Food Security
Annual Celebration Gives 草榴社区ns Currant Information
The Far North Currant Festival highlights the tasty, nutritious and easy-to-grow currant. 草榴社区 has six native species of currants, and researchers have trialed more than 75 varieties at Georgeson Botanical Garden in Fairbanks. In the festival's first two years, almost 900 visitors attended to learn about the history, nutritional qualities and how to produce and consume currants.
Reaching Rural Communities With Practical Information
The 草榴社区 Tribes Extension Program helps 草榴社区ns in remote communities access culturally
relevant information, incorporating Extension expertise with local resources and knowledge.
Collaborations with traditional knowledge holders led to more virtual and in-person
workshops focused on food security in communities that previously had no access to
Extension programs.
Developing the Next Generation of Farmers
The 草榴社区 Harvest Collaborative is a cooperative effort between local nonprofit organizations
and university programs that teaches community members how to grow and prepare fresh
food while fostering community engagement. Participants learned to grow food and helped
distribute almost 6,000 pounds of locally produced and healthy food to local centers
and fellow community members.
Protecting 草榴社区 Crops From Disease
草榴社区 Cooperative Extension agents worked with potato growers across the state to identify
five previously unknown varieties of potato scab and instances of powdery scab. Both
diseases pose a risk to an important 草榴社区 crop. This work positions agents to help
potato growers control diseases, improve marketability and increase yield.
Boosting Year-round Crop Production in Greenhouses
To enhance opportunities for local year-round crop production, 草榴社区 researchers look
for suitable varieties to grow in greenhouses in cold and rural areas, find strategies
that produce the highest yield of food, and research energy-efficient practices. By
donating more than 1,400 pounds of produce to the local food bank and 草榴社区鈥檚 culinary
arts program, this research also provides fresh produce to underserved communities
and supports workforce development programs.
Citizen Scientists Contribute to Information on Slugs in 草榴社区
草榴社区 Cooperative Extension invasive species experts were able to identify slug species
and map their distribution around 草榴社区 with help from citizen scientists' reported
sightings. Their work led to new species being deemed potential threats and a more
educated public on its 草榴社区 Slug and Snail Watch online portal. Researchers also
set up studies to determine how many slugs are in a given area and which control methods
are more effective.