@dreamgbutterfly botanicals

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To: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service #AMS-SC-19-

0061.

From: @dreamgbutterfly botanicals

Re: Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee

Date: August 14, 2019

My name is Cheryl Bowie with @dreamgbutterfly botanicals. I’m part Inupiaq Eskimo

from northwest Alaska, thank you for the opportunity to participate however remotely. 

I’ve been working on a project studying the impacts of cannabis on our communities 

since a fellowship my former employer and healthcare provider nominated me for. I will keep my 

comments brief but wanted the opportunity to introduce myself and just make mention of the 

many different state level efforts happening in relation to agriculture, both urban and rural. 

As you may know Alaska is a very rural area that has limited access to fresh fruits and 

vegetables; if you combine this with limited transportation, the need (not only the demand) for 

fresh agriculture products comes at a premium cost to people in rural areas of our state, greatly 

impacting their ability to provide locally sustainable produce and access to healthy foods that 

can improve our diet and health. My first memorable experience with fruit as a child was 

watching my aunt rehydrate (boil) dried fruit to make pie. This is not a story a lot of people know 

but it is a very relevant to many lifestyles bound to this practice due to Alaska’s remoteness. 

I’m currently working on a project studying the impact of cannabis on our communities 

and cannot help but notice the similar infrastructure needs and requirements. This type of 

infrastructure is largely in need in our state as I am sure other industries are looking at some of 

the new urban agriculture designs to incorporate into health, education and commerce. 

Rural areas of Alaska are currently experiencing hardships related to transportation, high 

unemployment rates and the increasing cost of living related to delivering services such as 

health, education and commerce activities in rural areas and an even greater need to create 

sustainable environments as things change around them. 

I think that utilizing some of the agricultural programs to mitigate some of the health and 

economic hardships being experienced by some of our most needy people and places is a great 
@dreamgbutterfly botanicals

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idea and we could incorporate some of the new indoor agriculture designs to meet standards 

set by other federal agencies to meet upgrade requirements for energy, education and 

information technology and telecommunications. 

Identifying key stakeholders in agriculture to develop new partnerships and identify 

common goals or at least common infrastructure needs to meet desirable outcomes is critical to 

having successful outcomes especially in rural areas. 

AMS works with many stakeholders that either have access to or share similar 

infrastructure and security needs. These can provide educational, employment and access to 

infrastructure that can give people access to current commerce platforms to reduce

unemployment in their areas and help create financially and economically competitive platforms 

regardless of location. 

Alaska is the unsung hero of indoor agriculture due to our climate and the military’s need 

to provide food here in the early 1900’s. Alaska has a rich history of both indoor and outdoor 

agriculture in an adverse environment of which the world has drawn on much experience. 

Alaska is also an area being spotlighted as a climate change example due to the highly 

regulated and least developed area I believe in the country. The cost loss of different climate 

change models however accurate or inclusive often fail to identify ways to help local people 

create infrastructure models that increase health and safety for them and their families while 

preserving what they identify as important culturally or within their environment. 

These urban agriculture designs used for fresh fruit, produce, biotechnology, drug 

development and so forth offer relative ease of deployment with some designs that are 

achievable for people in rural areas and would help mitigate economic hardships in these areas 

while helping utility, communications, telehealth and other providers identify new opportunities 

to increase access in rural areas. 

I just wanted to take a minute to introduce myself and let you know people around the 

country are looking at all of these systems as drug regulation and cannabis or hemp are 

discussed. It’s a wonderful time to identify different synergies to accomplish shared goals. I look 

forward to watching things unfold through these efforts.