Governor stumps for local veggies

PALMER -- The state of Alaska is committed to buying Alaska grown produce, so is the catering arm of NANA Development Corporation, and you should be to.

That was the message Gov. Tony Knowles delivered while visiting farms in the Matanuska Valley and in the Delta Junction area last week. Knowles invited the media to attend his visit to VanderWeele Farms in Palmer where an executive from NANA delivered an agreement to increase purchases of locally grown potatoes and other vegetables.

"If you want to eat healthy, you don't have to go any farther than right here," Knowles said while gesturing toward a potato field that starts within 100 yards of the farm's storage and packing buildings. "Consumers do have a choice," he said.

And so does the state. Knowles said he has directed his commissioners to review purchasing decisions and make sure their departments "are complying with the language and spirit of the state regulations."

Knowles also said that his administration will add tracking requirements to some supplier's contracts, including the distributor Food Services of America (FSA), the company that supplies the Corrections Department and the Alaska Marine Highway.

The new language will require FSA to list Alaskan grown produce available each week, giving state workers a simple tool for purchasing Alaska grown foods. The administration will also establish a tracking system of institutional food purchasing, according to a Knowles press release.

"Our best markets for Alaskan Grown are right here in Alaska. The Knowles-Ulmer administration will continue to encourage -- and when appropriate require -- retailers, wholesalers, and state and federal institutions to use products produced here," Knowles said.

In front of a handful of cameras, Knowles rattled off facts and figures about Alaska's agriculture industry. The governor stopped short of overt political stumping -- the event was about marketing veggies more than personalities. The Alaska Grown label and VanderWeele Farm's windmill logo were prominently displayed.

"There's a lot of good stories ahead in this important industry," Knowles said.

Ben VanderWeele has been farming in the Valley since 1967, and has used every marketing technique available to him, from a roadside stand, to wholesalers, to labeled boxes and bags packed on the farm. Last year the family farm introduced its own bag of cut and peeled carrots that are processed and packed on the farm. He thinks the state's Alaska Grown program has been helpful in the 15 years or so since it started.

"I think it's been a real benefit to us. It's a logo that's starting to get some name recognition," VanderWeele said.

Helvi Sandvik, President of NANA Development Corporation, also spoke at the VanderWeele farm. Sandvik announced a commitment from NANA to buy 70 cases of 90-count potatoes from VanderWeele Farms per week as long as the supply lasts.

"It's a firm commitment and I think that's exciting for VanderWeele farms and for us. It allows us to do what we want to do and that's support the Alaska economy," Sandvik said.

NANA Development's subsidiary, NANA Management Services, holds food service contracts with the state to supply the Alaska Pioneers' Homes. NANA also supplies the Mt. Edgecumbe school, the University of Alaska, and oil field service companies.

Sandvik is the granddaughter of a Matanuska Colony family and spoke briefly about hearing stories from her Valley relatives about the hard work of farming -- including the hard work of marketing. VanderWeele echoed that sentiment when he spoke.

"Marketing has been, and still is a bottleneck and I'm hoping this is the start of something good," VanderWeele said.