Food Security

Currants Anyone?

The inaugural Far North Currant Festival attracted more than 350 attendees to the Georgeson Botanical Garden in August 2023. The festival was created as a way to increase awareness among �ֻ�ֱ��ns about currants, which are nutritious, tasty and easy to grow in the state.

Saving Grain

Local advocates and UAF Extension experts worked with state officials to secure a $1 million investment from the state of �ֻ�ֱ�� to build a grain reserve in collaboration with the �ֻ�ֱ�� Farmer’s Co-op in Delta Junction. The Co-op will work with growers to establish a grain reserve to ensure affordable feed is available when extreme weather conditions affect crop productivity.

Local Food Leaders

The Local Food Leader Training and Certification program is taught by UAF’s Cooperative Extension staff and educates participants about the role local food leaders play in the greater food system, as well as helps build connections between food policy leaders across the state.

Feeding �ֻ�ֱ��n Livestock

An investment of $500,000 in state of �ֻ�ֱ�� capital funds will begin a new livestock nutrition research program, which will be housed at the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center in Palmer. Work will focus on investigating whether �ֻ�ֱ��-grown feed can support healthy livestock populations in the state.

Reaching Rural Communities

Together with traditional knowledge holders, the �ֻ�ֱ�� Tribes Extension program offers hands-on programming in remote villages, by request. In 2023, �ֻ�ֱ�� Tribes Extension offered a total of 90 virtual and hands-on workshops to nearly 1,500 participants and provided technical assistance on topics ranging from applying for USDA grants to gardening and food preservation.