Alaska Farm Tours in Palmer
When most people think of Alaska, they picture towering mountains, icy glaciers, and wild open landscapes. Tucked between those breathtaking views are hardworking farmers growing food in one of the most challenging climates in the world.
Why Take a Farm Tour in Alaska?
At Revel Treks and Tours, we believe that to truly understand a place, you have to meet the people who live close to the land. Our Alaska farm tours offer a unique opportunity to step behind the scenes and discover how agriculture shapes life in the Mat-Su.
Palmer, Alaska, is home to a rich agricultural history dating back to the early 1900s. Our tours connect the past with the present—starting with a walking tour through historic downtown Palmer before heading into the fields to meet local farmers who are pushing boundaries and redefining what’s possible in northern farming.
You’ll hear firsthand stories from growers and learn how farmers adapt to the Midnight Sun, cold soils, and short seasons. If there’s things to harvest, you’ll be able to taste the fruits (well, veggies actually) of their labor through samples.
Tours conclude with a visit to a small business where visitors can sip on beverages that feature locally grown ingredients.
A Fresh Perspective
Whether you’re a foodie, gardener, history buff, or just curious about where your food comes from, our farm tours offer a thoughtful, grounded way to connect with Alaska’s land and people. It's a chance to trade the tourist trail for something more personal—and leave with a deeper appreciation for this incredible place we call home.
Whether you live here or are visiting Alaska, be sure to look for “Alaska Grown” produce and products when choosing where to spend your dollars.
What’s farmed in Alaska?
All kinds of things! Alaskan farmers produce a variety of meats, vegetables, grains, and fibers (data on farming available via the United States Department of Agriculture).
Farmed fish lead sales of meat products, followed by cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, chickens. Reindeer, bison, muskoxen, and yak are also produced.
Seaweed farming (e.g., bull kelp) can be a sustainable source of food and revenue that benefits marine ecosystems in Alaska.
Alaskans produce a wide variety of vegetables, berries, apples, potatoes, melons, dry beans, and grain.
Alaskan farmers also produce nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod products, including Alaska peonies.
Does Alaska farm a lot?
The short answer is, we’re working on it. While Palmer is considered an agricultural hub for Alaska, we’re a very food-insecure state. Less than 5% of what we eat here is grown in Alaska, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Farmers are working hard to increase Alaska’s food resilience, but the path ahead is an uphill battle.
Are farms in Alaska large?
Not at all. 43% of Alaska farms are on fewer than 10 acres. The entire state has less than 1,000,000 acres of farmland. If you’re visiting from the lower 48, leave behind any conceptions of what it means to ‘be a farmer’. Although many Alaska farms have small plots of land, growers work diligently to get multiple crop rotations into our single, short growing season.
