The Alaska Farmers Market Association (AFMA) is made up of farmers market managers from across Alaska who are interested in furthering the success of direct marketing in our State. On this edition of Ag Matters Radio Amy & AFMA Director Robbi Mixon discuss the recent grant award, upcoming events, and future goals of the group.
AUTHOR | Kerry Nelson
Robbi Mixon must really love supporting the future of agriculture in Alaska. It’s an assumption that can be comfortably based on the many roles she has played since her arrival here. She didn’t grow up on a farm. She grew up in front of one, down in her home state of Georgia. It was enough of an influence to eventually lead her to work at Twitter Creek Gardens, a small farm in Homer. Entering her eighth year as Director of the Homer Farmers Market, Robbi also runs the Kenai Peninsula Food Hub and is Director of the Alaska Farmers Market Association. It’s enough to make even the most highly productive person feel lazy.
Alaska Farmers Market Association Brings State’s Markets Together
Robbi is leading the initiative to restart the Alaska Farmers Market Association, first established in 2009. AFMA held its first conference last year in which half of the markets in the state attended. Getting everyone into one room seemed to be the ticket. That, and the burgeoning local food movement sparked the revitalization needed for AFMA to support its mission of promoting vibrant and sustainable farmers markets throughout Alaska.
Farmers markets have grown dramatically here in the last decade. In 2005 there were thirteen markets on record. This year, AFMA estimates that number will reach up to forty-five. While the bulk of them are located in Anchorage, the rest of the state has followed suit. Alaskans can find locally grown produce from Fairbanks to Glennallen, Bethel to Valdez. Robbi feels it speaks to the need and desire for local products.
AFMA holds conferences for market vendors aspiring or seasoned. It’s been found that all farmers markets have very similar challenges, and creating a mutual support system is very beneficial. Conferences can be found on the AFMA YouTube Channel for those who cannot attend in person or need it as a future resource. Robbi also likes to bring up market directors from the Lower 48 for consultation since most have many years of experience beyond what Alaska has gathered – yet. Hopefully the day will come when market managers from Alaska are travelling to the Outside to share their unique skill sets.
It’s All About The Funds
That hope is closer to being realized. This past October, AFMA was awarded funding for the next three years through a Farmers Market Promotion Program grant. The grant supplies the funds needed to support staff, conferences, marketing, and partnerships with organizations to provide training. Sponsored by the USDA, the FMPP grant falls under the Farm Bill – a bill that impacts farmers every five years upon its revision. The USDA decides how much money each state receives based on its census of agriculture, which is all the more reason to fill it out if you own a farm.
Robbi has big plans to put the new funds to work. She and Tanana Valley Farmers Market manager Brad St. Pierre have been working all winter to relaunch support for Alaska’s markets. They have partnered with the Kenai and Homer Soil & Water Conservation Districts to send farmers to conferences and trainings. These opportunities will provide insight into topics like tracking data, insurance, growth, and marketing. If you are starting a new market, get in touch with AFMA – they want to help you!
Data Is Power
Another resource that Robbi has tapped into is the Farmers Market Coalition. As a national organization, the FMC has been able to create a data collection software system that it shares with its state members. AFMA will be using the FMC’s metrics program to standardize data collection around Alaska. The more data you have, the easier it is to get grants. Showing a grantor the real impact markets can have on a community economically will increase the chance of being awarded funds. All AFMA market managers have access to data sharing with FMC, an added bonus to becoming a member.
Alaska Farmers Market Association Aims Towards Access For All
AFMA is also constantly seeking to help more markets accept SNAP EBT benefits. It’s a difficult and arduous process for vendors. Only five of the over forty markets in the state accept SNAP. Robbi is working on a research project that seeks to find ways in which markets can receive funding to make it easier to offer the service. In the meantime, she will be compiling a resource list outlining the SNAP process for managers who wish to see the benefit accepted at their markets. There is also a modest piece of funding within the FMPP grant for a small market to hire the staff needed to start a SNAP program.
Growing Food Hub Outgrows Its Name
Robbi also runs the Kenai Peninsula Food Hub. Food hubs are the latest local food trend to hit Alaska. So what are they? Food hubs can take many different forms, but they all have the same end goal: get more locally produced food into local hands. The Kenai Food Hub is a partnership between Cook Inletkeeper and farmers, fishermen, soil and water conservation districts, Alaska Marine Conservation Council and Seldovia Village Tribe. Together they have helped to create an online farmers market that serves the peninsula.
Online ordering opens up depending on season and location, which can all be found on their website. At the click of a button customers can choose what they want and which designated location they’d like to pick up at. Tapping into the age of technology has gone well. So well, the hub has expanded into Anchorage and hopes to add Ninilchik, Nanwalek and Port Graham as future locations.
This welcomed growth has compelled Kenai Food Hub to search for a new name. Since it’s no longer tied solely to the peninsula, Robbi decided it was time to revamp and rebrand. She’s looking for public input for a new name, in her words “fantastic or mediocre.” So even if you don’t have a way with words, throw your idea at her!
She urges farmers who would like to learn more about selling online to get in touch with the food hub. Trainings will also be held for potential food hub vendors starting in April. Dates and information will be posted on the Kenai Food Hub facebook page. Robbi can be contacted at robbi@inletkeeper.org.