Climate Connection: Food Entrepreneurs
By Carly Dennis
Eating locally is great for communities and great for the climate. When we invest our money in local farmers, fishers and chefs, we bypass the carbon emissions used in transporting food from far distant corners of the world. Why pay to send blackberries from Chile when we can harvest fresh, ripe salmonberries from our own backyards?
Sitkans know this, and they’re investing in businesses based on eating locally and thinking globally.
Sitka’s food trucks are just one example of such local food entrepreneurs. Between Ashmo’s, Captain JuJu’s, Castaway, Taco Loco, and the YAS smoothie truck, there’s no shortage of meals on wheels. From Sitka salmon to North Pole pork, Sitka’s food truck entrepreneurs use Alaskan ingredients with a smaller carbon footprint and a higher economic payback.
Salt and Soil marketplace is another local food entrepreneur that is helping Southeast Alaskans to eat locally and think globally. By connecting local food producers to consumers, the online-based marketplace makes it easy to access fresh, healthy, regional food. The online marketplace proves that it’s entirely possible to source the majority of our meals from local sources.
Sitka Salmon Shares elevates our local, Southeast cuisine across the nation, connecting Southeast fishermen to consumers looking for sustainable seafood. Salmon Shares supports Sitka fishermen and fishing families, and a culture of sustainable harvest. Eating salmon, even when shipped, is a good alternative to eating farmed fish or even farmed beef.
Local food entrepreneurs help us avoid the environmental and economic costs of shipping meats and produce. They provide jobs to our economy, and they source healthy menus. With such a short amount of time between producer and consumer, there’s no need for preservatives, and no excessive processing, both of which only add to the carbon footprint of imported foods.
Local food entrepreneurs are good for the climate, they’re good for our health, and they create vibrant, creative communities.
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By Carly Dennis, Volunteer with the Sitka Chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby and Sitka Conservation Society intern.
Farmers Market
Set for Saturday
The second of the summer’s series of Sitka Farmers Markets will be 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the ANB Founders Hall.
Included will be fresh produce and a variety of other foods, such as locally made candy, bread and seafood. Music also will be included.
To learn more about how to be a vendor and other information, contact Nina Vizcarrondo, 738-9301, or Charles Bingham, 623-7660, or email sitkafarmersmarket@gmail.com. Volunteers are needed to help set up and take down the market, as well as sell food at the Sitka Local Food Network farm stand.
Spaghetti Dinner
Benefit for SSA
Sitka Sportsman’s Association will host its first fundraising spaghetti dinner 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, at the Sitka Elks Lodge.
It will include raffle items and a dessert auction.
Raffle tickets to win a Palmetto State Armory AR-15 are on sale at Orion Sporting Goods, Russell’s, Guns of Alaska and Munchie Mart.
Proceeds will go to the operations and maintenance of the Sitka Sportsman’s Association’s facility and ranges. The association is a non-profit organization.
All events at the Elks Lodge are for members and invited guests. For more information or to make donations call 738-4559.
Municipal Election
Registration Set
The last day to register to qualify to vote in the Oct. 1 municipal election is Sept. 1.
To register to vote, or update a voter registration record, visit: https://voterregistration.alaska.gov/. For information contact the municipal clerk’s office at 747-1811 or 747-1826. Division of Elections Region I Office contact information is 1-866-948-8683 or http://www.elections.alaska.gov.
Story Time Set
The Sitka Public Library will host a preschool story time 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1.
“Potty Power!” by Eunice Moyle and Sabrina Moyle will be one of the readings. “Be a Star” will be the theme of a program that includes rhymes, songs and a craft project. Everybody is welcome. For information call the library at 747-8708.
Smokey Bear’s
75th Birthday
Celebration Set
All are invited to help Smokey Bear celebrate his 75th birthday at the newly rebuilt Sawmill Creek Campground 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17.
Smokey will share his birthday cake at 11 a.m. and be available for photo. Children’s activities related to fire prevention will be included.
Smokey and his clear message “Only you can prevent wildfires” has stood the test of time. More than 95% of wildland fires in Southeast Alaska are human caused, the Sitka Ranger District said in a news release. The majority of those fires are caused by unattended campfires.
The Smokey Bear image began in 1944 with the wartime advertising council and the need to prevent wildfires which were a threat that used up precious resources, especially during World War II.
For information about the event, call the Sitka Ranger District at 747-6671 or email SM.FS.r10_sitka_rd@usda.gov.
Public Review
Begins on Alaska
Ferry Schedules
A public teleconference to hear comments and consider adjustments on the Alaska Marine Highway Systems proposed Southeast Alaska schedule will be 10 a.m. Monday, July 29. The toll-free number to participate is 1-515-604-9000, access code 279613.
The link to access the proposed schedule patterns is: http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/share/schedule/considerations.pdf. AMHS is also interested in knowing about any need for special events scheduling and requests that organizers or communities give the event name, dates, location, and arrival/departure times needed for each special event.
The proposed schedule patterns to be reviewed cover the fall/winter/spring from October 2019 through April 2020. The schedule patterns proposed are based on the funding levels for fiscal year 2020. The operating plan has been designed to meet community service needs while staying within available funding levels, and maintaining regulatory and safety standards for the vessels, the state said.
