James May-June 2023 web - Flipbook - Page 29
hen you go to the
grocery store to buy
food for your family or
to your favorite restaurant for a meal, how often
do you think about the farmer who grew the food
you’re about to enjoy? For most Georgians, particularly those who reside within our larger cities, it’s
safe to say the answer is not very often. As Georgia’s newly elected Commissioner of Agriculture, one of my goals is
to change that, because the reality is that every meal you
enjoy, every product you buy— it all starts with a farmer.
Agriculture is Georgia’s number one industry generating more than $70 billion in economic impact annually, but
for the 400,000 hardworking Georgians who work in our
industry it is way more than just a job— it’s a way of life.
Agriculture is the backbone of our state, and the story of
Georgia agriculture is the one rich with tradition and history. It’s the story of thousands of hardworking farm families who rise before the dawn and work until after dusk to
grow the food, fiber and shelter that the rest of us rely on.
For this 7th generation South Georgia farm boy, that’s a
story worth telling. And I can think of no better way to tell
it than through the food our farmers grow.
The Georgia Grown program was established in 2012
to help us do just that by connecting farmers with consumers and new markets for their products locally and on
a global scale. Georgia Grown is its own division within
the Georgia Department of Agriculture with a team of dedicated professionals who help the more than 2,000 farmers
and businesses that participate in the program increase
the visibility of their products. From small mom-and-pop
shops to operations farming thousands of acres, Georgia
Grown members are certified local producers who proudly
stamp their products with the Georgia Grown logo and
their products are available for purchase at grocery stores,
farmers markets and restaurants across the state.
We are blessed to be one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the nation with more than 9.9 million acres
involved in production agriculture, and our favorable climate allows our farmers to grow a wide variety of seasonal
crops. Whether it’s sweet, juicy Georgia peaches in the
spring or crisp North Georgia apples in the fall
or the world-renowned Vidalia Onion, the quality of the products grown by Georgia farmers is
unmatched. We are the number one producer in
the nation of broiler chickens, peanuts, pecans
and forestry products, we’re second in cotton lint
and watermelon and third in blueberries, peaches and
cantaloupe. More than in any other state, Georgia consumers can purchase an incredibly wide variety of locally
grown goods from corn to collards, strawberries to steaks,
and everything in between.
Buying Georgia Grown products is a win-win for consumers and farmers alike. For you as a consumer, buying
Georgia Grown means buying the freshest, most nutritious
and highest quality goods available while at the same time
supporting the local economy. For our farmers, it means
a greater share of the retail dollar goes back to the family
farm and the farmer who grew it.
Georgia Grown products are available on the shelves
at your local grocery store, at the weekend farmers market and even online through direct-to-consumer sales. I
encourage you to visit the Georgia Grown website to find
markets and retailers near you— or take it a step further
and visit one of our many agritourism operations and see
the farmer you’re supporting for yourself.
I am proud to represent Georgia’s agriculture industry
and the thousands of farm families who ensure its success.
As your Agriculture Commissioner, I am also committed
to ensuring our consumers are protected, that our food
supply is safe and secure and that you’re able to find those
fresh, Georgia Grown products at your favorite store, market or restaurant across the state. So next time you visit
the grocery store or visit your favorite restaurant to order
that meal, think about the farmer, and I hope you’ll choose
to support that farmer by purchasing Georgia Grown products whenever you can.
Tyler Harper, a farmer, native of Ocilla and former state senator,
took office as Georgia’s agriculture commissioner in January.
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