March 19, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 11
GEORGIA CELEBRATES AG WEEK KICKOFF Philip Grimes of Tift County was introduced as the 2014 Georgia Sunbelt Farmer of the Year and Nature’s Harmony Farm of Elbert County won the grand prize in the 2014 Flavor of Georgia Contest during the Agriculture Day in Georgia kickoff festivities at the Georgia Depot on March 18. National Ag Week is March 23-29, and National Ag Day is designated for March 25. Gov. Nathan Deal and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black hosted the 11th annual event, which featured exhibits from dozens of agricultural organizations and celebrated agriculture’s contributions to the state’s economy and culture. U.S. House Agriculture Committee Member Rep. David Scott (D-13th District) was among the visitors, who had a chance to sample products from commodities produced in all areas of the state. Black urged the agriculture community to bridge what he said is a communications gap with the consuming public. Grimes “Many times we say the same things, but there’s a great opportunity for us to use programs like this to communicate better with each other, to look at economic opportunity in the food and agriculture business, but also to help develop that better understanding,” Black said. Grimes runs Docia Farms in Tift County. He will compete for title of Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year with the winners of nine other Southern states. The winner will be announced during the Sunbelt Expo in October. Nature’s Harmony, represented by Tim Young at the event, won the grand prize with its Georgia Gold Clothbound Cheddar Cheese, which also won the Dairy Products category. The other Flavor of Georgia category winners were: Adult Beverages - Richland Rum (Owner Erik Vonk, Stewart County); Barbecue Sauces - Causey’s Sweet’N Smoky BBQ Sauce (Wynn Causey Bakke, Cobb County); Beverages - Byne Blueberry Farms Organic Blueberry Juice (Richard Byne, Burke County); Confections - Peachy Keen Pecan Praline (Lindsey Beckworth, Washington County); Jams and Jellies - Weeks Cinnamon Honey Spread (Ray Crosby, Tift County); Marinades and Sauces - Q Sauce GA Mustard Marinade (Jennifer Adams, Gwinnett County); Meats and Seafoods - Ogeechee Meat Market Vidalia Onion Sausage (Matthew McClune, Chatham County); Miscellaneous Products - Hardy Farms Peanuts Southern Sriracha Boiled Peanut Rub (Brad Hardy and Robert Fisher, Pulaski County); Salsas, Chutneys and Condiments - Preserving Place Sweet Onion Confit (Martha McMillin, Fulton County); Snack Foods - M Chocolat Georgia Blues Blueberry and Pecan Bar (Maritza Pichon, Fulton County); People’s Choice - Leoci’s Raspberry Jalapeno Jam (Roberto Leoci, Chatham County).