To the Editor:
The August 23 Wrangell Sentinel article regarding commercial blueberry harvest raised concern. My understanding is that Trail Mountain Harvesters would get the resource (the blueberries) for free and pay the pickers fifty cents per pound. That is about one-tenth of what domestic blueberries run in the grocery store on sale. I have picked Alaskan blueberries for over forty years, and consider blueberries and other berries to be an important part of our family diet. Wild blueberries run about 4.5 to 5 pounds per gallon, so TMH would pay about $2.50 per gallon. Calculating my picking time, I could make $2 to $8 per hour depending on how well the berries produce. The last two rainy summers I would have made $2 to $3 per hour before the expense of gas to get to the berry patch. Inviting a business to town that pays workers an unlivable wage with none of the protections of standard employment is not beneficial to Wrangell. Worse yet would be to allow harvest and see a non-local workforce remove the resource and then leave.
Economic diversity is important, and each local industry must be a true benefit to our community. Commercial harvest of a long list of products and a drying facility as a new industry is an enticing prospect. It is, though, asking to take from our pantry and medicine cabinet.
Now that Wrangell is a borough it might be valuable to start a dialogue regarding our stance on commercial use of the valuable food and medicine in our wild areas. A handful of individuals selling homemade jam, salve, dried seaweed, and other products is a minor impact and a historical, broadly accepted part of subsistence living. I have heard stories of busloads of commercial pickers wiping out resources in parts of other states, though, so it would be sad to carve up the berry patch too quickly. Oversight of where commercial harvest takes place would be very difficult.
There have been road closures throughout Southeast in recent years that have already reduced access. For example, when the road to my favorite cranberry patch was removed it was difficult to find adequate alternatives. The road to my favorite Wrangell Island blueberry patch will be closed in by alders in a few years.
Thought should also be given to how much respect for the ecosystem will be paid by subsistence users vs. commercial harvesters. I urge a careful look at these and other considerations regarding commercial harvest of non-timber forest products.
Jo Ellen Wendel
To the Editor:
It has been my privilege and pleasure to work as the public health nurse for the community of Wrangell for 14 years now. The time has passed so quickly that it is difficult for me to even believe it has been that long.
I want to let everyone know that I will be done working in this capacity as September 1, 2012. Although a difficult decision, it is the right time. I have so enjoyed this community and the work that I have been able to participate in here.
Denny and I have no plans to leave the community at this time and I will continue to be a part of many activities around town. Thank you for all of your support over the years. I feel very blessed to have had this opportunity to get to know you and to work with you over these many years.
Janet Strom
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