About 20 Haines and Skagway residents brainstormed a vision for the future of food production in the upper Lynn Canal last weekend on Zoom, as part of a statewide effort to strengthen Alaska’s food networks and security.

Over the course of two hours, residents identified dozens of “food assets” in the Chilkat Valley, ranging from the names of individual growers and organizations to broad industries and practices, like fishing and bear and moose harvests.

“In a nutshell, this conversation today is the beginning of making sure your voice, your ideas and priorities for your regional food system are going to be heard,” said Lisa Trocchia, a consultant who led the workshop on behalf of the Homer-based Alaska Food Policy Council.

Participants generated a list of “leverage points” — ways to make best use of the many assets they identified — and highlighted the ideas that resonated most, including creating a food policy umbrella organization; launching a website showcasing food-related events in the upper Lynn Canal; and giving land back to local tribal governments to grow affordable food for community members.

People with a variety of interests attended the workshop, from Klukwan resident Justina Hotch, who shared her concern for protecting tribal food security and traditional food ways, to Jessie Baker, who runs the produce department at Skagway’s grocery store.

A major theme was improving communication and resource sharing among residents connected to the food system, be it growers or grocers or just those interested in working to build and maintain food security. Sue Chasen, who is working on several food-related projects in the Chilkat Valley, said she plans to propose to the borough creating an “organization of organizations” to help coordinate efforts across the local food system.

Chasen is one of four members of an upper Lynn Canal “node” created last year in partnership between Haines Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) and the Alaska Food Policy Council.

Residents interested in helping to create a local food policy council should reach out to HEDC, local “node” member Erika Merklin said.

Saturday’s workshop was the second step in a three-step initiative, overseen by the Alaska Food Policy Council, to create a map that will display food-related projects across the state, in an effort to connect producers, harvesters, sellers and others involved in the food web.

“This is democratizing this process of making change happen so that everyone has access to this,” Trocchia said.

The Alaska Food Policy Council also will use information gleaned from the workshop, which was one of 14 held around the state, to devise a 10-year statewide food policy strategy for Alaska.

Workshop results also will be shared with the Alaska Food Security and Independence Task Force, formed recently by Governor Mike Dunleavy to make recommendations about how to increase food production in Alaska.

Separate from the workshop, Tracey Harmon, director of the Haines Chamber of Commerce, also sees potential for Haines’ agricultural industry.

“We have so many local growers and there is a huge market for farm to table cuisine,” Harmon said in an email to the CVN. “We desperately need more food options and if we could attract independent travelers, not only for our beautiful scenery but for food artistry and tourism then this would benefit several industries and improve the quality of life for local residents.”