Welcome to our twice monthly edition of Collaborative INSIGHTS, a publication of Global Food Collaborative, LLC. Our purpose in launching this publication is to provide a tool that facilitates business and investment in food development throughout Alaska, from a buyer and market perspective.

If you have feedback, articles to contribute or items that might be of interest to our readers, please write to us at robin.r@globalfoodcollaborative.com.    Or check out our website.

We recognize that seafood makes up an overwhelming majority of the food produced in Alaska, however, keeping in mind that all of Alaska's food (and beverage)industry has many similarities in terms of transportation, regulation, packaging, production, markets and technologies, this publication will be inclusive of all food related products.     

Collaborative Insights is also designed to be a vital tool for those outside of Alaska who are seeking an active view into Alaska's food industry... greater transparency of the complete supply chain system.

Our readers are.......

Retail, Wholesale and Institutional Global Food Buyers
Transportation and Distribution Specialists
Perishables Supply Chain Professionals
Quality Control and Certification Organizations
Regulatory and Support Agencies For The Production and Marketing of Food
Ingredient Companies
Food Related Legislative and Trade Associations
International Trade Associations
Information Technologies Specialists
Harvest, Production and Handling Technology Professionals
Product Development Companies and Organizations
Educational and Training Experts
Technology Companies
Trade Associations

The Alaska Livestock Producers Association has scheduled their annual conference in Anchorage on February 21st and 22nd at the Anchorage Marriott Hotel.  The topics will cover Herd Health Management, Alaska Johnes ID Program and Agritourism. Sign up by contacting the Alaska Diversified Livestock Association or Cooperative Extension  Services at (907) 474-7269.

Interested in buying Alaska's first and only locally manufactured cheese?   Orders are being taken for orders delivered later this Spring (2008).   Country dairy will be manufacturing the product utilizing 100% Alaska dairy.  Packages are available at 3 levels.

• $30 - 2lb block of cheese and a Cheese Futures Certificate.
  
• $90 - 6lbs of cheese and an Alaska birch cheese knife.
  
• $150 - 10lbs of cheese, cutting board made of Prince of Wales greenstone or Alaska birch. 
  

Checks or credit cards accepted at the Alaska Farmers and Stockgrowers, Inc, P.O. Box 871765, Wasilla, Alaska  99687.   Got cheese or questions?  907.746.0044.

The State of Alaska's Food Safety and Sanitation program is pleased to announce that Tagalog tests are now available in hard copy and on the website. Unfortunately, the online test prep (video) is not yet available, but it's on their list for the next time we update the system.

Vietnamese tests are available in hard copy and on the website; however, a food worker taking the Vietnamese test online must change their Windows settings to allow for Asian languages in order for the test to show properly. Vietnamese test prep (video) is still available online.

The Food Worker Testing Site is at: http://alaska.state.gegov.com/foodworker/ If you need hard copies of tests in either language, please let Linda Adams (1-87-SAFE FOOD or 907-269-2008) know how many you need and the relative urgency with which you need them. We also want to remind you that the $10 charge for the food worker cards is still being waived (yes, you read it right - it's still FREE) and we have some "Frequently Asked Questions" answered on our website at: http://www.dec.state.ak.us/eh/docs/fss/FactSheetFWCFPM.pdf (e.g., who needs the card, how long the card is valid, etc.).

As always, we appreciate your feedback and patience as we implement this new program.

Kimberly Stryker, Environmental Program Manager I
Food Safety & Sanitation
555 Cordova St
Anchorage AK 99501
907-269-7628
907-269-7510 fax

As of  this month, DEC has issued more than 10,000 food worker cards!!!! This is a major milestone and we appreciate your commitment to food safety in Alaska!

Readers may remember a couple of articles in this newsletter about the business of food over the past year, authored by Marion Owen of Kodiak. What follows is a short profile with links to her business and products. Kodiak may not be the international business hub of Hong Kong or Dubai, but through her own broadcast radio show, blog, newsletter and catalog, she conducts her business, PlanTea, Inc. worldwide.  Now she seeks to collaborate with others on sustainable local food sources in Alaska.

WUSATA is a non-profit trade association comprised of the 13 western State Departments of Agriculture and their funded agricultural agencies.  (If you are outside of these 13 states regional area of WUSATA, check out other regional programs here.) They administer programs funded in-part through the USDA/FAS Market Access Program (MAP) which help small agribusinesses to grow their global markets.

Congratulations To Lauren Padawer of Cordova who's Alaska Glacial Mud Company was featured in LUCKY’s December issue!  Lauren is the Founder and President of Alaska Glacial Mud Company and if you haven't yet experienced their product - take a look at their website and give Lauren a call.   Yes, there is more to Cordova then the famous Salmon! 

_____________________
alaska glacial mud co.
po box 394
cordova, alaska 99574
p./f. 907.424.4695
c. 314.853.8751
www.alaskaglacialmud.com

This year, The Matanuska Valley is expanding its menu of foods well beyond its famous produce. Two separate companies are well on their way to processing of new food and beverage products. The first belongs to Kyle and Sandy Beus of Teelands Mercantile (Wasilla) and is for artisan cheeses, ice cream and candy. The second is by Rob Wells of Robert Wells and Company, LLC. for Alaska Natural Milk (hormone free) which will be the first guaranteed all-local milk product.  Each company is leveraging its business and production experience with the growing demand for specialty products for consumers and commercial buyers.

Fish Notes is a compilation of information and news of interest to Alaska's fishing, seafood and related industries.  

The Alaska Product Preference (APP), AS 36.30.332 is one of eight State of Alaska preferences applied to in-state bids on State contracts, or proposals in response to a request for proposal. Under the State’s procurement code, the Alaska Product Preference can provide a local bidder or offeror with a cost preference between three and seven percent.  More information and link below.