Food & Drink
RSSFood & Drink in Alaska covers the state's food traditions, from subsistence harvest and Indigenous foodways to breweries, restaurants and food festivals. It takes in food security programs, farmers markets, and Alaska Grown agriculture across rural and urban communities.
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Tuluksak School's new hydroponic tower is growing tomatoes, onions and basil
Tuluksak School has a new hydroponic tower, and it's already planted with tomato and onion starter pods, the school's food service coordinator, LuAnn Miller, wrote in the state education department's November school meals bulletin.
Green onions and basil started in a smaller unit are thriving, Miller wrote, and will move into the main tower in the coming days. The school expects a harvest soon.
"Our students have been highly engaged, enjoying the opportunity to observe the progress of this project first-hand," she wrote.
A federal Patrick Leahy Farm to School grant paid for it. The Yupiit School District, based in Akiachak, won $219,107 for the project this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The district calls it Elitnaurat natlugniritut naunranek nertuameng, or "students growing strong eating plants/vegetables."
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Latest
October 2026
Anchorage brewery sells limited Uncle Ted Ale to mark USS Ted Stevens commissioning
49th State Brewing's limited Uncle Ted Ale, made to mark the USS Ted Stevens commissioning, is almost sold out. Get it at the Anchorage pub while supplies last.

September 2026
Maximum SNAP food benefits in Alaska rise about 1.6% starting Thursday, with rural areas highest
Alaska's SNAP maximums rise about 1.6% Thursday. A rural family of four can now get up to $2,027 a month, though actual benefits depend on income.

Southwest Region schools serve freeze-dried carrot chips from 2,300 pounds of summer vegetables
Southwest Region School District freeze-dried more than 2,300 pounds of potatoes and carrots over the summer, and carrot chips are now a lunchroom favorite.

Harvest Moon festival brings Alaska-grown food, pie contest to Soldotna
Soldotna Creek Park hosts the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival on Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring Alaska-grown food vendors, live music, and a homemade pie contest capped at 30 pies that requires preregistration and a $5 entry fee.

Where to celebrate Oktoberfest in Southcentral this weekend and next
Free Oktoberfest celebrations hit Girdwood, Anchorage and Valdez this weekend, Sept. 25-26. Ticketed adult events follow Oct. 3 in Palmer and Eagle River.

Kotzebue gets $1.5 million to keep growing food above the Arctic Circle
Kotzebue gets $1.5 million for Alaska Native food sovereignty work. The USDA calls it national security. The people doing it call it something else.

Alaska's tribal college wins federal money for students and food knowledge
Alaska's only tribal college won $352,000 from the USDA to help students stay in school and to teach Iñupiaq food systems on the North Slope.

A bill would guarantee vehicle access for the village inside Gates of the Arctic
A national park was drawn around Anaktuvuk Pass in 1980 without asking. A bill would guarantee the village the right to drive out and go hunting.

More from Food & Drink
August 2026
The Assembly says Anchorage hunger is rising. Its resolution does not say how it knows.
An Anchorage resolution up Tuesday says nearly 40,000 residents, including 12,000 children, face food insecurity — a rate that's climbed since last year.

Troopers arrest nine on drug charges during Salmonfest in Ninilchik
Troopers arrested nine at Salmonfest, eight on felony drug distribution charges, though the dispatch names no one and gives no drug quantities.

Free daily meals and pantries available across Anchorage in August
A free hot meal is available somewhere in Anchorage every day this month, plus two dozen food pantries citywide. Call 211 or check anchoragefood.org for the schedule.

July 2026
UAA wants to pour wine at the gallery opening — under a 'sporting' license
UAA wants to serve beer and wine at its arts venues — under a liquor license category called "sporting activity." The string quartet counts, apparently. Assembly votes Aug. 4.

Unalakleet's new greenhouse sends its first harvest to the elders
Unalakleet's new greenhouse is sending its first harvest to village elders — and the schoolkids who named the potatoes will be back in fall to pick them.

Fish and Game offers $6 foraging class at Matanuska River Park
Fish and Game will walk you through Matanuska River Park for $6 and answer the only foraging question that matters: can I eat this, or will it kill me?

Alaska child care gets a meal-money raise that may not cover the meals
Federal meal reimbursement for Alaska child care rose July 1, but providers say the annual bump never keeps up with what food and rent actually cost.

June 2026
New federal money for small meat processors could help Alaska lean less on imported food
New federal money for small meat processors could nudge Alaska, which imports nearly all its food, toward processing more of its own — $60M in grants is due Aug. 7.

Coming up
Friendsgiving Cookie Decorating Class with Catelyn's Confections
Northern Made Co., 505 Illinois Street, Unit 4, Fairbanks, AK 99701
Class
Parejas Sobre La Roca (Banquete Parejas Agradecidas)
Community event
Bangers & Mash Brunch
Community event
The Qombo: RNB/HipHop Brunch
Music event
Raw Crystal Earring Workshop
Class
About Food & Drink
Food and drink in Alaska takes in the state's food traditions, from subsistence harvest and Indigenous foodways to breweries, festivals and farmers markets. It sits within people and culture and reaches rural and urban communities alike.
Food security is a recurring thread, from greenhouses and hydroponic gardens that bring fresh produce to rural schools and villages to food sovereignty work and federal support for local meat processing in a state that imports most of its food. Benefit and meal programs such as SNAP, child care meal reimbursement, and free meals and pantries in Anchorage are part of it too.
Rules shape the subject as well, including liquor licenses and limits on homemade food sales. Foraging for berries and mushrooms and seasonal events such as Oktoberfest and local food festivals mark the year.
More from Food & Drink
Alaska's makers take over the museum lawn this summer
The Anchorage Museum lawn turns into an open-air Alaska makers market July 17 — ceramics, wood, jewelry, and the chance to meet the people behind the work.

Where Alaska's fire morels may pop next
Oh, Mushroom hunters / Information they kept close / Now for all to know

Metlakatla edible-only landscaping rule reshapes public plantings
Metlakatla passed an ordinance requiring all public landscaping to be edible, planting 50 fruit and berry trees across the Southeast Alaska community with a $105,244 federal grant.

Traditional Healing Clinic hosts Alaska Native cultural classes this week
Southcentral Foundation's Traditional Healing Clinic hosts Alaska Native cultural classes this week in Anchorage, including porcupine quillwork, Ahtna language, beadwork, and food preservation. • Classes meet at 4 PM at 4320 Diplomacy Drive and require online registration through the clinic's portal.

Southcentral Foundation offers cultural education classes in June
Southcentral Foundation's Traditional Healing Clinic offers Alaska Native cultural classes in late May and early June, including Ahtna language, traditional food prep, and craft skills like kuspuk sewing in Anchorage.

May 2026
King Salmon Fishing Banned Across Tanana Drainage Due to Yukon Forecast
Alaska banned all king salmon sport fishing in the Tanana River drainage, including catch-and-release, due to a forecast for below-average Yukon River king salmon returns this year.
April 2026
Alaska Senate panel weighs restrictions on vacuum-sealed homemade food sales
Alaska Senate panel discussed a bill that would ban vacuum-sealed and heat-processed jar packaging for homemade foods sold online, citing botulism risk from improper sealing.