Reindeer meat is lean and high in essential fatty acids, and it's considered by some to be superior in taste to its wild migrating cousin, the caribou. It is the largest source of reindeer meat sold commercially in the state, said ecologist Greg Finstad, manager of the University of Alaska Fairbanks reindeer research program. Currently, field-dressed reindeer meat from Nunivak is sold under certain restrictions to locals as well as some rural grocery stores. The expansion is expected to bring additional revenue for the tribe's commercial reindeer subsidiary, Nuniwarmiut Reindeer and Seafood Products, while creating as many as 20 seasonal winter jobs for locals. "Their natural resource is the vegetation on their island, and they're developing it into a product they can market — reindeer meat," Finstad said.

Source: Fox News March 12, 2017 14:33 UTC