In spite of our remote setting, we cultivate a high standard of food quality and responsible sourcing.
Alaska is far from lines of supply. Within the last 20 years, however, small-scale farming has grown significantly in this sub-arctic state. While wild fishes have always been easy to obtain, we can also get Alaska-raised beef, pork and chicken. Small farms such as Denali Organic Growers and purveyors such as Arctic Organics supply us with lettuces, hardy greens, peas, beans, onions, carrots, potatoes, and more.
Not only does fresh food taste better, but buying from in-state sources lowers our environmental footprint, so we purchase Alaska-grown whenever possible. Each night we serve a main entrée of meat or fish that is obtained from farmed or wild-caught sources in Alaska. Whenever possible and in-season, the vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs are either grown on site or purchased from organic farmers in our region.
For 30 years we have maintained an on-site greenhouse and outdoor, raised bed gardens where we grow herbs and vegetables that thrive in northern growing conditions. This provides us the freshest lettuces and greens, herbs, edible flowers, peas, beans and rhubarb while eliminating the need to transport such fragile produce long distances in refrigerated trucks. Though these items represent a small portion of our overall use, growing this bit of our own food keeps us connected to where our food comes from and reminds us of the effort required to supply organic produce.
The kitchen at Camp Denali is continuing a longtime commitment to sustainable practices. We are proud to say that beginning in 2018, 100% of the meat, poultry, and seafood served in our dining room is Alaska-grown. For the first time, in 2021, our entire summer supply of eggs (about 800 dozen!) came from Palmer, Alaska. Further to our commitment to support farming, fishing and gathering in Alaska, we also source many additional food items from purveyors across the state, thanks in large part to the innovation of Arctic Harvest Deliveries.
Galloway cattle and Berkshire hogs. Grass-fed beef, finished on AK barley. No antibiotics, steroids, or hormones. Humanely raised and slaughtered.
Freedom Ranger chickens and Bourbon Red turkeys. Free range, pasture-raised birds. No antibiotics, steroids, or hormones. Corn-free and soy-free feed.
Sockeye and silver salmon. Settee caught. Direct from the fisher-artists. Picked live from the net, bled, gutted, gilled, chilled, kissed and delivered within 24 hours.
D.O.G.'s garden is off-the-grid with no well or driveway access. They catch rainwater and spring runoff as their water source. Each plant has been carefully seeded, watered, thinned, harvested, and washed by hand, and delivered to us the next day.
Family-owned and operated since 2010, Polaris Farm raises chickens, turkey and pigs for in-state customers and cultivates a flock of free-range laying hens for the biggest in-state supplier of farm-fresh eggs.
Ben & Suus VanderWeele immigrated from the Netherlands to Alaska in 1967 and began farming in Palmer. They are one of the largest family farms in the Mat-Su Valley, with around 200 acres under cultivation.
Bruce Bush is a third generation farmer, growing on land passed down to him by his father. He grows mainly potatoes, rhubarb, and summer squash, with a smattering of other specialty items.
Sarah and River Bean were some of the pioneers of organic growing in Palmer. Starting in 1988, they now have eight acres under cultivation, two greenhouses and two, large high-tunnels, and grow close to 50 different varieties of vegetables.
The only commercial flour mill in Alaska - the next nearest mill is 1,500 miles away. Their flour is milled from wheat & barley grown on their 1,700-acre, family-owned farm. All flour is 100% whole grain - nothing removed, nothing added.
Hand-crafted, flake-style sea salt straight from the pristine waters of Sitka, Alaska.
Kahiltna Birchworks is the world's largest birch syrup producer, harvesting sap from 11,000 birch trees in the Susitna Valley. It takes an average of 110 gallons of birch sap to make one gallon of syrup.
