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| Message from the CEO It takes little more than seed, sun, soil and water to make a crop come up. It takes  lots more than that to sprout an industry, especially in Alaska.Matanuska Maid is now in its third generation. In some respects, its corporate history reflects that of Alaskan agriculture as a whole. Many factors have challenged our capacity to sustain an industry here: weather, cost of goods, politics, capitalization and a small population. But here we are, beating the odds with a wonderfully loyal base of consumers who buy Matanuska Maid products because “they’re fresher, they’re locally made and they taste better.” At 70 years old, Matanuska Maid stands financially strong and highly regarded.* I came to this company in 1985, in the midst of a corporate crisis, the results of a changing marketplace, and bankruptcy and a union contract dispute. The reason I’ve been able to succeed (the average tenure for managers before me was two years) is the rewards of hard work, a quixotic vision about agriculture in Alaska and a remarkable team of bright, dedicated people who work with me. Our strategy for continued success centers on value-added products and creating new markets for dairy and beverage products. In the process, we purchase all milk available to us that is produced in the state, which supports the survival of Alaska’s dairy industry with a guaranteed market for its production. At the same time, we’re developing new markets with our bottled water product line and creating a healthy image of Alaska sourced foods. Economists say that a dollar generated in a value-added business like ours has four or five times more economic impact than buying the same product from outside Alaska. Besides the jobs and tax revenue created, homegrown companies are also more likely to support local charitable organizations, something we have done for decades. Twenty-one years here have only heightened my confidence in Alaska’s entrepreneurial efforts. With vision, a plan, a team, and political accord, Matanuska Maid looks forward to the next milestone, where no other in our esteemed agricultural family has gone – the Century mark. We hope to see you there,  Joseph W. Van Treeck President, Chief Executive Officer, and General Manager Matanuska Maid (1986 – present) *Independent survey results in 2005 reveal that Mat Maid has a near 90% positive rating, and over a 40% market share against competitors at Safeway, Fred Meyer, Wal-Mart, etc. Back to top |