Part 3/12:
Alaska relies heavily on imports, with about $2 billion spent annually to feed its roughly 750,000 residents. Most imported food doesn't arrive via land routes but through maritime shipping or air freight, and this dependence on external supply chains dramatically elevates costs. For instance, a 10-pound bag of sugar costs under $9 in Texas but about $14 in Anchorage and up to $30 in smaller rural towns.