Atlanta is known for a large, successful produce scene thanks to a group of dedicated companies and growers that have been working in the area for decades.

In fact, the city has been branded the “King of the Southeast” by many in the industry due to its hotbed of activity for those working in the produce industry.

Without question, the No. 1 contributor to Atlanta’s thriving produce industry is the 150-acre Atlanta State Farmers Market in Forest Park, GA, which for more than 65 years, has been a hub for retail and wholesale produce. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the market is home to various produce companies and a garden center.

Originally built in 1959, the Atlanta State Farmers Market sees approximately 4,000 customers wandering through every single day. Daily, it services schools, restaurants and the foodservice industry for those within hundreds of miles of Atlanta. Currently, there are about 125 companies operating there, generating approximately $500 million a year.

The market is a major distribution center for fresh produce harvested in the state of Georgia, but also throughout the length of the entire Eastern Seaboard.

Andrew Scott, director of marketing and business development for Nickey Gregory Co., based in the market, characterizes Atlanta as a top international city that is thriving.

“This town is really growing and with the Interstate system, you can get anywhere around the Southeast almost overnight out of here, so it’s a nice produce hub for the Southeast,” he said. “It’s really remarkable how you have a lot of distribution centers for a lot of different companies in this town.”

Atlanta is also known for its growing culinary excellence and use of local products by acclaimed chefs, who regularly buy ingredients from the market.

Georgia as a whole is one of the top five agriculture states in the United States, contributing nearly $73 billion to Georgia’s economy each year, according to the University of Georgia’s Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development.

This success by Georgia’s farmers can be attributed in a large part to the state’s climate, which allows for the growth of just about any crop. Naturally, Georgia is famous for its peaches, peanuts, and sweet Vidalia onions, but it also grows blueberries, watermelon, cucumbers, sweet corn, Bell peppers, tomatoes, cantaloupes, cabbage and more, according to the Georgia Farm Bureau.

Additionally, Atlanta benefits from the centralized transportation hub, access to great facilities and the geographical location. The diversity of products — thanks to an ideal climate — that can be grown so close to this East Coast hub adds to this advantage.

Georgia’s agricultural community is strong, as professionals work together to promote the delicious foods they grow and sell and encourage people in the state to buy local while also providing those foods to consumers in different parts of the country.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Georgia Grown program promotes the efforts of farmers and local agribusiness, such as processors, distributors, suppliers, retailers and agritourism professionals, through a statewide community that offers an array of promotions and services.

The Georgia Grown brand is desired by business and consumers who want to buy and promote Georgia’s locally grown products.

“We are big supporters of Georgia Grown items and deliver these fresh items across the Southeast,” Scott said.