Alaska peony industry benefits from seasonal advantage
For certain raising peonies, the large blossoms beloved for weddings and other special events around the world, won’t replace oil as a source of high-paid jobs or state revenues, at least anytime soon.
Still, the creation of this mini-industry, which didn’t exist just a few years ago, is a testament to Alaskans’ ingenuity combined with the advent of efficient air cargo service through Alaska’s airports that makes just-in-time delivery of perishable products possible.
Alaskan peony farmers also have a seasonal market advantage in that Alaska flowers become available in mid-summer, which is past the growing season for Lower 48 farms, according to Mike Williams, who co-manages Alaska Peony Distributors, a Wasilla-based wholesaler and distributors
Production in the state is growing fast, also. Alaska Peony Distributors expects to ship 35,000 to 40,000 cuts stems this year through a new processing and packing facility at Lake Hood, said Meghan Williams, who helps manage the company. That’s up from 20,000 stems last year.
Williams said production next year is conservatively estimated at 60,000 stems.
Read more at The Alaska Journal of Commerce