannette James and GFC's Robin Richardson._______________________
Join Us In 2009
Global Food Alaska
Conference &
Business Show
Soldotna, Alaska
June 10 -11, 2009
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Next Issue:
Aleutian Chain
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Apples or Rhubarb? Blog by Ruby Hollembaek
International Culinary Tourism Association - Begins Trek To Alaska
The Great Salmon Run: Competition Between Wild and Farmed
Fish Notes and Calendar
US Secretary of Health and Social Services Blogs Food Safety
Eat Local Challenge
KUDO's Seafood Summer Donations To Food Bank Of Alaska and Beans Cafe'
US Offshore Aquaculture-Economic Considerations Report
Food Events
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 Greetings Collaborative INSIGHTS Readers,
Summer is a challenging time to get anyone's attention in Alaska, because it is the time of year they often produce the year's bounty. However, what does have
everyone's interest as they produce food, beverage and agri-products is the impact on their business of energy costs.
That is why I was pleased that the people of this year's Alaska Renewable Energy Fair added a section on the relation between food and energy and I was asked to present. My title was "THE AMAZING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENERGY AND FOOD: Just one more reason to watch what you eat."
What was enlightening in preparation was that it is during my lifetime that we have had such a shift in how we grow, harvest, produce, package, store, transport and prepare food. According to Danielle Murray a staff researcher at the Earth Policy Institute, "21% of overall food system energy is used in agricultural production, another 14% goes to transport, 16% to processing, 7% to packaging, 4% to retailing, 7% to restaurants and catering and 32% to home refrigeration and preparation." These are each energy costs directly accountable to my generation of baby boomers. It is during my lifetime that we became so "progressive" as to not have to be burdened with the production of food and now we have a bad case of energy dependence and food insecurity.
In Alaska, residents throughout are asking how self-sufficient are we with a possible 3 to 5 day storage supply of food and being so dependent on an energy intensive system. While some like Marion Owen of Kodiak have been writing on this for
years, there is a ground swell of Alaskans of my generation, both rural
and urban who are asking - exactly how does one grow food? Today,
that was reinforced by a woman from Eagle, Alaska (Yukon River) who
wrote to me, "I have long thought what we need is food preservers and
gardeners from the
community to reintroduce/teach people how to grow/preserve food."
I
am not proud to have abdicated my responsibility of learning about food
up until now, but I believe there is a large population that has done
the same and without increasing our knowledge of food, we likely can't have
an intelligent influence on increasing our energy security.
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Mobile Processing and New Alaska Red Meat Products - Filling In The Supply Chain
Kodiak to me will always be the "King Crab Capital of The World"
because those were the words on the banner on main street. At the
time, King Crab was Kodiak's economic driver. Not so obvious, but
always a curiosity for me was the
frequent sightings of cattle on the hills surrounding the city of
Kodiak. Why were they there? The answer is simple. They were
brought to Kodiak
as a source of food for locals and for those with aspirations for
sustainable commercial
cattle ranching in Alaska.  In
2002, Alaska welcomed a new family to the area that has been quietly
and steadily moving forward on producing a commercial source of local,
grass fed, natural Alaskan red meat and a fully operational supply
chain for their existing cattle ranch. They plan their first
commercial production of beef sticks, jerky, sausage, fresh cuts and a
variety of canned meat in flexible pouches to be available late 2009
and a test production in late 2008. Let us introduce you to this remarkable family and their promising business. Above, Nathan Mudd
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The Alaska Bagel Restaurant.... and manufacturer of 36 Flavors of Bagels for Wholesale Markets
 If you recognize Sun Kim (left),
it is because for years she has served as the international trade and
tourism representative for the State of Alaska and previously worked
independently for other trade associations and companies enhancing
trade and tourism between Alaska and Asia. In 2007, Sun abruptly
changed course to fulfill a personal dream of owning her own
restaurant, the Alaska Bagel Restaurant, creating an environment "where
people can always feel comfortable to come in and have a chat." Sun
says, "I'm on course in establishing a modern restaurant with old fashioned values". From all observations her formula is working at this popular mid-town restaurant, but Sun is also a manufacturer of 36 flavors of bagels for a growing wholesale market.
More
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A Customer Centric Company
 American Fast Freight is a transportation and logistics firm that is customer focused for many
reasons, one of which is that it is employee owned. Nearly 2 years ago
American Fast Freight employees formed an ESOP (Employee Stock
Ownership Program). An already well established company in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii and Washington, the ownership change has resulted in vested employees at every level with a bottom line reason to be customer centric. While
you've likely seen their warehouses or trucks on the road - you may not
be familiar with who they are and what they do. As we promised in our
last issue - we will give you some insights into this and other
companies to provide a visible and accessible supply chain for Alaska's
food, beverage and bio products. More |
The Marine Stewardship Council Certification - What Is Its Value Proposition?
 The Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) certified sustainable seafood
program has experienced steady growth in adoption by retail and food
service buyers. Established ten years ago, MSC was charged to create a
certification standard that connects sustainable, well managed
fisheries with buyers seeking assurances that seafood does not
contribute to the depletion of fish stocks. Now, 10 years later, MSC
boasts more than 1,600 MSC labeled seafood products in 36 countries.
The number has tripled in the past 2 years. We asked Kerry Coughlin, Communications Director, Americas to provide an update on Marine Stewardship Certified product in commercial markets.
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Where do restaurant, retailers get Alaska produce....
We asked John at Charlie's Produce what was new and in stock for commercial food buyers seeking local product. Located in Anchorage, Charlie's Produce is a full-service distributor of produce to retail and food service throughout Alaska. Additionally, they process value added cut product through their Alaska Carrot Company brand. Summer 2008 they have a brand new Oyster Mushroom line from the Kenai Peninsula. Other produce? Red Leaf, Green Leaf, Iceberg, Romaine, Broccoli, Green and Red Cabbage - all locally grown. More |
TEDSBOX Seeking Production Commitments For '09
The design and development of the TEDSBOX is nearing completion with
its final test shipments this month. Don Harman, Founder and
Developer reports that the tests proved out the controlled temperature LD3 demonstrated its value proposition within and outside of Alaska and they are now taking orders
for sale or lease in 2009. Interested parties can schedule a confidential consult on their requirements for maintaining perishables yield.
Early
adopters (August/September 2008) will benefit from production cost rates to ensure that the new manufacturer is tooled up to meet
the 2009 season.
Don't forget to ask Don about his cool chain lessons of the summer of '08.
Don Harman, President
Harman's Repair Station, Inc.
Tednologies, Inc.
P: (907) 345-6838
F: (907) 345-9051
M: (907) 223-1955
www.tedsbox.com
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Harvesters, Growers, Manufacturers and Supply Chain Partners...
The Sellers
 Registration includes participation for 2 to conference, awards, all Alaskan dinner, site tours and fully furnished 8x10 exhibit space. $500 through September 30, 2008 $750 October 1, 2008
Is this for you? - Meet and do business with commercial buyers.
- Work with other producers and those along the supply chain to benefit from the greatest efficiencies possible for your business.
- Be prepared to create products and services in food, beverage and agri-products that are responsive to real buyers and markets.
Register Now or call for more information 907.563.0154. |
Commercial Buyers Seeking Qualified Alaska Suppliers?
Meet And Do Business - June 10-11
It's your turn. Be our guest and tell us what is important to you.
- Price?
 - Product Consistency?
- Distribution?
- Carbon Foot Print?
- Packaging?
- Sustainability?
- Product Tracing?
- Private Label?
- Certifications or 3rd Party Inspection?
- The Story Behind The Product and Company?
Register For Global Food Alaska 2009 Here
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