CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT
Mosesian Farms: Alaska’s 2025 Farm Family of the Year
Pioneering indoor agriculture in Alaska
For more than five decades, Mosesian Farms — known to many as Bell’s Nursery — has been a cornerstone of Alaska’s agricultural community. This year, the family behind the business was honored as the 2025 Alaska Farm Family of the Year, a recognition that highlights both their innovation and resilience. As Nicole Syren, one of founder Mike Mosesian’s six children, explains:
“We offer a unique aspect and product to the farming industry up here. You won't find another hydroponic tomato, cucumber, eggplant farmer in Alaska, period.”
The business began when Mike and his wife moved from California to Anchorage in 1972, bringing with them the idea of growing hydroponic tomatoes in greenhouses. Today, Mike is 82 years old, still active in the business, and surrounded by generations of family. Nicole lives on one side of the farm with her husband and seven children, while Mike lives on the other. Many of Mike’s ten grandchildren have worked in the operation, carrying forward the legacy.
The sense of family extends beyond blood. Mosesian Farms employs about 100 people each year, including 20-25 in management and 25 H-2A workers who have been returning for decades. Nicole considers these workers kin: “At the end of the day, it's just this big family.” Together, this large extended family keeps the farm running year-round with an ever expanding list of products.
The northernmost winery in the world
What started as a greenhouse tomato farm has steadily expanded over the years. After acquiring Bell’s Nursery, the family grew the business into a full retail garden center with hanging baskets, flowers, and bedding plants to suit Alaska’s short growing season. In the 1990s, they opened a gift shop that has since grown to include coffee, jewelry, and even a 25-year partnership with See’s Candies.
Today, visitors to the nursery can find not only fresh produce and flowers, but also poinsettias, Christmas trees, and pumpkins brought in from Oregon. The farm even hosts an indoor farmers market during the cold months, making it a year-round hub for the Anchorage community.
True to the family’s adventurous spirit, new ventures have often been born from curiosity rather than a formal plan. As Nicole puts it: “I'd like to say we had this big, long-term goal, but no. We just like adventure.”
One of the most distinctive expansions came in 2012, when Mike planted wine grapes inside the greenhouses. His background in California table grapes fueled what has become his passion project: Bell's Alaskan Vineyard & Winery, the only winery in the state using Alaskan-grown grapes.
Surviving storm after storm
Despite the farm’s impressive growth, operating in Alaska comes with its unique obstacles. High nursery heating costs, H-2A wage hikes, and the logistical challenges of bringing seasonal workers to Alaska are just a few of the headwinds the Mosesians have had to overcome.
“Our costs have just soared through the roof, and we keep asking ourselves: 'Is it worth it?'” Nicole admitted.
So far, the fruits of their labor have proven worth it. “We’ve been through a lot,” Nicole reflected, “but it’s a joy to do it.”
Beyond the rough economics of recent years, the family has survived many storms — from the devastation of a greenhouse by a windstorm to the stress of dealing with unexpected I-9 inspections earlier this year. To weather it all, the Mosesians have learned to turn to additional support for the areas that matter, including the team at Seso to help manage their H-2A labor and compliance. As Nicole put it:
“The stakes are higher, and we have to make sure we are protected.”
Growing for local and national impact
Looking back, one thing is clear: determination and diversification have made Mosesian Farms a beacon of hope for the rest of the farming community. From hydroponic tomatoes to poinsettias to Pinot Noir, each new venture has helped the family persist in doing what they love.
At the heart of the Mosesians’ story is a simple reminder: to support local businesses and national security by eating, shopping, and growing close to home.
“We need to encourage the local consumer here in Alaska to buy local,” Nicole shared.
It’s a mission that keeps the family going strong, year after year, generation after generation, in one of America’s last frontiers.
Photos courtesy of Nicole Syren and Mosesian Farms of Alaska.
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