Excited about the future of farming in Alaska and especially Spinach.
Glenna Gannon. assistant professor of Sustainable Food systems at UAF, Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension (IANRE), spoke out about Fresh Spinach Day. I did not know that such a day existed, but it does and was on July 16. Spinach is a popular green and is part of many beloved recipes all over the world. There is a perception that after summer growing season is over, there is only one source for spinach and that is bagged spinach that comes form lower 48 and is shipped here to our grocery stores. That perception may be revised as Glenna talks about the need for research in spinach Varietal Trials at UAF. You can find a lot on information on these trials and the recommendations for which variety to grow that is “slow to bolt resistant”, tasty and hold best in summer and fall plantings.
Research like this is so essential for our climate. Research funding will allow development of new agricultural techniques and technologies so we can continue to work on reducing our reliance on food imports and external suppliers. Glenna had a great community perspective in Daily News Miner, Monday July 15, 2024.
I was excited to learn about these trials, not just for Spinach but other vegetables as well. You can find the crop recommendations at the UAF AFES Varietal Trials page when you go to Cooperative Extension website. https://www.uaf.edu/ces/publications/database/gardening/recommended-variety.php. You can download the pdf or print the publication. It has so much information.
I find that Cooperative Extension site has a lot that I learn from for my area, which is Interior Alaska. Let’s talk to our legislators and elected officials about the need for funding for research that will help us grow our food economy, support food security and reduce dependency on outside suppliers.
Let’s build stronger food systems for Alaska.