Agroborealis, Vol. 38, No. 1 (Fall 2006)

Abstract

Tanana Valley farming: yesteryear's crops: The Tanana Valley was a major agricultural center in Alaska during the first half of the twentieth century. Cooperation between the Fairbanks Experiment Farm and local farmers and greenhouse operators led to many fruitful farming successes. / Excerpts from publications by Rochelle Lee Pigors, Josephine Papp, and Josie Phillips -- At the farm: alumni and employee remember: The Fairbanks Experimental Farm celebrated its 100th anniversary this summer. A few former employees and students write about their work and times down on the farm. / Leigh Dennison, Hal Livingston, and Barbara E. Green -- Reindeer meat-is it always tender, tasty, and healthy?: What makes reindeer meat good? The author provides an overview of reindeer meat research in four areas: pre-slaughter handling in relation to animal welfare and meat quality, effects of commercial grain-based feed mixtures and pasture on meat quality, chemical composition of meat and product quality, and sensory evaluation of reindeer meat. / Eva Wiklund -- The expert tastebud: Taste testers, or sensory panelists, evaluate reindeer meat for scientists in the Reindeer Research Program-but how do scientists train the panelists' tastebuds? / Deirdre Helfferich -- Controlled environments in Alaska: Simple to highly advanced controlled environment systems-from temporary cold frames to facilities using technology developed for space exploration-can be adapted to Alaska's regional conditions to improve production of vegetables, berries, and floral crops. / Doreen Fitzgerald with Meriam Karlsson -- Greenhouse tomato production for Alaska: For Alaska growers, tomato production in a controlled environment allows for better disease control, high productivity, and a longer season than field tomatoes. / Meriam Karlsson -- Small farm viability: Bigger is not always better, nor necessarily more profitable. Changes in technology, such as using high tunnels for season extension, can improve the economic and environmental viability of small-scale agriculture in Alaska. / Doreen Fitzgerald, Heidi Rader, and Meriam Karlsson -- Tea time in southeast Alaska: The Sitka Forest Products Program and undergraduate students in natural resources management are working with an herbal tea producer in Haines to create better tea production methods for wild Alaska herbs. / Deirdre Helfferich