Georgia produce is world renowned, from the peanuts grown by former President Jimmy Carter to peaches that adorn state license plates to the world’s only famous onion, the fabulous sweet Vidalia. But Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black and the department’s “Georgia Grown” program are working hard to make sure people also think of other products when they think of Georgia produce.

Amazingly, the item the state of Georgia is best-known for from an agricultural standpoint is no longer one where it leads the nation in production. Everyone still calls Georgia “The Peach State” even though it long ago let the title of the nation’s leading peach producer move across its border to South Carolina.

Atlanta State Farmers Market Manager Paul Thompson with the ‘Georgia Grown’ logo. (Photo by Chip Carter)In its stead, a bumper crop of other products have flown to the fore. Georgia now leads the nation in the production of blueberries, peanuts and pecans. It is near the top in the production of watermelon, peaches, rye, sweet corn, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, cantaloupes and cabbage.  

Agriculture contributes approximately $72.5 billion annually to Georgia’s economy, according to the University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development.

The 2013 total Farm Gate Value for the state was $13.6 billion. One-in-seven Georgians works in agriculture, forestry or related fields. And in 2012, there were 42,257 farms in Georgia encompassing 9,620,836 acres of land. The average farm size was 228 acres.

That gives the Georgia Grown program a lot of ammunition for its marketing efforts.

Those range from a state-produced “Georgia Grown” magazine and traditional advertising to events designed to give the public chances to interact with Georgia growers. Two years ago the ag department launched a series of Georgia Grown Farmers Showcase events, which bring consumers out to state farmers markets around Georgia. The program was so successful it was repeated this summer.

“We have seen tremendous support from both producers and consumers of Georgia Grown products across the state for our showcase events,” Black said. “We experienced such success last year that we increased the number of showcases this summer by adding a fourth in Moultrie.”

In the summer season, events like the showcases give consumers “the perfect opportunity to pick up fresh, locally grown produce along with other items produced in our own state that you cannot find in stores,” Black said.

Events like the showcases bring consumers in touch with providers of locally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as pork, beef, poultry; plants, flowers and other nursery items; olive oil, jams, jellies, barbecue sauces and honey; and baked goods and other prepared foods.

Another Georgia Grown initiative takes the program to the schools, with 10 selected annually to participate as Georgia Grown Test Kitchens. The program promotes local and healthy eating in schools across the state by supplying school nutrition directors with healthy recipes using Georgia Grown commodities. 

The Georgia Grown program also works for large growers and shippers at the international level. It was instrumental in helping Georgia pecan growers open up lucrative markets in China and India. And it is increasingly involved at every level of the produce trade.

“They’ve done a really terrific job getting the Georgia name out there and we see people focusing on Georgia grown products,” said Andrew Scott, vice president of marketing and business development for Atlanta distributor The Nickey Gregory Co.

Added Mike Jardina of Atlanta apple and stone fruit specialists the J.J. Jardina Co., “They do a very good job and that really helps us with local product. Just the recognition they have brought to ‘Georgia Grown’ has really helped. We don’t see an end for the demand for locally grown — our sales in Georgia apples are five times higher than they’ve ever been. Thank Commissioner Gary Black for that one. They’re doing a great job. The Georgia Department of Agriculture is pushing the ‘Georgia Grown’ program very well.”