Agriculture in Alaska
ZIP codes in our Alaska data
USDA hardiness zones present
Agriculture in Alaska is small in acreage compared with the Lower 48 but plays an outsized role in local food security across a vast and remote state. Because so much food must be shipped or flown in, locally grown produce, hay, and livestock products carry real value for communities, and a strong network of gardeners and market growers helps fill the gap during the short but intense growing season.
Farming in Alaska
Alaska farming is concentrated in a few pockets, most notably the Matanuska-Susitna Valley near Anchorage, the Tanana Valley around Fairbanks, and parts of the Kenai Peninsula. Growers focus on cool-season vegetables such as potatoes, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, and other greens, along with hay and other forage grasses that support the livestock sector. Livestock in the state includes cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, poultry for eggs, and a distinctive reindeer-herding tradition, while greenhouse and nursery operations are important for extending the season. The long summer daylight hours are famous for producing very large vegetables, including record-setting cabbages and giant pumpkins at the state fair.
Climate and growing conditions
Alaska has a wide range of climates, from the relatively milder maritime south and southeast to the harsh continental interior and the arctic north, so growing conditions vary enormously by region. The frost-free growing season is short, often running roughly from late May or June into August or September in the main farming valleys, but it is boosted by extremely long summer daylight. USDA hardiness zones span a broad range, from milder zones around 6 and 7 in parts of the southeast coast down to very cold zones near 1 and 2 in the interior and far north.
Major agricultural products
- Hay and forage grasses
- Potatoes
- Cabbage and other cool-season vegetables (carrots, lettuce, greens)
- Greenhouse and nursery products
- Cattle and calves
- Hogs and sheep
- Poultry and eggs
- Reindeer
Local weather & frost dates in Alaska
Open any location for its live forecast, frost dates, and planting calendar:
Counties in Alaska
Browse local growing conditions, hardiness zones, and weather by county (30 counties):
Market prices & data for Alaska
State overviews combine hardiness-zone data from our ZIP database with public USDA market reports and NOAA climate normals. For farm-level decisions, consult your state's Cooperative Extension service. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.