Alaska Food Policy Council

OUR FOOD, OUR PEOPLE, OUR FUTURE
The AFPC is open to anyone interested in improving Alaska's food systems - agencies and individuals representing federal and state agencies, tribal entities, schools, university programs, farmers, fisheries, and food systems businesses. The role of the AFPC is to:
CONNECT: Engage with Alaskans to get input to strengthen our food system, and to connect them with each other to learn and collaborate.
ADVOCATE: Develop recommendations and share them with policymakers at the local, state, federal, and tribal levels.
INFORM: Share information, resources, opportunities, and risks with all food stakeholders (everyone who eats!)

Direct public support, grants, and sponsorships support our work, including:
-Developing recommendations and sharing them with policymakers at the local, state, federal, and tribal levels; and sharing information, resources, opportunities, and risks with all food stakeholders; Food Security Week in Juneau and publishing candidate surveys that let voters know how people running for political office view various food systems issues.
-Hosting the semiannual Alaska Food Festival and Educational Conference to bring together individuals, organizations, and agencies to connect and to educate each other, and act as a "food system think tank" regarding the work that is being done in Alaska; one of AFPCs key outreach and networking events that allows us to connect, educate and advocate broadly on Alaska’s diverse food system.
-Special events such as the Farmers Market COVID-19 workshop and the new Quarterly Food Systems webinar and quarterly webinars.
-Working to further Indigenous food security with Alaska Native/American Indian communities, by advocating for food sovereignty and for policies that affect the production, sale/ trade of traditional foods.
-Addressing food waste by acknowledging current statewide and local policies and actions, promoting specific proactive activities and programs, and looking for additional ideas and solutions.
-Communicating by aggregating content and creating engaging and informative newsletters, social media posts, press releases, annual reports, and web pages including guest blogs.
-Connects Alaskans through projects like our Regional Food Systems Partnership, which aims to link localized food system organizations to create a statewide network of “regional nodes”
Helps sponsor important local initiatives, including a partnership with the Anchorage Mayor's Office to award Local Food Mini-Grants for projects focused on increasing local food production and access in the Municipality of Anchorage. We also provide fiscal sponsorship support of local food groups, like the Fairbanks area-based Interior Alaska Food Network.
-Promotes urban agriculture and food security through the Anchorage Urban Sustainability Farm and Native Heritage Garden. With multiple partners including the Municipality of Anchorage and Alaska Seeds of Change, AFPC is revitalizing a long-neglected parcel of land on 3rd Avenue in Anchorage and demonstrating how urban vacant lots can be used to bring communities together and provide healthy foods.