June in Alaska is a tough time for the Eat Local crowd. Long, sunny days and yet we’re not going to see produce at the markets for another two or three weeks.

Root vegetables — potatoes, carrots, beets — are still available, but supplies are running low and they’re just not the same after being storage all winter. I miss fresh carrots in particular, which made it pretty tough to edit together this video of the Vanderweele Farm carrot harvest from last September.

Arthur Keyes is experimenting a pair of California strawberry varieties on his Palmer, Alaska farm. As strange as this California-in-Alaska story seems, Keyes sees a huge upside to growing the berries in Alaska. The fruit can ripen on the plant, increasing sweetness, and Alaska’s harsh winters and isolation mean that there are very few crop-threatening pests.

He says the strawberries have been very popular with his customers at the South Anchorage Farmers Market.

[Still photo gallery from A&M Farms] ]]> http://www.alaskaphoto.net/2009/08/13/strawberries-in-alaska/feed/ 0 http://www.alaskaphoto.net/2009/06/26/the-politics-of-organic/ http://www.alaskaphoto.net/2009/06/26/the-politics-of-organic/#comments Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:18:35 +0000 admin http://www.alaskaphoto.net/?p=187
Arctic Organics co-owner Sarah Bean talks about the fed’s takeover of the term “organic.”
[Still gallery from Arctic Organics]

2009 Blessing of the Bikes from Stephen Nowers on Vimeo.

Over 200 bikes were on hand of the 10th annual blessing of the bikes in Palmer, Alaska.