A G R I C U LT U R E
In Bloom and In Demand How the peony industry is growing to serve global markets
Alaska Peony Cooperative
By Vanessa Orr
T
hough peonies have been growing in Alaska since the Gold Rush, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that raising the flowers became a commercial industry. Since then, peony growers have worked diligently to develop both national and international markets for the flowers based not only on the quality of their products but on the fact that peonies are available in Alaska when they can’t be found anywhere else. “In the Lower 48, peonies bloom around Memorial Day, so they are available in May and June,” explains Ron Illingworth of North Pole Peonies. “Our
136 | September 2021
Alaska Business www.akbizmag.com
