Alaska State Legislature
News from the House Majority

Jerry Ritter, House Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 465-3804
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

Legislature Supports Alaska Salmon as an Organic Food

Resolution Urges Certification for Growing Organic Food Market

For Immediate Release May 7, 1998 Contact: Rep. Bill Hudson at (907) 465-3744.

Juneau -- The Alaska Senate joined the House of Representatives today by unanimously approving House Joint Resolution 65, which asks that Alaska Wild Salmon be included as an organic food under federal law.

"The organic foods market is growing at a rate of twenty-percent annually. The market saw total sales of $3.5 billion in 1996," said Representative Bill Hudson (R-Juneau), Co-Chair of the House Resources Committee, which sponsored HJR 65. "Alaska's Wild Salmon, long recognized by the medical community as a heart-healthy food and reared in pristine Alaskan waters, should be a strong candidate for this growing market," Hudson said.

"Unfortunately, domestic and foreign salmon farmers are ahead of Alaska as they try to convince the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that farmed salmon ought to qualify for Organic Certification under federal law," Hudson said.

HJR 65 asks that Alaska Wild Salmon be fairly considered, using objective scientific criteria, as an organic food. It also puts the Department of Agriculture on notice that Alaskans are watching the pending debate over organic qualification. It asks the state's Congressional Delegation to assist in making sure that the huge agri-industry does not dominate the organic certification debate from the start.

"Organic certification would be a huge bonus to our salmon industry, because that rapidly growing base of consumers has demonstrated that it is willing to pay top dollar for top products," said Speaker of the House Gail Phillips (R-Homer). "The global salmon industry is fiercely competitive and Alaska Wild Salmon is the standard by which all other products are measured," Phillips said.

The Agriculture Marketing Service, part of the USDA, is working on national standards for organic certification. The deadline for public and official input is May 30th, 1998.

# # #