Georgia Farm Bureau Neighbors - Spring 2011 Issue by Georgia Farm Bureau

FARM BUREAU’S

Georgia A

PUBLICATION

THE

GEORGIA

Spring 2011 Vol. 16, No. 1

FARM

BUREAU

Contents Spring 2011 • Vol. 16 No. 1

departments

Bottled on the farm

Unstable milk prices prompted Georgia dairy farmers Ginny and Jimmy Franks in Burke County and Russell Johnston in Morgan County to build processing facilities on their farms to bottle their own milk and market it to the public rather than selling to a milk co-op as most farmers do.

We, the Farmers

Canning ladies win top prizes in Flavor of Ga. Contest

6 8

Emily G’s Pear Honey Jam, made by Dunwoody entrepreneurs Emily Myers and Gina Bodell, won the grand prize in the 2011 Flavor of Georgia Contest. Norman Park’s Lauri Jo Bennett captured the People’s Choice Award for her namesake blueberry pepper jelly.

The sweet taste of success Growing Vidalia onions has proven to be a sweet success for producers like David and Shirley Jarriel and R.T. Stanley. Using controlled atmosphere storage lets them extend their shipping season and grow more onions.

GFB accepting entries for photo contest

The Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee invites all GFB members who are amateur photographers to enter its photo contest by 4:30 p.m., May 31.

Sweet potato surprise

Member Services Update

Kids Corner

Something’s Cooking

Insurance Update

Legislative Update

about the cover (Photo by Shelly Echols) Hall County Farm Bureau member Shelly Echols snapped this shot of a honeybee pollinating a Lorring peach tree in the orchard at Jaemor Farms, owned and operated by her husband Drew’s family in Alto, Ga. Shelly said they expect to be selling peaches by late May this year. Visit http:// www.jaemorfarms.com, a GFB Certified Farm Market, to follow the progress of their peach crop.

Like to Subscribe? All Georgia Farm Bureau members will receive the Georgia Neighbors. However, if you are not a farmer-member and you’d also like to receive the Georgia Farm Bureau News, fill in this coupon and send it to: Georgia Farm Bureau News, P.O. Box 7068, Macon, GA 31209.

Greene County Farm Bureau member Melvin Duvall didn’t set out to grow a giant sweet potato; imagine his surprise when he dug one weighing 23 pounds!

Name___________________________________

GFB Certified Farm Markets connect consumers with farmers

City/Zip__________________________________

One of the best ways to find a farmer near you who is selling fresh fruit, produce, meat or honey is by checking our listing of certified farm markets. Many of our markets offer agritourism activities for a fun day on the farm.

Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

Address__________________________________

GFB Membership #________________________

Questions about Member Services?

Call 1-800-633-5432. Call (478) 474-0679, ext. 5334 regarding editorial content. Call 513-307-7949 for questions about advertising. Non-members can subscribe to both publications for $15/year. Send a check payable to Georgia Farm Bureau and mail it to the above address.

FARM BUREAU’S

Zippy Duvall, President

Everyone’s welcome to be served at the Farm Bureau table

In the aftermath of the series of storms that struck so many of our members in April, I’d like to offer my heartfelt sympathy for any losses you or your families may have sustained. Our staff, both in our county offices and at our home office, are working hard to help you recover. The slogan of GFB’s insurance company is “Helping you is what we do best.” We take that offer of service to you seriously and want to be here for you in your time of need. This spring I was talking to someone about Georgia Farm Bureau and asked if he was a member. He looked at me with surprise and said, “No, I never joined because I thought you had to be a farmer or have an insurance policy with Farm Bureau to be a member. ” Given the name of our organization and the fact that our most popular member benefit is our insurance service, I understand how someone might mistakenly think this. I gladly explained to my new friend that Farm Bureau membership is open to anyone who would like to join us in the work we do to support Georgia’s farmers and rural communities or gain access to our many membership benefits. He answered that he admired farmers and appreciated their hard work, but with times being tough he’d have to think about paying $25 in membership dues to join. I understand the importance of justifying expenses. I have to justify every expense I make on my farm, so I asked the gentleman how much he values eating three square meals a day. He chuckled and said “A lot.” “Well,” I answered, “Have I got a deal for you! A lot of people join organizations because they believe in the advocacy work

the group does. Farm Bureau works to ensure that the U.S. has a stable food supply and that American farmers are growing our food so we don’t have to depend on foreign countries for our food. If you eat three meals a day, over the course of a year you’ll eat 1,095 meals. Divide your $25 Farm Bureau membership by all of those meals farmers are growing for you, and your Farm Bureau membership costs you only 2 cents a meal.” I could tell this sounded like a good deal to the guy so I shared one more piece of information – that a Farm Bureau membership will entitle him to discounts on a number of services that will earn his $25 back – such as discounts on car rentals, hotel stays and health services. This was a smart man and it didn’t take him long to realize that a Farm Bureau membership is a bargain. Regardless of whether you live in the country or downtown Atlanta, every Georgian should be interested in agriculture and the viability of Georgia’s farmers so we can all continue to eat three meals a day. If you like eating locally grown food, Georgia Farm Bureau helps consumers locate Georgia farmers selling locally grown food through our Certified Farm Market program. You don’t have to be a Farm Bureau member to shop at one of the 103 markets in our program, but your Farm Bureau membership supports the program and the participating farmers. You may be less interested in eating and more concerned about preserving greenspace and our state’s natural resources. Farmers work hard to protect the water, air and soil on their farms. Georgia Farm Bureau works to keep Georgia’s farmers economically viable and Georgia’s rural communities healthy. This is the best way we know of to ensure that farmers don’t sell their farmland for development. USDA statistics show that Georgia has 10.3 million acres of undeveloped See WE, THE FARMERS page 17

PUBLICATION

THE

GEORGIA

FARM

BUREAU

Issued two times a year by the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation located at 1620 Bass Road, Macon, GA 31210.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES Farm Bureau Members: Included in dues — $1 per year OFFICERS VINCENT “Zippy” duvall, President GERALD LONG, 1st Vice President/ South Georgia Vice President BERNARD SIMS, North Georgia Vice President ROBERT FOUNTAIN JR., Middle Georgia Vice President Wayne Daniel, Treasurer/ Corporate Secretary DUKE GROOVER, General Counsel DIRECTORS FIRST DISTRICT: J. Louis Hunt, LaFayette; Henry J. West Jr., Rydal SECOND DISTRICT: Randy Ruff, Elberton; Bobby Gunter Dahlonega THIRD DISTRICT: George Chambers, Carrollton; Nora Goodman, Temple FOURTH DISTRICT: Marvin Ruark, Bishop; William Hutchins, Winder FIFTH DISTRICT: Jim Ham, Smarr; Ralph Adamson Jr., Barnesville SIXTH DISTRICT: James Emory Tate, Denton; James Malone, Dexter SEVENTH DISTRICT: Ben Boyd, Sylvania; Gennis Folsom, Glennville EIGHTH DISTRICT: Phil Redding, Bluffton; Don Wood, Rochelle NINTH DISTRICT: Paul Shirah, Camilla; Lucius Adkins, Elmodel TENTH DISTRICT: David Lee, Alma; Daniel Johnson, Alma YOUNG FARMER CHAIRMAN: Wesley Hall, Cumming WOMEN’S COMMITTEE CHAIR: Donna Powell, Pelham INFORMATION STAFF Paul Beliveau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director Jennifer Whittaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editor Lillian Davis . . . . . . Publications Manager Jay Stone . . . . . . . . . Publications Specialist Michael Edmondson . . Web/Video Manager Mark Wildman . . . . . . Radio-TV Specialist Dean Wood . . . . . . . . . Radio-TV Specialist Denny Moore . . . . . . . TV Anchor/Producer Vickie Amos . . . . . . . . Office Coordinator ADVERTISING POLICY All advertising accepted subject to publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume liability for content of their advertising. Publisher maintains right to cancel advertising for non-payment or reader complaint about advertiser service or products. Publisher does not accept per-order, political or alcoholic beverage ads, nor does publisher prescreen or guarantee advertiser service or products. Publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised in Farm Bureau’s Georgia Neighbors. For advertising rates and information, contact Linda Fuda at 513-307-7949 or lfudamedia@ rcn.com. Farm Bureau’s Georgia Neighbors was established in 1995. Copyright 2011 by the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. Printed by Panaprint, Macon, GA. www.gfb.org Printed with soy ink

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Ginny and Jimmy Franks display the banner they use to advertise their products at farmer’s markets.

Russell Johnston scratches one of the 80 dairy cows that produce the milk bottled at Johnston Family Farm.

Bottled on the farm

Dairies bottling milk meet consumer demand, Article & photos by Jay Stone __________________________________________________________________________ increase profits

heir markets are different, but dairy farmers Jimmy and Ginny Franks in Burke County and Russell Johnston in Morgan County were prompted to start bottling the milk they produce on their farms and market it themselves to withstand the instability of the price they were receiving from their co-ops for their milk. “The price of milk kept fluctuating big-time and 2009 was a really bad year,” said Ginny Franks, who runs Southern Swiss Dairy outside Waynesboro with her husband Jimmy. “We had to do something. Either we were going to have to sell out or do something more sustainable in order to keep us in a more positive cash flow.” The idea was to bottle a premium product on a small scale, then take advantage of the growing trend of customers looking for locally grown food products. For Johnston, who runs Johnston Dairy Farm in Morgan County, that meant targeting Whole Foods and Earth Fare stores in Athens and Atlanta. For the Franks, it meant targeting restaurants and stores in Savannah, Augusta and Statesboro. The wholesale route wasn’t Johnston’s first choice, but given the location of his farm – “You turn off a goat trail to get to my place,” he quips – it was the one that made the most sense. Being in the middle of the Atlanta/Athens/ Macon triangle and having approximately 5 million people an hour or less away, he figured he’d develop a customer base through retail outlets. “If I can’t sell 500 gallons of milk a day to 5 million people, I’m doing something drastically wrong,” Johnston said. Although Johnston sells most of his milk wholesale, he does have some customers who pick up milk from a refrigerator on the front porch of his bottling plant and 4

pay on the honor system. Before starting, both the Franks and Johnston enlisted the help of UGA Agribusiness Economist Dr. Tommie Shepherd, who conducted feasibility studies that measured things like who would buy the milk, the profile of the typical consumer, what they’d be willing to pay, size and construction of containers and fat content. The studies also gauged the start-up costs associated with building the bottling facilities. “They came to us and said we’re thinking about this idea, can you help us evaluate it,” Shepherd said. “We wanted to gauge the interest in demand for a local product.” The bottling plants had to be built from the ground up, which was expensive and labor intensive. Jimmy Franks said he spent approximately $300,000 on the building and equipment Southern Swiss needed to get up and running. Johnston said he and two high school students did most of the work on his facility, including learning to perform stainless steel welding for the milk tanks. Finding the processing and bottling equipment was a challenge. The Franks, who still do some limited milk production for a co-op, mulled making the move to bottling their own milk for several years and made multiple attempts to buy used equipment from plants in other states that were closing or upgrading their equipment. The Franks just missed out a couple of times before finding the equipment they needed. “It just seemed like it was a sign that it wasn’t what we needed to do at that time,” Ginny Franks said. Johnston scoured the country for used equipment, and See BOTTLED page 26 Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2010

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Canning ladies win top prizes in Flavor of Ga. Contest Article & photos by Jennifer Whittaker __________________________________________________________________________

he top two awards in the 2011 Flavor of Georgia Contest went to savvy businesswomen who have turned the tradition of canning into successful businesses. Emily G’s Pear Honey Jam, made by business partners Emily Myers and Gina Bodell of Dunwoody, won the contest’s grand prize. The People’s Choice Award went to Lauri Jo’s Blueberry Pepper Jelly made by Lauri Jo Bennett, who runs Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning in Norman Park. Emily G’s Pear Honey Jam and Bennett’s Blueberry Pepper Jelly were two of 21 products, ranging from pecan brittle to shrimp cakes, selected from 89 entries to compete as finalists in the fifth annual contest held March 21-22 in Atlanta.

A panel of food industry experts judged the products for flavor, unique qualities, originality, commercial appeal and Georgia theme. The contest was held in conjunction with Georgia Agriculture Day at the Georgia Freight Depot on March 22, and visitors attending the event got to sample the products and vote for their favorite to determine the People’s Choice Award. Myers and Bodell use Georgiagrown fruit to make the 24 varieties of jam they sell in more than 100 stores nationwide and on their website http://www.emilygs.com. “Since starting our company three years ago, we’ve got our pears from a farmer in Good Hope who has a small orchard,” Myers said. Gina said their prize-winning jam is one of their most popular, and they

Jasper County 4-Her Krista Mercer (left) talks to Lauri Jo Bennett about her Blueberry Pepper Jelly which won the People’s Choice Award during the 2011 Flavor of Georgia Contest.

Emily Myers (left) and Gina Bodell won the grand prize in the 2011 Flavor of Georgia Contest for their Emily G’s Pear Honey Jam.

canned 85 cases of it last year. The demand for Emily G’s jams forced Emily and Gina to choose which aspect of their business they wanted to focus on – production or promotion. They chose marketing and contracted with Hillside Orchard in Tiger to make their jams using their recipes. “We decided we’d rather manage the front-end of the business rather than the back-end so we could grow our business,” Bodell said. “It’s not our hand in the jam pot anymore but it might as well be because we’re telling the hands what to do,” Myers said. The University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development conducts the contest to develop food entrepreneurs and help them showcase their products. “We competed in this last year with our salsa. We were a brand new company and got a lot of positive feedback such as suggestions on our labels,” Bennett said. “We took that advice and it really has helped our sales because the judges are people from food companies and distribution centers.” See CANNING page 26 Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

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The sweet taste of success Article & photos by Jay Stone ___________________________________

avid Jarriel, who learned to farm from his father, Wallace, drives around his fields of Vidalia onions at Dry Branch Farm in Tattnall County in an old Toyota pickup, scanning the shoots of onion foliage and watching workers dig up the onion bulbs and trim the roots. For Vidalia onion producers like Jarriel and R.T. Stanley in neighboring Toombs County, the shipping season is in full swing – it opened April 18. There was a time when Vidalias, famous for a sweet taste attributed to the low sulfur content of the soil in the 20-county growing region of Southeast Georgia, were only available in the summer. But thanks to the adoption of controlled-atmosphere (CA) storage for onions, Vidalias are now available nearly year-round. Jarriel and his wife Shirley run Dry Branch’s 350-acre operation, complete with processing shed, coolers and CA storage. At the packing shed, Shirley oversees workers operating the packing machines and moving the onions into storage. CA storage, which the Jarriels added in 1996, has proven vital to the Jarriel farm. “It kept us in the onion business,” Shirley said. “Without it you can’t provide to the bigger chains yearround.” The development of CA technology for onions allowed growers to significantly expand the acres they were devoting to the bulbs that in 1990 were declared Georgia’s state vegetable. In the 1970s there were fewer than 1,000 acres planted in sweet onions in Georgia. Today, the Vidalia Onion Committee estimates 8

R.T. Stanley with some of the onions waiting to be packed in his family’s cooler facility.

David Jarriel inspects his 2010 onion crop at Dry Branch Farms.

the regions’s onion acreage at more than 12,000. More than $150 million worth of onions are produced in those 20 counties that are distributed to all 50 states and Canada. “I had a passion for making money,” said David. “I could make more money with onions than I could with anything else.” Stanley, who installed his CA facility in 1989, was among the first Vidalia onion growers to have one. The CA facilities have sealed doors, 97 percent of the oxygen vacuumed out and ozone pumped in to prevent bacteria growth. According to the Vidalia Onion Committee website, the idea for CA storage technology was borrowed from the apple industry. Studies on the use of techniques to stall the apple ripening process date back to the 1940s.

Stanley’s initial CA unit cost $1.2 million, but he went from 300 acres of onions in 1988 – the year before he installed the CA unit – to more than 1,200 now. “That was a big gamble, but before we put in this storage facility we lost a lot of onions,” said Stanley. “The year before I put it in, I harrowed up 100 acres of onions.” Dry Branch Farms followed a similar path. In the late 1980s, Wallace Jarriel grew a maximum of 20 acres of onions. In 1989 David expanded it to 50 acres and steadily expanded the farm’s onion acreage until it topped 350 last year. Thanks to producers like the Jarriels and Stanleys adopting CA technology, consumers can enjoy Vidalia onions long after this year’s harvest season ends. Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

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Member Services Update

Jay Murdock

GFB benefits now include access to I.D. theft restoration services You work hard for years to be able to buy your first home. Your credit is impeccable – or so you think. Imagine being declined for a loan because your credit is riddled with late payments, collection accounts, delinquent loans, and dozens of maxed-out credit cards – none of which are yours! Now imagine your personal medical information has been compromised. Then imagine finding out that someone has used your identity and health insurance information to obtain medical treatment, surgery or even prescription drugs. The seriousness of the fraud becomes even more evident when you receive an invoice for the treatment, or worse, find out that the medical information in your file is not yours! Welcome to the nightmare of identity theft. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America and topped the list of complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission for the 11th straight year in 2010. According to Javelin Strategy and Research, a group that studies identity theft statistics, in 2008 there were 10 million victims of identity theft in the U.S., and one out of every 10 U.S. consumers was affected by identity theft. Identity theft is also one of the most difficult crimes from which to recover. John Harrison was featured in a CBS Evening News story about identity theft. The Connecticut salesman reported having spent more than 2,000 hours trying to reclaim his life after having his identity stolen. “I had to come up with a filing system,” Harrison said of his efforts to clear his name. Harrison was the victim of a 20-year-old identity thief who made fraudulent purchases totaling $265,000 in four months. Even though the thief was arrested and prosecuted, 10

Harrison was still harassed by creditors. “It keeps coming,” said Harrison. It keeps coming and you don’t have a choice but to deal with it.” Harrison’s story is not uncommon. According to a CNN/Money report, an identity theft victim can spend anywhere between 30 and 600 hours restoring their credit. That is between four and 75 full work days! If you’re like me, you’d be hard-pressed to find that much time to clear your identity. Now, for some good news: as part of the many benefits included with your Georgia Farm Bureau membership, you have access to identity theft consultation and restoration services* through I.D. Experts. All eligible** family members in your household are covered and the service is included in your annual membership dues.

How does the program work?

• If you suspect that your identity has been stolen, call 1-800-633-5432 (option 1) to report the identity theft event to a trained GFB member service specialist. • A thorough assessment of your situation will be performed to determine the nature and extent of the identity theft event. • Once a determination has been made that your identity has been stolen, you will be assigned a personal recovery advocate (PRA) with

I.D. Experts and a case file will be opened. • Utilizing a limited power of attorney, the PRA will work on your behalf to restore your identity to pretheft status. • The PRA will remain assigned to you for as long as it takes to restore your identity to pre-theft status. • The case file is kept for three years in the event that additional issues arise from the original identity theft event. Obviously, we hope you never have to use this service. But, as identity theft continues to grow as an epidemic in America, isn’t it a relief to know that your Farm Bureau membership is there for you if you do? *This program does not prevent See I.D. THEFT page 17

Ford offers GFB members $500 savings As of April 2, Georgia Farm Bureau is teaming up with Ford to offer GFB members a $500 bonus cash* savings toward the purchase or lease of any eligible Ford or Lincoln vehicle. With this valuable offer, you can enjoy savings on the vehicle of your choice from Ford’s exciting lineup of hardworking and technologically advanced cars and trucks – including the Ford F-150. Visit http://www.gfb.org for more details about this offer. The Ford savings program replaces the $500 Dodge rebate previously available to GFB members. *See selling dealer for qualifications and details.

Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

2011 Ford Fiesta

2011 Ford F-150

2011 Lincoln MKX

EXCLUSIVE $500 SAVINGS FOR FARM BUREAU MEMBERS Ford Motor Company is pleased to offer Georgia Farm Bureau members: $500 Bonus Cash* savings off vehicle MSRP toward the purchase or lease of any eligible 2010/2011/2012 Ford or Lincoln vehicle. With this valuable offer, you can enjoy savings on the vehicle of your choice from our exciting new lineup of hard-working and technologicallyadvanced cars and trucks â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including the Ford F-150 with its impressive power, fuel efficiency** and best-in-class trailer towing capacity.***

Take advantage of this special $500 offer today by visiting www.fordspecialoffer.com/farmbureau/ga * Program #33466: $500 Bonus Cash offer exclusively for active Georgia Farm Bureau members who are residents of the United States. Offer is valid from 4/2/2011 through 1/3/2012 for the purchase or lease of a new eligible 2010/2011/2012 model year Ford or Lincoln vehicle excluding Mustang Shelby GT/GT500, Edge SE AWD, F-150 Raptor and Taurus SE. This offer may not be used in conjunction with other Ford Motor Company private incentives or AXZD-Plans. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. You must be an eligible Farm Bureau member for at least 60 consecutive days and must show proof of membership. Limit one $500 Bonus Cash offer per vehicle purchase or lease. Limit of five new eligible vehicle purchases or leases per Association member during program period. See your Ford or Lincoln Dealer for complete details and qualifications. ** EPA estimated 16 city/23 highway/19 combined MPG 3.7L V6 4x2. *** Class is full size pickups under 8,500 lbs. GVWR, non-hybrid.

GFB accepting entries for Picture Agriculture in Georgia T

GFB member Teresa Chambers of Jones County won the 2010 Picture Agriculture in Georgia Contest with her photo, Hidden Gold.

he Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee is accepting entries for its 2011 Picture Agriculture in Georgia Photo Contest until 4:30 p.m., May 31. “This photo contest is designed to give Farm Bureau members a chance to share their photos that showcase agriculture and to encourage an appreciation of rural Georgia,” said GFB Young Farmer Committee Chairman Wesley Hall. “The contest was so popular last year that we have expanded it to include two new categories – one for young farmers and one for Farm Bureau employees – in addition to a category for general membership.” This competition offers amateur photographers the chance to explore the many activities, seasons, triumphs, disappointments and faces of agriculture, our state’s key industry. The photos that win this contest will capture the image and spirit of agriculture and Farm Bureau in Georgia. Contest winners will be posted on the GFB website http://www.gfb.org in early August. Contest winners and photos will be featured in the fall issue of the Georgia Neighbors.

Eligibility The contest is open to any Georgia Farm Bureau member who receives no income from photography. There are three categories: GFB members, GFB Young Farmers (farmers between the age of 18-35) and GFB staff/family (state or county). Contest Rules All photos must highlight Georgia agriculture and must have been taken in 2010 or 2011. Each entrant may enter only two photos. Only those of high quality will be considered. All photos must be highresolution images of a minimum of 1 megabyte (MB) in size. Horizontal photos of at least 1024 x 768 pixels or greater are preferred. All digital photos must be sent as an attachment in a JPEG format by email to yf@gfb.org. In the subject line of the email type “Photo Contest” and the category in which you are entering. Type the following information in the body of the email: entrant’s name, address, phone number, Farm Bureau membership number, county in which you have the membership, title of photo, group in which you are competing (GFB members, GFB Young

15th Annual Dillard Bluegrass and Barbecue Festival August 5-6, 2011

Dillard City Hall Grounds • Dillard, GA www.dillardbbq.org BBQ Cook-off to determine KCBS GA State Champion • Bluegrass Music • Arts and Crafts Booths • Loads of good food! Proceeds benefit Sid Weber Cancer Fund http://sidwebercancerfund.org 12

Farmers or GFB staff/family) and where and when the photo was taken. Photos entered in the GFB photo contest may not have been entered in any other contest. Photos will be judged on the use of angle, lighting, balance, color, contrast, viewpoint and technical ability. Altered photos will not be accepted. GFB reserves the right to disqualify photos for any reason. All photos become the property of GFB, which may use them for any purpose, such as publishing them in the organization’s member magazines the Georgia Neighbors and/or the Georgia Farm Bureau News, using them on GFB’s website, printing a calendar, reproducing it for Farm Bureau use or selling it. Georgia Farm Bureau has the final decision on any and all questions or concerns regarding rules, judging, eligibility, prizes awarded or anything else that may arise pertaining to the photo contest. Children or people in photo If you use children or people in your photo, you must complete a model release entry form complete with signatures. Please visit http://www.gfb.org to download a copy. This form must be completed and received by fax at 478405-3422 or via U.S. mail by June 10. Prizes Prizes will be awarded as follows: a first place prize of $150 in both the GFB members and Young Farmer categories. Honorable mentions in each of these categories will receive $75. The first place winner in the GFB staff category will receive $100, second place $75 and third place $25. Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

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GeorgiaFarming.indd 1

4/1/11 5:10 PM

By Donna Rocker, Ag in the Classroom Coordinator 478-474-0679, ext. 5365

Beefing it up in Georgia!

eef cattle are an important part of Georgia’s agriculture industry. It B ranks in the top 10 in Georgia’s agricultural commodities with beef cattle found in each of our 159 counties. Match the words with the description and then see if you can find the words on the word search. For more information about beef including educational materials, visit the Georgia Beef Board at http://www.gabeef.org. You can also download free beef resources from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association at http://www.teachfree.com. 1. Bovine 2. Bull 3. Cow 4. Calf 5. Heifer 6. Steer 7. Pasture

8. Ruminant 9. Cud 10. Ear tag 11. Gestation 12. Wean 13. June 14. Zinc

A. A mineral provided by beef that is needed by the body for the blood to carry oxygen to the cells B. A by-product of cattle made from bones and horns used in making candles, marshmallows, and ice cream C. Mammal whose stomach has A W C C

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15. Iron 16. Protein 17. Ground beef 18. Serving size 19. Leather 20. Gelatin

4 parts: rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. This enables them to digest grass (it includes cattle, deer, sheep and goats) D. The period of pregnancy until the young are born, which is about an average of 285 days for cattle

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E. 3 ounces of beef or about the size of a deck of playing cards F. A male bovine G. A bovine male castrated as a calf for better meat production H. Of or pertaining to cattle. I. A mineral provided by beef that our body needs to grow, learn, heal and keep itself healthy J. This comes from the hide of animals and is used to make products such as shoes, footballs, saddles, and coats K. A baby bovine L. Small amounts of food “burped” up from the rumen throughout the day by cattle to be chewed a second time M. A female bovine who has produced a calf N. A young female bovine that has not produced its first calf O. Grass or other vegetation eaten as food by grazing animals, such as cattle P. The most popular cut of beef in the U.S. Q. Method of identification by attaching a tag to the ear R. National Beef Month S. Beef is a good source of this nutrient which we need to build muscle, nerve tissue, blood, enzymes, hormones, antibodies and organs T. Process of removing an animal from nursing on milk

Answer key on page 27 14

Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

In March, Georgia Farm Bureau presented a donation of $6,000 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of West Georgia on behalf of the county and state Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committees. During February, county Farm Bureaus across Georgia collected donations for the Ronald McDonald House as part of their celebration of Food Check-Out Week, Feb. 20-26. This week-long celebration highlights our country’s safe, abundant and affordable food supply made possible by America’s farmers. According to the most recent information from the USDA’s Economic Research Service, American families and individuals spend, on average, less than 10 percent of their disposable personal income for food. In comparison, Japanese consumers spend 14 percent; Chinese consumers spend 32 percent and Pakistani consumers spend 50 percent. Farm Bureau also uses the week to teach consumers how to stretch their Morton_GANeighbors_5.11_Layout 1 3/15/11 grocery dollars to buy healthy, nutri-

tious foods. A healthy diet includes a variety of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, low fat or fat-free dairy products, lean meats, fish, beans, eggs and nuts within daily calorie needs. Anyone interested in learning more about making healthy food choices should visit http://www.mypyramid. gov to consult the USDA food guidance system. The USDA nutrition program provides a personalized approach to healthy eating and physical activity. You can enter your age, gender and activity level to develop a personalized food plan that will indicate the daily amounts of each food group you should consume at an appropriate calorie level. A USDA report released Feb. 1 shows that an adult on a 2,000-calorie diet can satisfy recommendations for vegetable and fruit consumption in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans at an average price of $2 to $2.50 a day. For the past 13 years, Farm Bureau has made raising funds or collecting 1:48 PM Page 1 food for Georgia’s Ronald McDonald

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

GFB donates $6,000 to Ronald McDonald House

Beth Mancini (center), program director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of West Georgia, accepts a $6,000 donation from Georgia Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee Chairman Donna Powell (left) and GFB President Zippy Duvall. GFB presented the donation in March during a GFB conference held in Columbus.

Houses part of its Food Check-Out celebrations. Food is a primary need at each of these houses that provide a home-away-from-home for the families of seriously ill children receiving medical treatment. Each year the GFB Women’s Leadership Committee rotates its state donation among the Ronald McDonald Houses in Augusta, Atlanta, Columbus, Macon and Savannah. Since 1998, GFB has donated $32,700 to the Ronald McDonald Houses of Georgia.

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Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

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Something’s Cooking hen in need of a family-favorite vegetable dish, this no-fail casserole complements any entrée. The slightly sweet combination of creamstyle corn and pureed squash topped with a savory seasoned toasty pecan crumble makes this a perfect choice for any occasion. No time to cook? This recipe may be prepared ahead of time and frozen. Defrost to room temperature and bake.

Makes 6-8 servings 2 pounds fresh yellow squash, thinly sliced 2 green bell peppers, seeded and chopped 1 large Vidalia onion, chopped 2 tablespoons canola oil 1 (15-ounce) can cream-style corn 1 tablespoon sugar 1/4 cup cornmeal Salt and pepper to taste 1/3 cup seasoned breadcrumbs 1/3 cup chopped Georgia pecans 1 tablespoon butter, melted Preheat oven to 350o F. Coat a 2-quart baking dish with nonstick

cooking spray. Cook squash until very tender on stove in 1/4 cup water for 10 minutes or in microwave; drain. Mash or puree squash in food processor. In nonstick skillet, sauté green pepper and onion in oil until tender. In bowl, combine pureed squash, onion mixture, corn, sugar, and cornmeal. Season to taste. Transfer to prepared dish. In small bowl, combine bread crumbs, pecans and butter; sprinkle on top. Bake 30 minutes, or until bubbly and thoroughly heated. Nutritional information per serving: calories: 200; protein: 4g; carbohydrate: 29; fat: 9g; calories from fat: 41%; saturated fat: 1g; dietary fiber: 5g; sugars:

Recipe & photo courtesy of the Georgia Pecan Commission

Creamy Squash Casserole with Georgia Pecan Crumble

8g; cholesterol 2mg; sodium 276mg. Diabetic Exchanges: 1.5 starch, 1.5 vegetable, 2 fat.

Spicy Onion Beef with Broccoli & Georgia Pecans 11/4 pound flank steak, thinly sliced across the grain 3 tablespoons soy sauce 3 tablespoons dry sherry or white wine 4 teaspoons cornstarch 1 large Vidalia onion 2/3 cup Georgia pecan halves 1 small red chili pepper 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil 11/2 tablespoons vegetable oil 3 cups broccoli flowerets 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder Marinate steak in 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sherry and 2 teaspoons cornstarch for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, chop onion in half vertically and cut in thin slices; chop pecans and mince chili pepper. 16

Combine remaining tablespoon soy sauce, 2 tablespoons sherry, 2 teaspoons cornstarch and the sesame oil. Add enough water to make 1/2 cup and mix well to make sauce. In large skillet or wok, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, broccoli and red chili pepper; cook, stirring often, 6 minutes. Sprinkle in garlic powder, then add meat and cook, turning frequently, until browned but not completely cooked - 8 - 10 minutes. Stir in sauce mixture and cook until liquid in pan thickens and coats meat and vegetables, 2 - 4 minutes. Stir in half the pecans. Divide among serving plates and sprinkle with remaining pecans. Add your favorite rice or couscous and dinner is done. Nutrition information per serving: calories: 470 ; protein: 36g; carbohydrate: 14g; saturated fat: 6g; monounsaturated fat:

13g; polyunsaturated fat: 7g; cholesterol: 76mg; fiber: 4g; sodium: 722mg.

Recipe & photo courtesy of the Georgia Pecan Commission

Makes 4 servings

Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

Recipe & photo courtesy of the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc.

WE, THE FARMERS from page 2

MVP Parfait Makes 6 servings 4 cups 1% lowfat milk 2 packages (4 serving size) vanilla regular pudding 1 cup of 1-inch lowfat brownie pieces (using fat free or lowfat brownie mix) 1 cup sliced strawberries 1 cup blueberries 1 cup sliced peaches Add milk to pudding mix and prepare according to directions on box (instant pudding may be substituted). Place half of the brownie pieces on the bottom of a medium glass bowl and layer with half of the vanilla pudding, 1/2 cup of strawberries,1/2 cup peaches and 1/2 cup of blueberries. Repeat layers with remainder of ingredients. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate. Note: If fresh berries are unavailable, you can substitute frozen berries, thawed. If fresh peaches are unavailable, you can substitute canned peaches, drained. Nutrition information per serving: Calories: 293 Total Fat: 9 g Saturated Fat: 2 g Cholesterol: 8 mg Sodium: 304 mg Calcium: 20% Daily Value Protein: 9 g Carbohydrates: 49 g Dietary Fiber: 3 g I.D. THEFT from page 10

identity theft, provide insurance for costs

occurring from identity theft nor serve as a credit monitoring service. Identity theft consultation & restoration replaces Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage as a benefit upon membership renewal or March 31, 2012, whichever comes first. **GFB member, spouse, children under the age of 19 or 24 if a full-time student

Jay Murdock is director of the GFB Member Services Department.

farmland and your $25 annual Farm Bureau membership helps protect this land. Georgia Farm Bureau has 158 county offices across the state, which create at least two jobs in every county and help support your local economy. Additionally, most county Farm Bureaus are strong supporters of youth organizations like 4-H and FFA that work to develop our youth. I encourage you to invite your family, friends and neighbors to come and join us at the Farm Bureau table. Their membership allows them to be served, through our many member benefits and also to fill their hearts with joy as they

Keep your car – trade the payment Lower your rate with Farm Bureau Bank! Special Farm Bureau member pricing* Up to 100% refinancing No application fee Flexible payment terms Apply in minutes for an instant response Most checks printed on site

Apply and save. Contact your local Georgia Farm Bureau agent today! *Some restrictions apply based on the make and model of vehicle offered as collateral. Loans are subject to credit approval. Rates and financing options are limited to certain model years and are subject to change without notice. Finance charges accrue from origination date of the loan. Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB. Farm Bureau Bank, FSB is a service to member institution that provides banking services to Farm Bureau members. Services are not available in AL, IL, MI, MO, MS, OH or WY and may not be available in some counties or parishes. Farm Bureau, FB and the FB National Logo are registered service marks owned by the American Farm Bureau Federation and are used under license by FB BanCorp and its subsidiaries, including Farm Bureau Bank FSB. FB BanCorp is an independent entity and the AFBF does not own, is not owned by, and is not under common ownership with FB BanCorp or its affiliated entities.

0910_GA_FBmag VLad.indd 1

Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

serve and support Georgia agriculture and Georgia’s rural communities that give us our daily nourishment. Remember what Jesus said to the disciples when they were arguing about who among them was the greatest. Jesus said in Luke 22:27: For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. Service is what Farm Bureau membership is all about. Anyone who is interested in becoming a Farm Bureau member or renewing their membership can visit their local county Farm Bureau office.

9/20/2010 11:55:29 AM

Insurance Update

George Monk

Sometimes life gets messy. Sometimes the mess is caused by a minor fender bender. Sometimes, the mess is caused by major storms such as the ones that caused statewide damage during April. Regardless of the amount of damage sustained or how it occurs, having the right insurance coverage is essential to successfully weathering a loss. Let’s take something as routine as shopping for a car or truck. As we consider what to buy, most often we think about the interior/exterior features, the size, gas mileage, use and price tag, but seldom do we think about insurance and its cost. Insurance rates may in fact be the last thing we think about until after we have purchased the vehicle and contacted our local agent to add coverage for the new vehicle. It often isn’t until then that we learn the primary operator, year model, body style, utility use and/or size of the engine significantly drives up the cost of the vehicle purchase because of the impact that vehicle has on insurance. Property insurance costs are partially based on the public protection class (PPC) provided by the level of county or city fire service. Most of us realize that the lower the PPC the better fire protection and the lower the insurance premium. As we consider buying or building a new house chances are construction costs, the property’s proximity to schools, stores and neighbors are the most important considerations. A home’s location in relation to a responding fire department is not often thought about, but it will affect the insurance premium on the home. What if the home is in an area that is “unprotected” by fire service, meaning it is more than five miles from the responding fire department? Your insurance company may not write cov18

erage in unprotected areas. The good news here is that Georgia Farm Bureau does write coverage for “unprotected” areas that are classified as PPC10, and we can likely satisfy your insurance needs in these areas. Before buying a home, many people rent a house or an apartment. Although one’s risk and exposure to loss as a renter is not that different from that of a homeowner, many renters don’t consider covering their personal property and liability. If a renter were to take stock of their personal property, it would quickly add up to thousands of dollars for clothing, furniture, kitchen and bath necessities, electronics and more. If you are a renter, do not sell yourself short. You have a lot to lose, but find comfort in knowing that most of it can be covered under a renter’s homeowner policy. Condominium ownership is virtually the same as home ownership with one significant exception; a condo owner doesn’t actually own the outside structure. The cost of a condominium could be several thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The condo owner takes a mortgage to cover this expense, yet Georgia statutes require that the condo association provide the structural coverage. The condo owner provides coverage for their personal property and any improvements or betterments made to the interior structure of the home. This is often a confusing point but can be clarified with a review of the association’s master policy. In most instances, anything not covered by the condo association can be covered by a condo homeowner’s policy. In light of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March and impacted the west coast of the United States you may be interested to know

Thinkstock photos

Insurance: Sometimes the last thing we think about should be the first

that Georgia Farm Bureau offers an endorsement to add earthquake as a covered peril to a dwelling policy. While Georgia is not a hotbed for earthquake activity, there is a fault line that runs through the state and there are fault lines in neighboring states. As for flooding, it is not a covered peril in most homeowner policies, but coverage is available to you at your local county Farm Bureau office through the National Flood Insurance Program. There are events that take place in our lives every day - some routine and some not. Amazingly, so many of these occurrences can be addressed by, temporarily alleviated by and/or altogether taken care of through insurance. Just try to keep insurance in mind and give your local Georgia Farm Bureau agent a call when you have an insurance question. George B. Monk is the Sr. Director of Underwriting for the GFB Insurance Companies and holds the insurance designations of CPCU & LUTCF. Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

GFB names Master Underwriter Agents

Agent County Appling Lee Carter Atkinson Larry Morris Bleckley Mary Lee Wimberly Brantley Lawrence Melton, LUTCF Brantley Lynne Crews, LUTCF Bryan Dwight Newman, LUTCF Bryan Jane Burnsed, LUTCF Bulloch Glynn Holton, LUTCF Bulloch Michael Darieng Bulloch Andy Dyches, LUTCF Camden Adam Barnes, LUTCF Candler Terry Manuel, LUTCF, FSS Chatham Dianne Randall, LUTCF Chatham Steve Darieng, LUTCF Chatham Ricky Blanton Clarke Jimmy Nasworthy Cook Greg Folsom, LUTCF Cook Peggy Alderman, LUTCF, FSS Dawson Keith Stone, LUTCF Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

Tattnall David Huffmaster, CLU, LUTCF Towns Von Hobbs, LUTCF Union John Mauldin, LUTCF Union Matt Munn, LUTCF Walker Dan Raulston, CLU Ware John Middleton Jr., LUTCF White Ward Gann Whitfield Chris Townsend, LUTCF

Glynn Bill Moncrief, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CASL Glynn John Carter, LUTCF Glynn Lamar Lewis, LUTCF Habersham Doug Nicholson, LUTCF Habersham David Waters Jr. Habersham David Lyle Hart Brian Hill, LUTCF Lanier Mike Page, LUTCF Laurens Mallory Evans, CLU, LUTCF Laurens Lisa Williams, LUTCF Laurens Dennis Gryzenia, LUTCF Liberty Eddie Skeens, LUTCF Liberty Larry Brant, LUTCF Lincoln J. Neal Reed, LUTCF Lincoln Stan Tankersley, LUTCF Lincoln Pam Turner, LUTCF Mitchell Mark Godwin, LUTCF Murray Tony Patterson Pulaski Andy Wilson Pulaski Terrell Wammock Jr., LUTCF Randolph Chris Tyus Jr., CLU Randolph Julie Melton, LUTCF

Wilkes Lenny Wheatley, LUTCF Worth Daniel Parker, LUTCF, FSS

LUTCF Life Underwriting Training Council Fellow FSS Financial Services Specialist ChFC Chartered Financial Consultant CLU Chartered Life Underwriter CASL Chartered Advisor for Senior Living Michele Molton is the GFB Insurance Company Personal Underwriting Manager and holds the insurance designations of AINS, AIS, API & CPIW.

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By Michele Molton ___________________________________ The Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company recently announced that 51 of its agents have qualified for its Master Underwriter Award. This award recognizes an agent’s proven ability to manage the loss ratio of his or her book of business. To qualify as a GFB Master Underwriter, an agent must be either a career agent or agency manager, have served in their current county for at least 36 months and have a 36-month loss ratio of less than 50 percent. Agents receiving the award are granted greater underwriting authority, and their submissions to the home office are processed as high priority. During the company’s annual sales conference in February, Habersham County Farm Bureau Agent Doug Nicholson, LUTCF was recognized as GFB’s 2010 Master Underwriter of the Year from the Master Underwriter Agents GFB honored last year. Nicholson remained profitable in each measured line of business, and his overall profitability improved by more than $793,000. GFB’s Master Underwriter Award reflects a standard of excellence that all agents are encouraged to achieve. Congratulations to the following GFB agents who earned the 2011 award.

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Legislative Update

By Jon Huffmaster

Federal immigration reform needed

here was no floor debate when Georgia Farm Bureau’s more than 700 voting delegates unanimously passed an immigration resolution at the Georgia Farm Bureau Convention last December. The resolution was a simple statement that Georgia Farm Bureau opposes discrimination against farm workers and laws which put Georgia farmers at a competitive disadvantage. That resolution, however, created a firestorm of media attention and caused activist groups to either publicly praise Farm Bureau for “making a brave and courageous stance,” or to vilify Farm Bureau for “standing with illegal aliens against law-abiding Americans.” In all honesty, the voting delegates weren’t attempting to do either. Farm Bureau’s immigration policy is a continuation of our call for wellreasoned, comprehensive reform at the federal level and is a policy our organization has maintained for at least a decade. Farm Bureau supports efforts to control the borders of the United States. Nothing in our policy endorses illegal immigration or amnesty. Like almost everyone involved in this debate, Farm Bureau maintains that enforcement of immigration laws and border security is a responsibility of the federal government, a responsibility that Congress has failed miserably to uphold. Farm Bureau also believes that food security is part of national security. The United States must be able to produce enough food to feed its people. That goal requires workers to perform farm tasks. Farm jobs are arduous, often seasonal and migratory, and it is nearly impossible to find domestic workers willing to take these jobs. Farm Bureau calls on Congress to secure the borders of the United 20

States and control illegal immigration. Additionally, our laws should ensure that when domestic workers are not available for jobs in agriculture, farmers should have access to a workable program to bring in foreign workers who can fill these jobs and return home. The much-touted H–2A agricultural guest worker program is unworkable for the majority of Georgia farmers. Under H–2A, farmers must pay for visas and transportation for workers to come to Georgia. In addition to paying a wage specially set by the federal government of $9.12 per hour, the farmer must also provide food, local transportation and housing for each worker. During the Georgia General Assembly’s immigration debate, Farm Bureau expressed concerns with legislation calling for mandatory E-Verify use by Georgia employers. The E-Verify requirement was included in the final legislation, and we continue to believe it will be a burden for Georgia employers without accomplishing the goal of curtailing illegal immigration. All Georgia employers (not just farm employers) with 11 or more employees will be required to use E-Verify. E-Verify is the online, voluntary, federal government program whereby employers can check the work eligibility of their new employees. Most people believe it is a quick and easy way for employers to prescreen prospective employees or to check the immigration status of their current employees. In fact, that’s illegal. Employers are forbidden from using E-Verify to prescreen potential employees. Persons seeking employment must be hired before they can be entered in the E-Verify program. If E-Verify does not immediately authorize employment, the employer is specifically forbidden from terminating

that employee. Instead, the employer must navigate a bureaucratic maze until a final result is achieved, which can take as much as a month. As for checking the work eligibility of current employees, employers are specifically forbidden from using E-Verify in that way. E-Verify can only be used on new hires. E-Verify cannot be used to check immigration status because the program is not capable of doing so. E-Verify is merely a data base that cross-checks a name with a Social Security number. If the person seeking employment uses a stolen name and its matching Social Security number, E-Verify will authorize employment. Finally, E-Verify replaces none of the current paperwork burdens for employers. E-Verify is done in addition to all current practices associated with hiring employees. Large companies with human resource departments will likely have little trouble navigating E-Verify. A significant part of the human resource workload is complying with the labyrinth of government regulations, so a few more government hoops is just part of the course of doing business. For small businesses and farmers, however, trying to negotiate E-Verify will prove cumbersome and will take time away from productive work. Farm Bureau members live in every community in the state. They serve as mayors, county commissioners, school board members and in countless other capacities. Farm Bureau members know there are difficulties associated Continued on next page Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

Taliaferro Co. Farm Bureau receives Shining Star Award By Jeannie Alday ___________________________________ The Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company (GFBMIC) has presented its Shining Star Award to the Taliaferro County Farm Bureau in recognition of the county receiving an Excellent rating on their recent internal audit. TCFB was recognized for its commitment to sound business practices and for providing excellent service to their membership. GFBMIC schedules internal audits of each county Farm Bureau office every 24 to 36 months. Internal audits are a routine business practice that provide management with the assurance county Farm Bureau offices are following company procedures. The Shining Star Award is a traveling award that is presented to the county Farm Bureau office that has received the most recent Excellent rating on their audit. The GFB Mutual Insurance Company is the state’s largest domestic property/casualty insurance company. Jeannie Alday is the director of the Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Companies’ Internal Audit Dept. She has earned the following insurance designations: CIA, CISA, CFE, ARM and AINS.

Continued from previous page

with illegal immigration. They recognize that schools, medical facilities and government entities are being strained. Farm Bureau, however, maintains that illegal immigration is caused by a failure of government, not a failure of employers. Governments should work to assist employers to hire legal workers instead of threatening them with fines or imprisonment. Congress must act to secure the nation’s borders, control illegal immigration and develop a workable guest worker program for agriculture. That’s all Georgia Farm Bureau’s voting delegates were asking for when they adopted a resolution about immigration last December. Jon Huffmaster is director of the Georgia Farm Bureau Legislative Department. Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

Pictured from right, Georgia Farm Bureau Internal Auditor Jennifer Patterson presents Taliaferro County Farm Bureau Agency Manager Joey Rhodes with the Shining Star Award.

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this summer, take time to take a detour through Vidalia onion country and visit the recently opened Vidalia Onion Museum.   “We have worked for five years to unearth each unique layer of the Vidalia onion story and then portray those layers creatively for visitors,” says Vidalia Onion Committee Executive Director and Museum Chairperson Wendy Brannen.   Located at 100 Vidalia Sweet Onion Drive, Vidalia, Ga., the 1,300-square-foot space is filled with engaging exhibits that highlight the sweet onion’s economic, cultural and culinary significance. Guests can even see Vidalia onions actually growing in the smallest registered Vidalia onion field.  The museum’s regular operating hours will be Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Saturday hours available for tours. For more information, visit http://www.vidaliaonion.org or call 912-537-1918.

Market Bulletin connects farmers & consumers For 94 years the Georgia Department of Agriculture has published the Farmers and Consumers Market Bulletin to distribute farm news and connect Georgia farmers and their consumers. Published every two weeks, the Market Bulletin is best known for its classifieds, which serve as a marketplace for readers who want to sell or buy flowers, produce, livestock, hay, farm equipment and much more. State budget challenges have made it necessary for the GDA to start charging an annual subscription fee of $10 (26 issues) for Georgia residents and $20 for out-of-state subscribers. The GDA launched an intense three-month subscription campaign in January askContinued on next page 22

New book outlines juicy history of Ga. peach crop

Agricultural historian Paul Bulloch chronicles the history of the state’s juiciest crop in his new book, The Georgia Peach Story.

Paul Bulloch has a passion for preserving Georgia’s agricultural history. Since 1996 he has operated the Old South Farm Museum and Agricultural Learning Center in Woodland, Ga., where he displays an assortment of tools, equipment and household items tracing Southern rural life from the 1800s to the 1960s.

Photo courtesy of Tribe publications

Vidalia Onion Museum opens If you travel to Georgia’s coast

Now, just in time for Georgia’s peach season, he has published a history of our state’s namesake crop. The Georgia Peach Story provides a comprehensive account of the development of Georgia’s peach industry from 1825 to the present. A retired county agent with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Bulloch grew up on a farm in Meriwether County that grew peaches, cotton, corn and included a dairy herd. “I kept asking the peach growers if they had a good book on peaches,” Bulloch says of his motivation to write the book. “I just feel we need to preserve the history of agriculture and peaches. Some of this stuff is getting lost every day.” Bulloch spent more than five years working on the book, talking to growers and learning the history of the crop. “I can talk all day about peaches and the stories behind the peach labels growers once used to market their crop,” Bulloch says. The book is available for purchase for $15 plus $3 shipping by calling Bulloch at 706-975-9136. To learn more about the Old South Farm Museum and Agricultural Learning Center visit http://www.oldsouthfarm.com.

Vidalia Onions hit a sweet note

If the taste of Vidalia onions makes you want to sing, the Vidalia Onion Committee wants to hear from you! Visit http://www.vidaliaonion.org until July 1 to submit via YouTube a video with lyrics that reference Vidalia onions in the Vidalia Onion Jingle Contest. Judges will include a label representative from Universal Music. Voting for the best video runs through July 31. The grand prize winner gets a VIP trip to Nashville, Tenn., that includes a VIP backstage pass with special privileges at a number of top Nashville destinations. The entrant receiving the most online votes wins $1,000 cash. If you can’t sing but love country music, don’t despair! Visit http:// www.vidaliaonion.org to learn how you can download free songs from Universal Music with the purchase of a bag of Vidalia onions. Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

By Jennifer Whittaker __________________________________________________________________________ Greene County Farm Bureau member Melvin Duvall didn’t set out to grow a giant sweet potato, but he ended up with a whopper weighing 23 pounds when he harvested his crop last fall. “It was just an accident,” Duvall said when pressed for his secret. “I set out nine hills of Georgia Red plants in late April last year and fertilized them with a 19-19-19 fertilizer mixture. In June I spread a five-gallon bucket of chicken litter over the nine hills.” And his water schedule? “I watered the plants a little when they got wilted,” Duvall said. Duvall harvested eight five-gallon buckets of sweet potatoes from his plants and estimates that the next largest potatoes in his crop weighed between seven and 10 pounds. According to University of Georgia Horticulture Professor Dr. Stan Kays, sweet potatoes, which are actually the storage root of the plant, are not biologically programmed for a final size. “Under appropriate conditions they continue to grow since it is a perennial plant, though grown as an annual in most places outside of the tropics. What Continuedfrom previous page ing Market Bulletin readers to subscribe by April 20. Beginning with the May 4 issue, only paid subscribers will receive the Market Bulletin. If you have been dropped from the mailing list or want to start a new subscription, you may subscribe online by visiting http://www.thegamarketbulletin.com or by sending a check or money order made payable to Market Bulletin along with your name, complete mailing address and daytime phone number to the following address: Market Bulletin, Georgia Department of Agriculture, 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30334-4250. Subscription forms will also be available at most county Farm Bureau offices until May 31. Please allow about four weeks for new subscriptions to begin. There is a $1 convenience fee for online subscriptions. Georgia Neighbors Neighbors • Spring 2011 2010 Georgia

usually limits the final size is the ability of oxygen to diffuse to the center of the root,” Kays said. “They mutate sometimes. If you get one storage root that gets all of the plant’s carbon, it will get much, much larger. Fertilizing it will also help the plant grow.” Kays, who develops sweet potato varieties, says he breeds plants to produce uniform sweet potatoes of about one pound intended for baking. Georgia Department of Agriculture records show that in 1982 Ovid Harrison of Kite, Ga., reported to the Market Bulletin that he had grown two sweet potatoes weighing 40.75 and 26 pounds. According to the 2007 Guinness World Records, a sweet potato weighing 81.9 pounds was recorded in Spain in 2004. Even though he didn’t set a record, Duvall had a lot of fun sharing the potato with his community. Duvall said he used a hammer and a machete to

Photo courtesy of The Herald Journal, Greensboro, Ga.

Kids’ Corner Answers Sweet potato surprise

Greene County Farm Bureau member Melvin Duvall grew a 23-pound sweet potato last year.

cut up the sweet potato, which he and his wife, Frances, gave away to ladies at their church, New Hope Baptist in Greshamville. “I had a large enough piece to make some candied yams and a pie, and they were both delicious,” said Billie Ruth Sellers. “The potato wasn’t stringy and it had a really good flavor.” If your garden yields a noteworthy harvest, feel free to share with us. Email your photo and story to georgianeighbors@gfb.org.

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Georgia Happenings

Tusks! Ice Age Mammoths & Mastodons Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences May 13 – Dec. 4 Tusks! Is full of “cool” Ice Age objects including 80 fossil specimens, replicas and artifacts from the Florida Museum of Natural History’s collections. There are hands-on exhibits and video interactive modules. On June 25, Dr. Kathlyn Smith from Georgia Southern University will present “Tusk Chronicles” at 1 p.m. followed by fun hands-on activities. For more information, visit https:// www.masmacon.com. 2011 Joint Reserve Component Teen Leadership Summit Wahsega 4-H Center July 10-15 Hosted jointly by Georgia 4-H and the Air Force Reserve Command at Robins Air Force Base, this summer camp is for dependents of service members from the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve. Camp costs are covered. Enrollment is limited to 150 teens. Participants ages 15-18 will be enrolled first and 14-year-olds will be considered on a space available basis. Application deadline is May 27. For more information, email jtfcamp@uga.edu. 24

Civil War Art Exhibit Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville Through Sept. 4 Observe the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, where more than 40 major paintings depicting Civil War events by artist Mort Künstler are on display. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors ages 65 and older, $7 for students and free for children ages 12 and under. For more information visit http://www.boothmuseum.org. ROCK EAGLE PROGRAMS Rock Eagle 4-H Center Eatonton Saturday at the Rock Every third Saturday will feature a different topic of interest. Most programs start at 9:30 a.m. and last two hours. Admission is $5 for ages 5 and up, children ages 4 and under are free. Pre-registration is required. To register, contact Matt Hammons at 706-4842862. Programs scheduled are: May 21 - Canoe Rock Eagle Lake; June 18 – First Aid for Cats and Dogs; July 16 – Lake Exploration; Aug. 20 – Attracting Birds to Your Backyard; Sept. 17 – Effigies on Parade; Oct. 15 – Historical Cemetery Tours; Nov. 19 – Rock Eagle Night Life (starts at 7 p.m.) 2nd Annual 12 Rivers Art Festival June 11 Sautee Nacoochee Held at historic Sautee Nacoochee Center, this juried show of fine art and fine crafts lasts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The self-guided tour of working shops, studios and galleries from Dahlonega to Dillard will feature the work of dozens of artists and craftsmen. For more information, contact Executive Director Kathy Blandin at kblandin@snca. org or call 706-878-3300.

2011 Folklife Festival Sept. 3 Sautee Nacoochee The Folklife Festival recognizes the contributions of folk potters who settled in the Sautee Nacoochee area in the early 19th century. Mike Craven will demonstrate throwing pottery on a treadle wheel in the museum, and Lin Craven’s work will be featured in a special exhibition. More than a dozen folk potters will display and sell their work. Festival admission is free and on-site parking is $3 per car. For more information, visit http://www. folkpotterymuseum.com or call 706838-3300. Old South Farm Camp Sept. 12 – Nov. 20 Old South Farm Museum & Ag Learning Center, Woodland Each of this series of three-day camps begins at 7 p.m. with supper and orientation and ends by 11 a.m. on the third day. It includes six or more classes on a variety of topics ranging from milking a cow to lye soap making and more. Fee is $200 per person, including meals, housing, transportation and class materials. Each session will have between 20 and 40 campers. Pre-registration is required. For more information call 706-975-9136 or visit http:// www.oldsouthfarm.com. HISTORIC WESTVILLE Lumpkin Unless noted, admission to all Westville events is $10 for adults and students K-12, $8 for seniors, college students and military and free for pre-K. Creek Indian Wars of 1836 May 27-29 See battle re-enactments and authentic Indian encampments. Military through the Ages June 11 Continued on next page Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

GFB cookbook highlights legacy of Georgia cooking

arming is not just about what we grow on our farms. It’s also the preparation of our food and sharing that bounty with our family, friends and neighbors. With that in mind, the Georgia Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee last year published A Legacy of Georgia Cooking, which showcases recipes provided by GFB members and their memories associated with the recipes. “The recipes in this cookbook represent the best of Southern cooking. They were submitted by our members and have been shared at family gatherings, church suppers and Farm Bureau meetings,” said GFB Women’s Leadership Committee Chairman Donna Powell. “These cookbooks make a great gift for graduations and wedding presents.” Originally published in December 2010, the first printing of 5,000 sold out in February and a second printing was published in April. In addition to more than 460 recipes, A Legacy of Georgia Cooking also includes special features such as: • B eautiful artwork by Georgia artist Robbie Cook • GFB High School Art Contest artwork on section dividers • A glossary of cooking terms • Measurement equivalents Continued from previous page See soldiers, weapons and equipment from early America to modern times. (Members of the military get in free and their spouses for half-price.) Independence Day Celebration July 2 Enjoy bluegrass music, barbecue, watermelon, games, races and more! Family Craft Day Sept. 3 Enjoy demonstrations by the Westville staff and hands-on activities for the whole family. (Admission is $10 for everyone except pre-K children, who get in free). Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

• I nformation about Georgia agriculture, Georgia’s state symbols & other facts • Georgia harvest calendar • Beautiful photos of Georgia For information on purchasing the cookbook, contact your county Farm Bureau or the GFB Field Services Department at 478-4740679 Ext. 5231 or email mmakers@gfb.org.

GFB YF Leadership Conference set for July 23-24 Young farmers and their families from across Georgia will gather at Callaway Gardens July 23-24 for the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Leadership Conference. This event will allow young farmers ages 18-35 the opportunity to network with other young farmers around the state and attend personal and professional development workshops. The conference will include free time to allow attendees the opportunity to tour Callaway on their own. There will be child-oriented activities while parents attend workshops. The preliminary rounds of the GFB discussion meet will be held during the conference. The four finalists will compete for the state title at the GFB Convention on Jekyll Island, Dec. 4-6. The state winner will receive an Arctic Cat 500 4x4 ATV, $500 cash and an expense-paid trip to the 2012 American Farm Bureau convention in Hawaii, Jan. 8-11, 2012, to compete for national honors. The deadline to register for the conference or to enter the discussion meet is May 31. Contact your county Farm Bureau if you are interested in attending the conference or competing in the discussion meet.

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BOTTLED from page 4 much of what he found is older than he is. The manufacturing dates for his processing equipment ranges from 1947 to 1964. He had to learn from scratch how to install and use it. While ramping up his production capacity, Johnston also traveled to numerous small plants to see how their operations ran. Both the Franks and Johnston say the learning curve was steep. Johnston learned marketing, distribution and welding on the fly. In Johnston’s case, Shepherd’s study indicated that the business wouldn’t reach profitability for 2 ½ years, but Johnston said his bottling and marketing operation started turning a profit within 13 months, in part because of his use of older equipment. He started bottling only whole milk, then got his separator running and expanded into 2 percent and skim milk. He’s since added cream, buttermilk, chocolate milk and yogurt. Likewise, Jimmy Franks said Southern Swiss is ahead of the business plan Shepherd helped create. The Franks produce and sell whole milk, 2 percent, skim, chocolate milk, buttermilk, half & half, 40 percent heavy cream and eggnog, as well as five varieties of butter. “We didn’t realize how much time it was going to take to make it all work,” said Jimmy Franks, who sends a truck out for deliveries. “We could really use another truck but for now we’re getting by with one. “It’s totally another full-time job,” Jimmy said. “Sales and the people we’ve met and the chefs we’ve met, once they try our products, they really love them because they’re made here on the farm. We can get it to them a lot fresher than they can get from their other companies.” Both farms also host tours. At Southern Swiss, the Franks host an average of 300 people a year. Participants tour the processing plant, see a cow being milked and feed calves. People interested in taking a tour at Southern Swiss should call 706-830-3937. At Johnston Family Farm, approximately 4,000 people a year tour the farm, which includes interaction with farm animals, a hayride, a play area and visits to the milking parlor and making ice cream. To schedule a tour for Johnston Family Farm, send an email to info@johnstonfamilyfarm. com or call 706-247-5023.

Visit the GFB website today! www.gfb.org Enter the Georgia Neighbors online contest to win a $50 Wal-Mart gift card. Find GFB on Facebook, YouTube & Twitter! 26

Milk jugs are filled at Southern Swiss Dairy.

Cows relax in a pasture between milkings at Johnston Family Farm.

“They have no idea what’s involved,” Johnston said. “Kids are surprised how big cows are. Some schools bring as many parents as they do kids.” Visit http://www.johnstonfamilyfarm.com and http://www.southernswissdairy.com to learn more about these farms.

CANNING from page 6 Bennett, who grew up canning vegetables, started her business in 2009 and operates her own canning facility with the help of her husband Mike, their two children and extended family. The Bennetts grow some of the produce used in their products and purchase what they don’t grow from Georgia farmers. The blueberries used in her blueberry pepper jelly come from The Rock Ranch, owned by Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy. In addition to her original red

and green pepper jellies and salsa, Bennett makes pickled green tomatoes, asparagus, green beans and okra, pepper sauces and a line of all natural whole-fruit pepper jellies (peach, pineapple and strawberry). Her products are available at http://www.laurijossouthernstylecanning.com and in gift stores and grocery stores in more than 30 states. Visit http://www.caed.uga.edu to learn more about the Flavor of Georgia Contest. Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

It’s playtime! A new version of My American Farm, a website with online games that teaches kids about agriculture and how food is grown, is waiting to be discovered at http://www.myamericanfarm.org. Colorful, fun and entertaining, this is a perfect solution to the age-old complaint, “Mom, I’m bored!” Make it interesting and have family members compete against each other! The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has expanded its online program from five games to 12 and added educator resources, family activities, videos and loads of other new features. The games and activities are targeted to students in grades three through five. All of the games and activities on My American Farm are designed to help teach subjects such as math, science, social studies, language arts and health using agricultural themes.

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Farm-fresh produce available at GFB Certified Farm Markets Fresh fruit and vegetables are coming into season throughout the state. You should make plans to visit one of the many Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Markets across Georgia. These markets offer a wide variety of farm-fresh fruits, vegetables and other items. Some of the markets allow you to pick your own produce, letting you reap the benefits of having a garden without all of the work. These markets not only offer wholesome, farm-fresh products but also give you the opportunity to visit the farm, and in many cases, talk to the farmer who raised the food. Some of the markets offer corn mazes, hayrides or other activities. Visiting a GFB Certified Farm Market is a great way to teach your children how food is grown. Aaron’s Apple House 8350 Hwy. 52 E • Ellijay, 30536 • 706-273-3180 www.aaronsapplehouse.com aaronsapplehouse@yahoo.com August-December, 9am-6pm 7 Days a Week Apples, Fresh Produce and Vegetables, Jams, Jellies, Relishes, Other Canned Items. Apple Cider and other ciders. Boiled Peanuts, Pies, Fritters, Breads and other baked goods. Bird Houses, bird feeders and other crafts. Adams Farms 1486 Hwy. 54 W • Fayetteville, 30214 770-461-9395 www.adamsfarmfayettevillega.com virginiaadams@bellsouth.net April-October 9am-5pm, Mon.-Sat. Strawberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Tomatoes, Squash, Beans, Butterbeans, Peas, Cantaloupes, Peppers, Peaches, Pumpkins, Jams, Jellies, Breads. Allen Farms 116 Roundtree Ave • Twin City, 30471 478-763-4438 or 478-494-3587 Middle of May-January 1. Daylight to Dark Mon.-Sat. Produce, Gifts, Bakery Items, Wood Furniture, Jellies, Honey, Syrup, Cakes. Bay-Bird Farm 318 10th Avenue • Columbus, 31901 229-314-9341 or 229-937-5640 baybirdfarm62@yahoo.com June-December, 9am-6pm Wed.-Sat. Fresh Vegetables, Sweet Corn (white), Field Corn (white), Peas and Beans, home grown Tomatoes, cold Watermelons, Peaches, Okra, Squash, Onions, Sweet Potatoes, Collards, Turnips and Peanuts. Hay (round and square bales), Firewood and Pinestraw. Berry’s Christmas Tree Farm 70 Mt. Tabor Road • Covington, 30014 770-786-5833 www.berrystreefarm.com • berryplace@yahoo.com By Appointment January-October. 10am-7pm November-December Christmas Trees (Leyland Cypress, Virginia Pine, Carolina Sapphire, Cedar, Fresh Cut Fraser Fir), B&B Landscape Trees (Oak, Maple, River Birch, Leyland Cypress, Holly), Fresh Wreaths, Garland, Stands, Snow Flocking Available, Farm Tours, Train Rides, Concessions.

Consult the list below or visit the GFB Certified Market website at www.gfb.org for a market near you. To receive a copy of the 2011 CFM brochure, call 1-800-342-1196. Visit www. georgiagrownfun.com for additional listings. Georgia ranks among the top four states for the volume and value of fresh market vegetables harvested. The farm gate value for vegetables, fruits and nuts grown in Georgia is around $1 billion dollars. If you have a farm market and want to learn about becoming a GFB Certified Farm Market member, contact Brandon Ashley at btashley@gfb.org or call 1-800-342-1196.

Berry Good Farms 930 William Gibbs Road • Tifton, 31793 229-821-0746 or 229-386-8880 www.yourberrygoodfarms.com blackberry@yourberrygoodfarms.net April-August, 8am- 2pm Mon.-Fri. Weekends, 8am & 7pm Blackberries, Blueberries, Jams, Jellies, seasonal vegetables.

Cagle’s Family Farm and Maize 362 Stringer Rd. • Canton, 30115 • 770-345-5591 www.caglesfamilyfarm.com levi@caglescornmaize.com Year Round Mon.-Sat. 9am-4pm. Call for events and appointments Farm Tours available by appt. March-November. Maize and fall events starting Labor Day Weekend. Christmas Trees Thanksgiving through Christmas.

Berry Patch Farms 786 Arnold Mill Rd. • Woodstock, 30188 770-926-0561 • www.berrypatchfarms.net July, October, day after Thanksgiving (open for two weeks). Hours Seasonal-Call ahead Blueberries, Pumpkins, Christmas Trees, Tree Stands, Wreaths, Field Trips, Hay Rides.

Cagle Farmhouse and Papa Albert’s Market 150 Stringer Rd. • Canton, 30115 • 404-567-6363 www.caglesfarmhouse.com bernese@caglesfarmhouse.com May-October, Daylight to dark everyday. Farmhouse by appointment Fresh in season vegetables- specialty is Tomatoes and Corn-grown naturally on the GA Centennial Farm. The house is open for parties, small wedding rehearsals and receptions. Garden tours, fishing and gemstones. Check website for more details.

B & G Honey Farm 945 Sinkhole Rd. • Register, 30452 912-852-5124 or 912-515-0294 beecolson@gmail.com Call ahead. Also located at Statesboro Farmers Market. 9am-1pm, every Sat. April-November Honey and Honey related items. Beehive Demonstration at Statesboro fair. B.J. Reece Orchards 9131 Hwy. 52 East • Ellijay, 30536 • 706-276-3048 www.reeceorchards.com • reeceorchards@ellijay.com July-December Mon.-Sat., 8am-9pm. 1pm-6pm Sun. Apples, Cider, Pies, Canned Goods, Breads, Honey, Fresh Produce, Sorghum Syrup, Baked Goods, Souvenir Items, T-Shirts, Baskets, Cookbooks, Bird Houses. Call for Pick Your Own. Buford Corn Maze 4470 Bennett Rd. • Buford, 30519 678-835-7198 or 770-841-0256 www.bufordcornmaze.com • haroldj1121@aol.com Mid September-Mid November. September and November, 2pm-10pm. October, 10am-10pm Dry Corn, Pumpkins, Corn Maze, Hay Ride, Concessions, Antique Farm Displays, Antique Farm Demonstrations. School Field Trips. Burton Brooks Orchards Hwy. 76 122 • Barney, 31625 • 229-775-2710 or 2828 May-July 8am-8pm Peaches, Nectarines, Blueberries, Vidalia Onions, Watermelons, Cantaloupes, Tomatoes, Fresh Vegetables, Jams, Jellies, Syrups, Homemade Churn Style Peach Ice Cream.

Calhoun Produce Inc. 5075 Hawpond Rd. • Ashburn, 31714 229-273-1887 or 1860 • www.calhounproduce.com calhounproduce@calhounproduce.com January-December Pick your own Strawberries, Vidalia Onions, Butterbeans, Peas, Peaches, Tomatoes, Okra, Squash, Cantaloupes, Watermelons, Peanuts, Pecans. Gift Shop with Home Décor Items, Farm Toys, Gift Baskets and Gift Boxes. Fall activities-maze and pumpkins. Calhoun Produce Inc. Crisp Co. Cordele State Farmers Market Hwy. 41 North Cordele, 31015 • 229-273-1892 www.calhounproduce.com calhounproduce@calhounproduce.com June-September. Call for Hours Butterbeans, Peas, Vidalia Onions, Peaches, Tomatoes, Squash, Okra, Cantaloupes, Watermelons, Peanuts, Pecans, Gift Shop with Home Décor Items and Farm Toys. Calhoun Produce Inc. Worth Co. 3649 US Hwy. 82 West • Sylvester, 31791 229-777-0824 • www.calhounproduce.com calhounproduce@calhounproduce.com March-August. Call for Hours Pick Your Own Strawberries, Vidalia Onions, Butterbeans, Peas, Peaches, Tomatoes, Okra, Squash, Cantaloupes, Watermelons, Peanuts, Pecans, Gift Shop with Home Décor Items and Farm Toys.

Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

Chase Farm Market 83 Riverview Lane • Oglethorpe, 31068 478-472-1729 or 7726 • eglc@windstream.net June-July 10am-6pm Mon.-Fri., Closed Sat.-Sun. Sweet Corn (White), Shelled Southern Peas and Butterbeans, Tomatoes. Copeland Strawberry Farms P.O. Box 217 • Rochelle, 31079 229-365-7405 or 229-276-6006 stantil@windstream.net March-June, 8am-6pm Mon-Sat Strawberries, Ice Cream, Broccoli, Onions, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Cabbage, Collards, Melons, Jams, Jellies. School Field Trips. Copeland Strawberry Farms Hwy. 300 Location 90 2nd Avenue and Hwy. 300 • Warwick, 31796 229-365-7405 or 229-276-6006 stantil@windstream.net March-May, 8am-6pm Mon.-Sat., 1pm-6pm Sun. Strawberries, Ice Cream, Broccoli, Onions, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Cabbage, Collards, Melons, Jams, Jellies. School Field Trips. Dacula Briarpatch 2503 Cammie Wages Rd. • Dacula, 30019 770-962-4990 June-November. 8am-7pm Tues - Sat., Closed Sun. & Mon. Apples, Blackberries, Blueberries, Figs, Muscadine grapes, Plums (when available) and some vegetables. Blackberry and Blueberry Plants. Davis Farm Fresh Produce 560 John Collins Rd. • Pelham, 31779 229-294-2540 davisfarmfreshproduce@pelnet.net Year Round 7am-Dark Daily Strawberries, Tomatoes, Watermelons, Cantaloupes, Pumpkins, Peaches, Peanuts, Sauces, Jams, Jellies, Shelled Peas, Shelled Butterbeans, Corn, Honey, Syrup, Pecans, Boiled Peanuts, Ice Cream and a selection of Pork. Field trips for schools and groups include hay rides and train for children. Dean Farms 4193 Vada Road • Climax, 39834 229-246-2628 or 229-248-8566 May 30-October 30, 8am-until Sweet Corn, Watermelons, Cantaloupes, Peas and Beans, Squash, Peppers, Tomatoes, Okra and Peanuts. Deb-Deb’s Strawberries 145 County Line Rd. • Jenkinsburg, 30234 770-504-1486, 770-510-8931 • deb68deb@aol.com April-May. 10am-6pm Tues.-Sat., 1pm-6pm Sun. Closed Mon. Strawberries. Dickey Farms 3440 Old Hwy. 341 North • Musella, 31066 • 478836-4362 www.dickeyfarms.com • info@dickeyfarms.com May-August Mon.-Fri. 8am-7pm, Sat.-Sun. 8am6pm Peaches, Nectarines, Fresh Peach Ice Cream, Sweet Corn, Shelled Butterbeans, Shelled Peas, Tomatoes, Peach Bread and Fritters, Jams, Jellies, Dressings, Salsas, Gift Items, T-Shirts, Hats, Mail Order. Tour Groups Welcome. Nice Pavilion for Picnics. Oldest continuously operating packinghouse in Georgia.

Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

Dickey’s at the Hilltop Corner of Hwys. 74 & 341 at the Roundabout Culloden, 31016 • 478-836-4362 www.dickeyfarms.com • info@dickeyfarms.com May-August 8:30am-5:30pm Daily Fresh Tree Ripe Peaches, Nectarines, Tomatoes, Homemade Jams, Jellies, Pickled Okra and Relishes. Double B Farms Christmas Trees 8511 Knoxville Rd. • Lizella, 31052 • 478-935-8742 tobybullington@gmail.com 10am-5:30pm, Tues.-Sun. Open Thanksgiving Day-Christmas Eve Christmas Trees, Tree Stands. Durrence Farm 18388 GA Hwy 23. • Reidsville, 30453 912-557-4939 September-November 8am-5pm U-Pick Gourmet Sweet Potatoes - Labor Day through Thanksgiving U-Pick Tomatoes June through Mid July. Elliott Farms #1 4761 Holley Rd. • Lizella, GA • 478-935-8180 www.elliottfarmsga.com • elliottfarmsga@pstel.net Mon.-Sat., 8am-7pm. Sun., 10am-6pm. Pick your own Strawberries, Blackberries, Tomatoes, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Onions, Jellies, Local Honey, Homemade Ice Cream, Flowers (sunflowers and zinnias), Pumpkins, and Corn Maze. School Field trips and church groups by appointment. Elliott Farms #2 9515 Feagin Rd. • Macon, 31216 • 478-935-8180 www.elliottfarmsga.com • elliottfarmsga@pstel.net Mon.-Sat., 8am-7pm. Sunday, 10am-6pm Strawberries tomatoes, squash, sweet corn, sweet onions, jellies, local honey, home made ice cream. Ellis Bros. Pecans Inc. 1315 Tippettville Rd. • Vienna, 31092 229-268-9041 or 800-635-0616 www.werenuts.com • orders@werenuts.com Year Round 8am-8pm Daily Pecans, Peanuts, Peaches, Vidalia Onions (in season), Ice Cream, Candies, Jams, Jellies, Relishes, Honey, Syrups. Gift Items and Souvenirs @ “The Gift Connection.” Tours available by appointment. Freeman Springs Family Farm 3895 Freeman Springs Rd. • Rocky Face, 30740 706-270-2402 www.freemanspringsfarm.com freemanspringsfarm@yahoo.com August-October, Wed.-Sun. 9am-6pm Jam, Jellies, Relishes, Mixes, Produce. Seasonal: Pumpkin Patch, Fresh Produce, Pecans. Animal Barn, Crafts. Corn Maze, Hay Maze, Hay Rides, Field Trips. G.W. Long Farm 3005 Old Whigham Rd. • Bainbridge, 39817 229-246-8086 or 7519 May-September Mon.-Fri. 7am-7pm, Sat. 7am-Noon Peas, Butterbeans, Watermelons, Sweet Potatoes, Cantaloupes, Tomatoes, Snap Beans, Squash, Okra, Irish Potatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Corn.

Ganas Pecan Farms 2918 Alma Hwy. • Waycross, 31503 • 912-285-2589 www.gapecan.com • sales@gapecan.com October-January, 8am-5pm Fresh Pecans, Pecan shells for BBQ. Gardner Farms 3192 Hwy. 42 • Locust Grove, 30248 • 770-9574912 June-August 7am-1pm Daily Peaches, Blueberries, Blackberries, Drinks. Buses Welcome. Call for availability. Georgia Grass Fed Beef 305 Sanders Rd. • Milner, 30442 • 404-535-8511 www.georgiagrassfedbeef.com georgiagrassfedbeef@yahoo.com Call for availability Grass-fed beef. Place order 2 months in advance; call for availability. Harvest Moon Market, LLC 3103 Thomasville Rd. • Bainbridge, 39817 • 229246-6750 www.harvestmoonmarketllc.com hrvstmoonmkt@aol.com February-July, September-December. 9am-5:30pm Mon.-Sat. Closed Sun. Vegetable and Strawberry U-Pick. Tomatoes, Squash, Okra, Eggplant, Peas, Jams, Jellies, Syrups, Fruits, Honey, Milkshakes, Smoothies, Ice Cream, Dairy Products, Cheese, Boiled Peanuts, Breads. Organic produce available. Hayes Farm 4229 New Franklin Church Rd. • Canon, 30520 706-356-8831 rlhayes1@windstream.net Call for days open & availability of crops U-Pick : Strawberries. Non U-Pick: Blueberries, Peaches, Corn, Watermelons, Cantaloupes, Tomatoes, Okra, Peas, Other Vegetables, Jams, Recipe Books. Please call for availability. Hillcrest Orchards 9696 Hwy. 52E • Ellijay, 30536 • 706-273-3838 www.hillcrestorchards.net • applelan@ellijay.com September, October - 9am-6pm Daily, November 9am-5pm Daily Call for time of special events Apples, U-Pick Apples, Cider, Bakery Items, Ice Cream, Fudge, Dried Apples, Honey, Canned Goods, Fresh Ground Corn Meal, Pig Races, Milk a Cow, Farm Tours, Wagon Rides, Petting Farm, Playground, Moonshine Museum, Pedal Kart Track, Nature Trail. PYO Apple during Apple Picking Jubilee. New Jumping Pillow. Hillside Orchard Farms Country Store & Farm 18 Sorghum Mill Dr. • Lakemont, 30552 706-782-2776 www.hillsideorchard.com hillside@hillsideorchard.com Year Round 9am-5:30pm. January/February closed on Tues. & Wed. Pick Your Own Apples and Blackberries, Ciders, Canned Goods (over 500 Products), Honey, Sorghum, Bakery Items (Breads, Pies, Fritters, Doughnuts), Boiled Peanuts, Ice Cream, Peaches, Pumpkins, Tomatoes, Seasonal Produce, “The Sorghum Mill Café.”

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Ison’s Nursery and Vineyard 6855 Newnan Rd. • Brooks, GA • 770-599-6970 www.isons.com • ison@isons.com Mon.-Sat., 10am-6pm. Closed Sun. Muscadines, Muscadine Jelly, Preserves, Syrup, Butter and Juice. Muscadine dietary supplements. Tomatoes, Peaches. Jack’s Creek Farms 2291 Price Mill Rd. • Bostwick, 30623 706-343-1855 www.jackscreekfarm.com dpmalcom@bellsouth.com November, 9am-5:30pm Christmas Trees (VA Pine, Red Cedar, Leyland Cypress, fresh Carolina Sapphire), Field Grown Nursery Stock, Jams, Jellies, Boiled Peanuts, Cider, Decorations. Jaemor Farm Market 5340 Cornelia Hwy. • Alto, 30510 • 770-869-3999 or 0999 www.jaemorfarms.com • info@jaemorfarms.com 7am-6pm (Sep.-May) 7am-7pm (Jun.-Aug.) Daily Peaches, Strawberries, Blackberries Apples, Cantaloupes, Watermelons, Tomatoes, Grapes, Pumpkins, Nectarines, Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Relishes, Fried Apple Pies, Handmade Furniture, Pottery, Garden Seed, Fertilizer, Flowers, Propane. Corn Maze, Farm Tour. Jibb’s Vineyards 1521 Jenkins Farm Rd. • Byromville GA 31007 478-952-8328 howardjames2000@yahoo.com 8am to 6pm, May 20th–November 1st Muscadine Grapes, Peaches, Green Plums, Collards and Watermelon. Kauffman’s Farmarket 1305 Mennonite Church Rd. • Montezuma, 31603 478-472-8833 www.kauffmansfarmarket.com kauffmanfarmarket@gmail.com March-July, 8am-6pm Mon.-Sat. Closed Sun. Call for fall hours U-Pick Strawberries, Tomatoes, Peaches, Corn, Beans, Peppers, Onions, Potatoes, other Vegetables. Jellies, Jams, Ice Cream, Sandwhich Deli, Potted Plants, Vegetable Plants. Tour Buses welcome. Lane Southern Orchards 50 Lane Rd. • Fort Valley, 31030 478-825-3592 or 3362 www.lanesouthernorchards.com wendy@lanepacking.com Year Round May-Aug 9am-7pm, Sep-Apr 9am-6pm Peaches, Pecans, Strawberries, Indian River Citrus, Blueberries, Blackberries, Muscadines, Vegetables,Vidalia Onions, Tomatoes, Peanuts, Peas, Butterbeans, Jams, Jellies, Dressings, Café, Mail Order, Ice Cream, Southern Gifts, Peach Tour, GA Peach Festival. Corn Maze and PYO-Strawberries. Lawson Peaches 8545 Valdosta Hwy. • Morven, 31638 229-775-2581 lawsonfarms@windstream.net April-July 8am-8pm Daily Peaches, Nectarines, Watermelons, Cantaloupes, Blueberries, Tomatoes, Vidalia Onions, Jams, Jellies, Peach Ice Cream and Peach Milkshakes.

Little Bend Orchard’s Apple Barn 3379 Tails Creek Rd. • Ellijay, 30540 706-635-5898 or 706-273-0452 www.redapplebarn.com • rachelp@ellijay.com August 15-December 20, Mon.-Sa.t 9am-6pm, Sun. 12:30-5:30pm Apples, PYO Apples, Farm Tours, Peaches, Pumpkins, Ciders, Dried Apples, Pies, Fritters, Bread, Doughnuts, Sweet Corn, Honey, Jams, Jellies, Sorghum, Sweet Potatoes, Baskets, Gourds, Mats, Cookbooks, other items. Lovin Farm Produce 1590 Hwy. 15 South • Greensboro, 30642 706-318-7990 May (Fri. & Sat. only) 10am-4pm. June-July (Thurs.Sat.) 10am-4pm. August–Labor Day (Fri. & Sat. only) 10am-4pm. Please call prior to coming Eggplant, Tomatoes, Squash, Okra, Zucchini, Cucumbers, Corn, Cabbage, Peas, Beans, Butterbeans, Peppers, Cantaloupes, Watermelons, Peaches, Collards, Turnip Greens, Honey, Chow Chow, Relishes, Fresh Eggs, Seasonal Produce, Boiled Peanuts. (Call for availability). Lowrey Farms 2416 Hwy. 140 • Rome, 30161 • 706-295-1157 www.facebook.com (Lowrey Farms) lowreyfarms@aol.com April-December, Mon.-Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. 1pm-5pm Sweet Corn, Watermelons, Cantaloupes, Tomatoes, Okra, Squash, Peas, Beans, Romane Lettuce, Cabbage, Peppers, Pumpkins, other vegetables. All natural Angus Beef and Whole Hog Sausage. Cut Fraser Firs and other Christmas Trees, Corn Stalks, Flowers, Vegetables. Luck and Moody Peaches 13891 Hwy. 122 E • Barney, 31625 • 229-775-3300 peachseed7@yahoo.com May-July, 7:30am-7:30pm Peaches, Nectarines, Blueberries, Vidalia Onions, Tomatoes, Fresh Vegetables, Peanuts, Watermelons, Cantaloupes, Jams, Jellies, Syrups, Home of the Original Peach Ice Cream. Peach Bread and Pound Cake. Luck and Moody Peach T-Shirts. Mack Aaron Apple House 8955 Hwy. 52 East • Ellijay, 30536 • 706-273-3600 706-273-3602 (Fax) • gaaron@ellijay.com July 15-October, 8am-6pm; November-January (closing), 8am-5pm Apples, Peaches, Cider, Jams, Jellies, Relishes, Honey, Syrups, Bakery Items, More than eleven Flavors of Fried Pies, Apple Peelers and Other Kitchen Gadgets. Tour Buses Welcome. Marks Melon Patch 8580 Albany Hwy. • Dawson, 39842 229-698-4750 or 229-881-0814 www.marksmelonpatch.com sales@marksmelonpatch.com Year Round April-October 8am-7pm, November-March 8am-6pm Watermelons, Cantaloupes, Pumpkins (PYO), Sweet Corn, Peaches, Tomatoes, Peanuts (dry and green), Jams, Jellies, Vidalia Onions, Blueberries, Muscadines, Peas, Butterbeans, Gourds, Pecans, Tours, Hayrides, Hay Bales, Cornstalks, Cotton Stalks, Halloween supplies.

Mercier Orchards 8660 Blue Ridge Dr. • Blue Ridge, 30513 800-361-7731 www.mercier-orchards.com customer.service@mercier-orchards.com Sun.-Sat.: December-May, 7am-6pm; May-November, 7am-8pm Apples, Peaches, Blueberries, Blackberries, Nectarines, Cider, Jams, Jellies, Preserves, Sauces, Pickles, Relishes, Candles, Potpourri, Kitchen Items, Gift Items, Bakery Products, Deli. Merritt Pecan Co., Inc. Hwy. 520 • Weston, 31832 • 229-828-6610 www.merritt-pecan.com • nutty@sowega.net Year Round (except Christmas), 7am-7pm ATM and Clean Restrooms, Pecans available year round (new crop ready by Oct. 15), Pecan Candies, Jellies and Jams, Syrups, Homemade Pies and Cakes, Pecan Brittle, Divinity, Georgia Souvenirs, T-Shirts, Cookbooks, Gift Baskets, Gas and Diesel. Minter’s Farm 283 Hill’s Bridge Rd. • Fayetteville, 30215 770-461-2840 www.mintersfarm.com • mintersfarm@aol.com Mon.-Sat., 9am-5pm April 15-Thanksgiving. Open Daily 9:00am-5:00pm Thanksgiving-December 31. Collards, Turnip Greens, Tomatoes, Sweet Corn, Peas, Okra, Sweet Potatoes, Onions, Beans, Squash, Jams, Jellies, Sorghum Syrup. U-Cut Christmas Trees (Leyland Cypres, Virginia Pines, White Pines, Fraser Firs), Wreaths, Ornaments. Mitcham Farm 750 Macedonia Church Rd. • Oxford, 30054 770-786-8805 or 778-855-1530 www.mitchamfarm.com mitchamemy@bellsouth.net Seasonal-Call Ahead Strawberries, Onions, Sweet Corn, Pumpkins, Hay, Wheat Straw, Pine Straw, Fall Decorations. PYO Strawberries, Corn Maze, Farm Tours. Moon Farms Country Market 3498 Hwy. 72 East • Colbert, 30628 • 706-338-0065 www.moon-farms.com strawberries@moon-farms.com April-June, 9am-7pm Mon.-Sat., 2pm-6pm Sun. Strawberries, Strawberry Ice Cream. Tours and Field Trips. Ochlockonee Ridge Farms 1069 Rossman Dairy Rd. • Moultrie, 31768 229-941-5971 or 229-891-0583 www.oridgefarms.com • theharts@sowega.org March-July, call for hours Strawberries and Tomatoes. Odom Apiaries 2310 Williford Rd. • Rebecca, 31783 229-392-0321 www.odomapiaries.com odomapiaries03@yahoo.com Year Round, 8-until Honey, Beeswax, Beeswax Candles. Osage Farm 5030 Hwy. 441 North • Rabun Gap, 30568 706-746-6952 May-October, 8am-6pm, 7 days. Fresh Vegetables-Tomatoes, Cabbage, Strawberries, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potatoes, Onions, Squash, Green Beans, Cucumbers, Cabbage, Flowers.

Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

Ottawa Farms 702 Bloomingdale Rd. • Bloomingdale, 31302 912-748-3035 www.ottawafarms.com • rwd748@gmail.com March-November: Tues.-Sat., 9.am-6.pm and Sun. 1pm-6pm. December-February: Sat. 1pm-5pm. Pick Your Own Strawberries, Blueberries and Blackberries. Watermelons, Onions, Tomatoes, Squash, Sweet Corn and Okra seasonal: call for availability. We sell farm-raised Angus Ground Beef under Ottawa Farms label. No added hormones or antibiotics. Jams, Jellies, Free-range Eggs, Natural Milk and Honey produced on the farm. Strawberry Festival second weekend in April and Corn Maze and Pumpkins October-November. Field Trips during strawberry season and Corn Maze. Christmas Trees for sale Mid November-Mid December. Out of the Sky Farms 349 Venson Rd. • Cochran, 31014 • 478-934-9820 www.outofthesky.com • farm@outofthesky.com Year Round. Call ahead or email for availability. In Season Vegetables – Everything from Asparagus to Zucchini. Call or email for availability. Panorama Orchards Farm Market P.O. Box 157 • East Ellijay, 30539 • 706-276-3813 www.panoramaorchards.com Year Round 9am-6pm Daily Apples, Peaches, Cider, Fried Pies, Ice Cream, Apple Breads and Butter, Jams, Jellies, Dried Fruit, Bakery Items, Candy Shop, Antique Soda Fountain. PaPa’s Country Store, Antiques and More, LLC 544 Tippettville Rd. • Vienna, 31092 • 229-313-1399 papascountrystore@live.com Year Round, 9am-5pm Daily PYO Strawberries, other produce, Ice Cream, Jams, Jellies, Candy, Honey, Syrup, Fried Apple Pies. Antiques, Collectibles, Gifts, playground for children. Serves lunch. School Tours and Birthday Parties available. Paulk Vineyards 1788 Satilla Rd • Wray, 31798 • 229-468-7873 www.paulkvineyards.com pvinfo@paulkvineyards.com August-September 9am-7pm Fresh Muscadine Grapes, 100% Muscadine Grape Juice (Purple & White), Muscadine Grape Sauce, Preserves, Jellies, Muscadine Dietary Supplements. Payne Farm and Produce P.O. Box 246 • Calhoun, 30703 • 706-629-5704 April-January. Call for Hours Strawberries, Tomatoes, Okra, Squash, Peas, Corn, Beans, Watermelons, Cantaloupes, Peppers, Pumpkins, other Vegetables, Gourds, Corn Stalks, Flowers, Baskets, Crafts, Collards, Cabbage and Greens Pearson Farm 5575 Zenith Mill Rd. • Fort Valley, 31030 478-825-7504 www.pearsonfarm.com • vicki@pearsonfarm.com May-August (Peaches) November-January (Pecans) 8am-5pm Peaches, Pecans, Peach Ice Cream.

Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

Perry Pecan & Produce 56 Reid Rd. • Ellaville, 31806 • 229-937-2087 perryproduce@windstream.net Year Round Mon.-Sat. 9am-6pm, Sun. 1pm-5pm Pecans, Peas, Beans, Collards, Turnips, Tomatoes, Squash, Corn, Watermelons, Cantaloupes, Pumpkins, Jams, Jellies, Honey, Syrup, Boiled Peanuts, Pine Straw, Plants, Flowers. Peyton’s Pecans 5824 Hwy. 97 • Camilla, 31730 • 866-739-8607 www.peytonspecans.co lanairworsham@peytonspecans.com Mid October-Mid January 8am-5pm Internet sales available year round Pecans & Pecan Candies, Gourmet Coffees and Syrups. Poppell Farms 1765 Hyma Poppell Loop • Odum, 31555 912-586-2215 www.poppellfarm.com popfarms1@windstream.net May-October 8am-6pm daily Peas (7 varieties), Butterbeans (shelled or unshelled), Watermelons, Tomatoes, Corn, Okra, Potatoes, Squash, Cucumbers, Pepper, Jelly, Pumpkins, Hayrides, Corn Maze and Field Trips during October. Prescott’s Strawberries 2226 Gus Perdue Rd .• Wrens, 30833 706-547-3717 April-Mid-June, Mon.-Sat. 8am-8pm Strawberries (PYO and pre-picked). Presley’s Farm and Garden 8796 Maysville Rd. • Maysville, 30558 706-652-2400 or 706-652-2500 www.presleysfarmandgarden.com June-October, 8am-5pm Mon.-Fri. Sat. 8am-12pm Tomatoes, Okra, Squash, Watermelons, Corn, other seasonal Vegetables. R & A Orchard Inc. 5505 Hwy. 52 E • Ellijay, 30536 706-273-3821 or 2639 www.randaorchards.com apples@randaorchards.com 9am-6pm Year Round Apples, Peaches (in season), Strawberries, Nectarines, Apple Products, Fried Pies, Cakes, Cookies, Peanut Brittle, Homemade Cider, Honey, Sorghum Syrup, Canned Goods, Fruit Baskets, Jams, Jellies, Chow Chows, Tomatoes, Sweet Corn, other produce available. School Tours. Farm Tours and U-Pick Apples every weekend in September. RJ & G Farms Inc. 2385 Bill Hodges Rd • Claxton, 30417 912-618-9001 or 9002 April-November 8am-6pm New Red Potatoes, Onions, Squash, Green Beans, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Corn, Peas (White Acre, Pinkeye, Zipper, Sadandy) Butterbeans. The Rock Ranch 5020 Barnesville Hwy • The Rock, 30285 706-647-6374 or 404-372-6772 www.therockranch.com • info@therockranch.com April-November. Please check website for hours and available products Strawberries, Sweet Corn, Pumpkins, Blueberries. Pending this year is Private Label Beef. Coming in 2012: Blackberries, Raspberries, Pomegranates, Muscadines.

Rockin “S” Farm Market 465 Claude Scott Dr. • Canton, 30115 770-781-2864 or 770-596-0711 stewarttns@bellsouth.net Year Round, 8am-6pm Mon.-Sat. Tomatoes, Corn, Peppers, Okra, Green Beans, Peas, Grapes, Blueberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Figs, Blackberries, Melons, Greens, much more. Homemade Jams, Jellies, Baked Goods, etc... A lot of Heirloom Fruits and Vegetables. Rocky Ridge Farms 525 Lexington-Carlton Rd. • Lexington, 30648 706-207-5098 or 706-540-7196 www.rockyridgefarmmarket.com dnash@windstream.net May-November, 10am-6pm. Sweet Corn, Strawberries, Watermelons, Cantaloupes, Squash, Tomatoes, Peppers, Peas, Okra, Greens, Pumpkins, Wild Flowers, Jams, Jellies, Pumpkin Patch, Hay Maze, Hay Rides, Picnic Area. We offer Field Trips and Church Groups discounted rates. Ross Berry Farm and Apiaries, Inc. 159 Watkins Rd. • Canton, 30115 770-772-0904 or 404-775-3220 www.rossberryfarm.com • terry@rossberryfarm.com Year Round, Mon., Wed. and Sat. 2pm-6pm Honey, Beeswax Candles, Beekeeping supplies available year round. Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries and Figs available in June-September. Garden Vegetables available during growing season. Rutland Farms 5672 Union Rd. • Tifton, 31794 229-821-0581 or 0289 www.rutlandfarms.com rutalndstrawberries@yahoo.com March-November, Mon.-Sat. 8am-6pm U-Pick Strawberries, Peaches, Watermelons, Cantaloupes, Pecans, Peanuts, Vegetables, Peas, Butterbeans, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Squash, Sweet Onions, Corn, Pumpkins, Syrups, Preserves, Jellies, Snacks, Ice Cream. Sasnett Fruits and Nuts 3801 Hwy. 41 North • Byron, 31008 • 478-953-3820 Year Round 8am-6pm Peaches, Pecans, Peanuts, Tomatoes, Peas, Butterbeans, Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables, Turnips, Collards, Mustards, Bedding Plants, Hanging Baskets, Pecan Cracking & Shelling Service. Secret Forest 6899 Thompson Pond Rd. • Tarrytown, 30470 912-529-3702 www.secretforesttrees.com secretforest@planttel.net Thanksgiving Day-December 12 (Mon.-Sat.) 10am-Dark, Sun. 1pm-Dark Christmas Trees and Tree Stands, Jellies and Homemade Crafts. Smith Farms: Berries & More 2813 Old Eastman Rd. • Cadwell, 31009 478-697-9721 bustersmith@yahoo.com March, April, May & June 9am-6pm Mon.-Sat. Closed Sun. Strawberries, Squash, Onions, Sweet Corn, School Tours.

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Southern Belle Farm 1658 Turner Church Rd. • McDonough, 30252 770-288-2582 www.southernbellefarm.com jcarter@southernbellefarm.com Hours seasonal. Visit website for updated hours Strawberries, Blackberries and Blueberries, Ag-Tourism, Pumpkins, Indian Corn, Country Store items, Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, Hayrides, Farm Animals, Corn Canon. Southern Grace Farms #1 11946 Nashville Enigma Rd. • Enigma, 31749 229-533-8585 www.southerngracefarms.com lauramc@southerngracefarms.com March-July Mon.-Sat. 9am-6pm, Sun. 1pm-6pm. Strawberries, Blackberries, Jams, Jellies, Ciders (from our fruit), Gift Baskets. Southern Grace Farms #2 5447 Bemiss • Valdosta, 31602 • 229-245-2747 www.southerngracefarms.com lauramc@southerngracefarms.com March-May Mon.-Sat. 9am-6pm, Sun. 2pm-6pm Strawberries, Jams, Jellies, Ciders. Spring Brook Farm LLC 1520 Mandeville Rd. • Carrollton, 30117-5430 770-861-5333 www.springbrooktrees.com dave@springbrooktrees.com November-December Sat. & Sun. 9am-6pm Open Thanksgiving Day Christmas Trees, Leyland Cypress, Carolina Sapphire,Pre-cut Fraser Fir, Fraser Fir Wreaths, Stands, Hayrides,Hot Drinks, Snacks. T and T Farms 698 Hwy. 338 • Dublin, 31021 478-676-3670 or 3230 nacytomlinson@lcboe.net Year Round/Seasonal Peas, Butterbeans, Corn, Tomatoes, Collards, Turnips, Cabbage, Broccoli, Okra, Pumpkins, Pine and Wheat Straw, Shelling service available. Tawzerville Farm MarketSweet Dixie Melon Company 563 Hwy. 125 South • Tifton, 31794 • 229-445-1362 www.sweetdixiemelon.com rickytawzer@yahoo.com March-November, 10am-5pm Mon.-Fri. 10am-4pm Sat. Strawberries, Watermelons, Cantaloupes, Tomatoes, Pepper, Cabbage, Sweet Corn, Peas, Butterbeans. The Old Barn Christmas Tree Farm 24 Slaughter Rd. • Sunnyside, 30284 770-227-5237 www.theoldbarnchristmastrees.com wrslaughter@bellsouth.net Thanksgiving Day-December 24 Mon.-Fri. 1pmDark, Sat. 8am-Dark, Sun. 1pm-Dark Christmas Trees (Leyland Cypress, Virginia Pine, Carolina Sapphire), cut Fraser Firs, Wreaths, Stands, Crafts, Nature Trail, Hot Apple Cider, Tree Bailing and Shaking Services.

Thomas Orchards, Greenhouse & Gift Shop 6091 Macon Hwy. (Hwy. 441) • Bishop, 30621 706-769-5011 www.thomasorchardandnursery.com pt1117@bellsouth.net March-November 9am-6pm, May-August 7am-6pm Peaches, Peach Ice Cream, Pecans, Vidalia Onions in season, Apples in season, Bedding Plants, Perennials, Conifers, Fruiting Plants, Hanging Baskets, Custom Containers, Jams, Jellies, Sorghum, Tomatoes, Honey, Seasonal Produce, Gardening Gifts. Thompson Farms All Natural Pork 2538 Dixie Rd. • Dixie, 31629 • 229-263-9074 229-263-8296 fax • www.thompsonfarms.com tfsmokehouse@thompsonfarms.com Year Round Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm Country Cured Meats, All Natural Pork, Sausage, Bacon, Ham, Smoked Meats, Fresh Cuts of Pork. Tiger Mountain Orchard 1309 Bethel Church Rd. • Tiger, 30576 706-782-3290 www.tigermountainorchards.webs.com June-August PYO daylite to dark; Mid August-Mid November, 8am-5pm Mon. through Sat., 1pm-4pm Sun. PYO Raspberries and Blackberries June-August. September 1-November 1 Apples, Apple Cider and Apple Butter sold at market ; PYO Muscadines. Tom Sawyer Farm 952 Empire Chester Hwy. • Cochran, 31014 478-934-7584 Call for days open and availability of crops, April 1-August 1 Strawberries, Blackberries, Onions and Peaches. Triple B Farms 243 Mt. Moriah Rd. • Covington, 30014 770-313-1220 • tripplebfarms@hotmail.com Mon.-Fri. 9am-4pm; Sat. 9am-2pm Onions, Lettuce, Peas, Beans, Squash, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Sweet Corn, Field Corn, Tomatoes, Cantaloupes, Watermelons, Sweet Potatoes, Jelly, Honey, Eggs. Uncle Bob’s Pumpkin Patch 3781 E. Happy Valley Circle • Newnan, 30263 770-253-8100 www.uncle-bob.com • jwitt@numail.org Fri. & Sun. 2pm-6pm & Sat. 9am-6pm Pumpkins, Honey, Gourds, Atlanta Burning Sauces, Ciders, Antiques, Crop Maze, Hay Rides, Nature Trails, Petting Zoo, Story Time, Puppet Show (Weekends), Weekday School Tours Available. Call for Hours. Wagon Wheel Ranch 2820 Antioch Church Rd. • Watkinsville, 30677 706-340-3344 www.eatwild.com • fredliebl@aol.com Year Round, 9am-5pm Grass-fed, Hormone and antibiotic-free Black Angus cross beef. Individual meat cuts or whole carcass available. Waldrop Mercantile & Farm Market 2912 Post Rd. • Winston, 30187 • 770-942-4571 allenwaldrop@bellsouth.net 9am-7pm, Mon.-Sat. Closed Sun. Nest Fresh Organic Eggs, Fresh Farm Produce, Jams, Jellies, Farm Produced Honey. Syrup Onions, Sweet Potatoes, variety of canned vegetables, Summer Tomatoes, Squash, Okra and Peppers. Homemade baked goods and hand painted crafts.

Wallace Farms 2862 Indian Rock Dr. • Elberton, 30635 706-213-0698 cwallac5@elberton.net March-October; 8am-6pm Early Spring Vegetable Plants. Spring and Summer: Okra, Tomatoes, Sweet Corn, Squash (several varieties), Cucumbers, Peppers (several varieties), Pole Beans, Peas. Fall: Collards, Turnips and Turnip Greens. Variety of flowers. Call for availability. White Oak Pastures 22775 Hwy. 27 • Bluffton, 39824 • 229-641-2081 www.whiteoakpastures.com willharris@whiteoakpastures.com Year Round 8am-6pm Mon. through Fri.; 9am-2pm on Sat. Grassfed Beef and Lamb, Free Range Chickens and Turkeys, and other local, sustainable and artisan Georgia Farm Products. William L. Brown Farm Market Hwy 49 • Montezuma, 31063 478-472-8767 or 6513 www.williamlbrownfarms.com williamlbrown@windstream.net June-August Mon.-Sat. 8:30am-6pm, Sun. 1:30-6pm Peaches, Elberta Peaches (In-Season), Homemade Peach Ice Cream, Zinnias & Sunflowers (U-Pick), Tomatoes, Okra, Blueberries, Cantaloupes, Watermelons, Squash, Shelled Peas & Butterbeans, Seasonal Produce, Vidalia Onions, Gourmet Foods, Syrups, Honey, Jams, Jellies, Candles, Snacks, Stone Ground Grits & Meal, Pecans, Peach Pie, Cakes, Cookbooks, Gifts, Discounted Oil Paintings, Picnic Area, Farm Tours, clean restrooms. Williams Tractor Farm 2295 New Bethel Rd. • Bartow, 30413 478-552-2283 april@washemc.net Year Round, 8am-6pm Mon.-Sat. Onions, Peas, Potatoes, Squash, Beans, Cucumbers, Okra, Tomatoes, Peppers, Plums, Pears, Sweet Potatoes, Zucchini, Turnip Greens, Mustard Greens, Collards, Cabbage, Eggs, Honey. Cut Flowers, Bedding Plants, Hanging Baskets. Yerkes Strawberry Farm 13888 GA Hwy. 109 • Meansville, 30256 770-584-3909 yerkesfarm@hotmail.com March-September, Mon.-Sat. 9am-6pm; Sun. 1-6 Strawberries, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Melons, Beans, Peas, and Ice Cream. Yule Forest Hwy 155 The Pumpkin Patch 3565 Hwy. 155N • Stockbridge, 30281 770-954-9356 www.aboutyule.com • yuleforest155@aol.com Open Year Round for Landscape Trees. October-December, 9am-Dark. October: Pumpkins, Agricultural Farm Tours, Hayrides, Fun Zone Jumping Pillow, Petting Zoo, Obstacle Course, Live Reptiles and Maze (over 16 activities). November-December: Christmas Trees for sale. Fresh cut Fraser Firs, VA Pines, Leyland Cypress, Deodara Cedars, B&B Trees for transplant, Woody Ornamentals, Snow Flocked Trees, Wreaths, Garland. Landscape Trees Available Year Round. Farm Tours by appointment.

Georgia Neighbors • Spring 2011

Pioneering audiologist invents “reading glasses” for your ears.

NEW

Neutronic Ear is the easy, virtually invisible and affordable way to turn up the sound on the world around you. You don’t have to pay through the nose to get Personal Sound Amplification Technology. Neutronic Ear has been designed with the finest micro-digital electronic components available to offer superb performance and years of use. Many years of engineering and development have created a product that’s ready to use right out of the box. The patented case design and unique clear tube make it practical and easy to use. The entire unit weighs only 1/10th of an ounce, and it hides comfortably behind either ear. The tube is designed to deliver clear crisp sound while leaving the ear canal open. The electronic components are safe from moisture and wax buildup,

First of all, Neutronic Ear is not a hearing aid; it is a PSAP, or Personal Sound Amplification Product. Until PSAPs, everyone was required to see the doctor, The Evolution of Hearing Products have hearing tests, Invention Date Easy to Use? Invisible? Affordable? have fitting a p p o i n t m e n t s The Ear 17th No Hardly Maybe Century ( n u m e r o u s Horn visits) and then Wearable Weighed pay for the Hearing Aid 1935 No No 2.5 pounds instruments without any insurance Digital Not for No No coverage. These Hearing Aid 1984 most people devices can cost Neutronic Yes up to $5000 each! 2010 Yes Yes Ear The high cost and inconvenience drove an innovative and you won’t feel like you have a circus scientist to develop the Neutronic peanut jammed in your ear. Thanks to a Ear PSAP. state-of-the-art manufacturing process and superior design, we can make Neutronic Ear affordable and pass the Just think of the places savings on to you.

you’ll enjoy Neutronic Ear • Parties • Restaurants • Church • Lectures • Book Groups • Movies • Bird-watching and almost any daily activity

It works… but don’t take our word for it. Why pay thousands to make everything sound louder when what you really need is a Personal Sound Amplification Product? We’re so sure you’ll be absolutely thrilled with the quality and effectiveness of this product that we are offering it to the public at a low introductory price with our exclusive

Hard to see • Simple to use Easy to afford trial offer. If, for any reason, you are not completely amazed by how this product improves your life, simply return it for a refund of the product purchase price within 30 days. Call now. Visit us on the web at

www.neutronicear.com

NeutronicEar The Sound Decision

™

Call now for the lowest price ever. Please mention promotional code

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It’s amazing how technology has changed the way we live. Since the end of the Second World War, more products have been invented than in all of recorded history. After WWII came the invention of the microwave oven, the pocket calculator, and the first wearable hearing aid. While the first two have gotten smaller and more affordable, hearing aids haven’t changed much. Now there’s an alternative… Neutronic Ear.

Neutronic Ear is not a hearing aid. If you believe you need a hearing aid, please consult a physician

QK,3F,IS 7.125 X 9.625 #3573_QK,3F,IS 7.125 X 9.625 #3573 (bleed 8.5 x 11) 2/1/11 12:56 PM Page 1

“The #1 Cause of Big Bellies — It’s Not What You Think!” (By Frank K. Wood) If you want to discover foods that lower your blood pressure, cut your risk of heart disease, help you lose weight, and more — while trimming your grocery bill! — you need Your Body Can Heal Itself: Over 87 Foods Everyone Should Eat. You’ll be amazed to know your kitchen is full of proven remedies — right now! � One miracle food contains nutrients that coat your arteries like a non-stick spray! � #1 cause of big bellies: Trim your waistline by switching to a tastier alternative! � Before you use an herbal supplement, make sure it’s safe by checking here. � Get a good night’s sleep when you munch a handful of this fruit before bedtime. � One extra serving a day of this fruit can fight strokes, obesity, and heart disease! � Drink it to boost bones and battle

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