Marsh Skeele of Sitka Salmon Shares is one of three winners of the Alaska Food Hero Award by the Alaska Food Policy Council.
He was named Friday during a virtual ceremony at the Alaska Food Festival and Conference.
Other winners are the Native Village of Savoonga Reindeer Crew (Savoonga), and Chef Amy Foote of Alaska Native Medical Center Foods Donation Program (Anchorage).
Skeele, 35, is a second-generation fisherman, entrepreneur, food systems change maker, and co-founder and vice president of the seafood company, Sitka Salmon Shares. He grew up fishing the summers in the small rural Southeast Alaska community of Port Alexander with his family. He fished out of both Port Alexander and Sitka.
As a young troller, Skeele connected with Nic Mink, the other co-founder of Sitka Salmon Shares. Since 2011, Skeele has been a key force in growing the company from an idea to a community-supported fishery.
‘‘He has invested countless hours, blood, sweat and tears in all aspects of the company’s growth and developing stronger markets for an increasing number of fishermen through a completely direct-to-consumer, domestic market,’’ a press release said. ‘‘During a time when global and domestic markets have collapsed due to trade wars and COVID-19, Sitka Salmon Shares is delivering more than 20% over the dock price to fishermen owners — which translated in 2020 to hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional income in the pockets of local Sitka fishermen.’’
Marsh Skeele. (Photo provided)
The organization said Skeele, in his behavior on the water as a fisherman (he fishes with his dad, John, and sister, Nora, still for halibut) and off the water, ‘‘exemplifies the values for healthy oceans, stewardship, and making the most of a precious resource (Alaska fisheries).’’
‘‘Marsh and Sitka Salmon Shares are an active contributor to community and conservation causes in Alaska,’’ the release said. ‘‘Marsh is a humble, unsung hero of Alaska’s food system and a truly talented entrepreneur making important change when it comes to transforming the way fisheries are conducted in Alaska.’’
The three awardees were among 17 people or organizations nominated for the award by community members around the state. They received a glass plaque and a homemade quilt featuring the Alaska Food Policy Council logo made by AFPC governing board member Mel Sikes of Fairbanks.
The fifth semi-annual conference, which was held virtually this year, was hosted by the Alaska Food Policy Council and co-sponsored by the Alaska Village Initiatives AgAlaska Program, FRESH (the Food Research, Enterprise, and Sustainability Hub of the North), and Alaska Pacific University.
