On the 25th anniversary of Alaska’s “Farm Family of the Year” award, Bruce and Vickie Bush, owners and operators of Bushes Bunches farm and produce stand in Palmer, have been named the 2024 honorees.
The prestigious award was established in 2000 by the Alaska Division of Agriculture and the Alaska State Fair to recognize Alaska farm families who epitomize the spirit of the state’s agricultural industry.
Bruce Bush’s connection to farming runs deep, with roots stretching back to 1956 when his father purchased the farm in Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Bruce began his agricultural journey at the age of eight, participating in 4-H and later developing the “Bushes Peanut Potato,” a popular variety featured at their Alaska State Fair booth. The family’s first foray into direct sales began with a small vegetable stand started by Bruce’s sister, Nancy, in the 1960s. Over the years, this modest operation blossomed into the thriving business that is Bushes Bunches today.
Bruce took over the farm in 1988 and expanded the operation, opening a farm stand near the Parks Highway. Although the stand had to be relocated in 1999 due to highway expansion, the family persevered and in 2014, they reopened the Bushes Bunches Produce Stand on the Old Glenn Highway, where it now operates year-round. The stand not only sells produce from their own farm but also features products from other local farms, reflecting the Bushes’ commitment to supporting the broader agricultural community.