In mid-May the AMC marketing program welcomed a group of four journalists to Cordova for our second familiarization (FAM) trip—an immersive experience connecting these writers directly with Alaska’s mariculture industry. Through farm visits, product tastings, a hatchery tour and the Sheridan Glacier Lake trail hike, participants from AgTech Navigator, Delish and two contributors that write for National Geographic, Martha Stewart, The Kitchn and Eater gained a firsthand understanding of Alaska’s unique, and growing, industry.
Robust Education in All Aspects of Alaska Mariculture
The Cordova visit kicked off with a dinner hosted by AMA’s Jason Lessard and several industry representatives discussing how Cordova is embracing and developing mariculture. Attendees included representatives from the Prince William Sound Economic Development District (EDD), University of Alaska Fairbanks, Native Village of Eyak, Prince William Sound Science Center, Alaska Blue Economy Center (ABEC) and farmers from Noble Ocean Farms, Royal Ocean Kelp Company, Safety Cove Oyster Farm, Simpson Bay Oyster Company and WildBlue Mariculture. The group stayed at the Orca Adventure Lodge where Captain Kris Ranney took them on a tour to see three working farms (and many, many sea otters): Royal Ocean Kelp Company to observe the harvest, Noble Ocean Farms where they touched and tasted bull kelp directly from the water and Simpson Bay Oyster Company for a primer on oyster farming.
The trip gave a window into how Cordova kelp farmers collaborate, including coordinating their farms’ harvests. In addition to selling to local consumers, local kelp farms share a common buyer, Cascadia Seaweed, a BC-based biostimulant company. Biostimulant is a soil additive that can enhance crop yields, quality and resilience. The two oyster farms in Cordova sell to the local Alaska market. The final day in Cordova included a trip to the Prince William Sound Science Center for a deep dive into the kelp hatchery. Ecologist and researcher Angela Korabik underscored the unique opportunity of kelp farming in Alaska. The guests then saw various ways kelp is processed, including an introduction to the new dryer – a collaborative project supported by the Prince William Sound EDD, the Alaska Mariculture Cluster, Greenwave, local farmers and others that was years in the making.=
Experiencing the Uniquely Alaska Sights and Tastes
Upon arrival in Cordova, the group immediately hiked the Sheridan Glacier Lake trail – an amazing experience reinforcing the cold, pristine waters of Alaska mariculture. The Cordova trip was bookended with overnights in Anchorage with dinners highlighting Alaska oysters and kelp in the menus at the Crow’s Nest and Pearl. Our guests were also able to see, and taste, Alaska-grown kelp used in consumer products, including the Cordova Brewing Company’s Sour Sea Witch beer and a tour and tasting at Chugach Chocolate Factory where they were treated to a private demonstration of how the Chugach Dark Chocolate with Alaskan Kelp & Cayenne is made.
What’s next:
The AMC marketing team is working with these journalists on stories; more will be shared as they publish. Two additional FAM trips are planned this summer to Juneau and Ketchikan/Prince of Wales, as well as other activities to support the industry across the state.