Georgia Neighbors - Spring 2023

AGRICULTURE + LIFESTYLE

SONNY PERDUE

LIFETIME OF SERVING GEORGIA

PIZZA PERFECTION

LOCALLY-SOURCED

FRESH FIXINS JUST DESSERTS

JUST ADD HONEY

TEA TIME CHARM

CONT CONT

04 10 12

VIEW FROM THE FIELD

Ag-minded lawmakers are key to our success

06 08

PIZZA PERFECTION

Jag’s Pizzeria sources local ingredients

PRODUCTS WE LOVE

Georgia-made and perfect to use every day

CRACKERS FOR HOSTING

Dress up your buffet with these spreads

LIFETIME OF LEADERSHIP

Sonny Perdue finds new role in Georgia

18

21 23 24 28

JUST ADD HONEY

Tea company blends passion and flavor

INTRODUCING LUCKY

More than a dog, he’s family

HISTORY IS SERVED

Georgia plates serve generations

FRESH FIXINS

Donuts and cheesecake delight diners

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

Well shod to be well trod

Tomatoes at Southern Roots Farm | Powder Springs, Georgia

Photo by: Sidney Middlebrooks

ENTS ENTS

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU

Georgia Farm Bureau is the premier voice for agriculture in Georgia. We work earnestly to support a safe and abundant food supply that not only feeds Georgians, but the growing world as well. Georgia Neighbors Magazine is a nod to that genuine sentiment – it’s an opportunity to discover the people, the places and the impact of ag in our great state.

Want to subscribe? Become a Georgia Farm Bureau member to receive Georgia Neighbors twice a year. Membership means supporting farmers and agriculture while having access to more than 300,000 discount offers. Visit gfb.ag/join.

For content inquiries or comments, please contact Information/Public Relations Director Kenny Burgamy at 478-474-0679, extension 5285, or email kdburgamy@gfb.org.

FOLLOW US

GFB.ORG

ON THE COVER

Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia, at his Bonaire home.

VIEW FROM THE FIELD

Tom McCall, GFB President

very winter, 236 members of the state Legislature convene in Atlanta for the annual Georgia General Assembly. For 26 years I was honored to represent folks in and around my home of Elbert County by serving in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Despite being away from Atlanta during session, it’s still of great interest to me that we keep a close eye on what happens under the gold dome each year because every debate and each vote taken impacts our daily lives.

For those of you reading this magazine who aren’t directly connected to earning your livelihood by farming, you should know that Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) has a strong and credible legislative team dedicated to helping us preserve, protect and enhance agriculture and farming. Keeping the industry that I love positioned as the largest and strongest economic driver in Georgia is essential for multiple reasons.

It’s important because we all must have a safe and abundant food supply. Plus, it is crucial to protect farmers who grow the fiber

used to make our clothing and the wood produced for the homes in which we live.

While GFB provides a convincing voice for producers in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., we’re successful because of our partnership with the many lawmakers who have similar interests and those who appreciate where their food and fiber originate. Solid ag-minded lawmakers are key to our agricultural success.

One past lawmaker honored in this edition of Georgia Neighbors is now chancellor of the University System of Georgia, Sonny Perdue. Sonny came through the Georgia State Senate before serving as our 81st governor. He went on to Washington where he proved to be a significant force in agriculture’s success across global and national markets, while serving as the United States Secretary of Agriculture.

We are pleased to salute Sonny and his wife, Mary, in this issue of Georgia Neighbors, and we are happy to show our appreciation for all they have done to improve agriculture.

OFFICERS

President & CEO

TOM MCCALL, Elbert Co.

1st Vice President and South Georgia Vice President

DANIEL JOHNSON, Pierce Co.

North Georgia Vice President

BERNARD SIMS, Catoosa Co.

Middle Georgia Vice President

RALPH CALDWELL, Heard Co.

General Counsel

DUKE GROOVER

Chief Financial Officer, Corp. Treasurer & GFBMIC Exec. VP

DAVID JOLLEY

Chief Administrative Officer

JEFFREY HARVEY

Corp. Secretary & Senior Counsel

JEANNA FENNELL

Asst. Corp. Treasurer & Sr. Director of Accounting

RACHEL MOSELY

DIRECTORS

FIRST DISTRICT: Bill Bryan, Chattooga Co.; Wesley Hall, Forsyth, Co.; SECOND DISTRICT: Gilbert Barrett, Habersham Co.; Russ Moon, Madison Co.; THIRD DISTRICT: Brad Marks, Newton Co. Nora Goodman, Paulding Co.; FOURTH DISTRICT: Skeetter McCorkle, McDuffie Co.; Russ Wilburn, Barrow Co.; FIFTH DISTRICT: Leighton Cooley, Crawford Co.; Matt Bottoms, Pike Co.; SIXTH DISTRICT: James Malone, Laurens Co.; James Emory Tate, Jeff Davis Co.; SEVENTH DISTRICT: Gary Bell, Evans Co.; Ben Boyd, Screven Co.; EIGHTH DISTRICT: Scotty Raines, Turner Co.; Don Wood, Wilcox Co.; NINTH DISTRICT: Lucius Adkins, Baker Co.; Paul Shirah, Mitchell Co.; TENTH DISTRICT: David Lee, Bacon Co.; Lamar Vickers, Berrien Co. YOUNG FARMER

CHAIRMAN: Colt Hart, Franklin Co.

WOMEN’S COMMITTEE CHAIR: Kathy Sanders, Laurens Co.

GEORGIA NEIGHBORS

Director: Kenny Burgamy

Art Director: Nicollette Boydstun

Photographer: Logan Thomas

Contributors: Renee Corwine

Consulting Copy Editor: Renee Corwine

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 the Georgia Farm Bureau Neighbors. For advertising rates and information, contact Wendy McFarland at 334-652-9080 or mcfarlandadvantage@ gmail.com. Georgia Farm Bureau Neighbors was established in 1996. Copyright 2023 by the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. Printed by Panaprint, Macon, Georgia.

GFB President Tom McCall shares a few minutes with Sonny Perdue , chancellor of the University System of Georgia.

Pizza Perfection

Jag’s Pizzeria supports community by sourcing locally

rom the day they opened their doors in 2020, Jag’s Pizzeria has had two goals: to serve great food and to support the local community.

“The owners really wanted to create something a little more unique than just a pizza restaurant. They wanted it more locally based to serve Mercer University and the greater Macon community at large. To do that, it means we’ve gone through a lot of different changes. Opening during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the beginning it was to-go orders. As time has gone on, we focused on tying-in local ingredients and began reaching out to farms in our area to add locallygrown elements into our pizzas of the month,” said Laurence Dantzler, director of operations for Jag’s.

Those pizzas of the month became a hit with students at Mercer, which is located adjacent to Mercer Village, the home of Jag’s. Sourced seasonally, pizzas of the month have spanned the flavor spectrum. A Cuban style pizza featured pickles from Greenway Farms in Roberta; Dickey’s peach pie included Dickey Farms peaches; and the cheeseburger pizza had ground beef from Elliott Farms.

Sometimes fresh ingredients are sourced from Village Marketplace, a local market selling Georgia grown and produced items. Another example is the flour used in the pizzas at Jag’s. It comes from Macon’s very own miller, Ardent Mills.

“The guys who opened the restaurant, their biggest reason for doing so was to invest in the community, to bring in things that are new and different and fresh, basically making Macon a better place to live. That’s at the core of their choices,” Dantzler said. “In restaurants, we find the

more they are custom-oriented to a community, the more dollars are brought into that community. It’s important to the fabric of where we live.”

Although he’s only worked at Jag’s since October, Dantzler said he’s excited to be part of a restaurant group that values not only supporting local farms, but farmers in general.

“My background is on the culinary side and I’ve worked in restaurants for 20 years. I went to culinary school in Colorado and that was where I fell in love with the use of local ingredients. To have that experience and move back home to Macon, and then get the opportunity to incorporate that love into my job here, it’s exciting,” he said.

It’s also an important opportunity, especially in a restaurant industry that, at times, treats food as a corporate commodity.

“So much in terms of food in America has gone the way of the corporate aspect, and there is a place for that in terms of feeding large amounts of people,” he said. “But to invest in a local farmer who is out there daily working with their hands, turning the soil and making things happen, it’s an aspect that would be easy to lose if we didn’t continue to invest in it.

“To improve the quality of the food we offer in restaurants, we have to connect to famers and the community. And remember, Georgia was always an agricultural state from its origins. I never want to see that connection go away. It’s not about finding the cheapest ingredients. It’s about finding the best quality. To maintain that system, it’s important for restaurants to have some responsibility in that, to utilize local ingredients and to promote those ingredients to the public.”

PRODUCTS

There’s nothing we love more than using Georgia-grown and produced items at home. These treats need no special occasions — enjoy them every day!

PIZZA CUTTER

Ribbons and Burls

Macon, GA

478.747.0147

instagram@ribbons.and.burls

FARMER’S MARKET

FRUIT TEA

Just Add Honey Tea Company

Atlanta, GA 404.850.6510 justaddhoney.net

PEACH JELLY BEANS

Dickey Farms

Musella, GA 478.836.4362 gapeaches.com

EMBROIDERED KEYCHAIN

Mustard Thread Clarkesville, GA 706.754.1435 mustardthread.com

LAVENDER SEA SALT & PEPPERCORNS

White Hills Farm Dearing, GA 706.595.5081 whitehillsfarm.us

PEACH T-SHIRT

Pearson Farm

Fort Valley, GA 888.423.7374

pearsonfarm.com

WE LOVE

CRACKERS FOR HOSTING

Spring is a season for celebration. There’s no better way to dress up your buffet table than with creatively-topped crackers. From sweet and salty to creamy and cheesy, these flavor combinations will suit all tastes. To locate fresh topping ingredients and discover more, visit gfb.ag/CFM.

POSH PBJ

Southern Grace Farms

Enigma, GA

Maple Caramel Almond

Butter, Peach Preserves

229.533.4314

southerngracefarms.com

THE WALDORF

Hillside Orchard Farms

Lakemont, GA

Walnuts, Brie, Apples, Honey

706.782.4995

hillsideorchard.com

CHEESY ONION DIP

Calhoun Produce

Ashburn, GA

Swiss Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Mayo, Vidalia Onion

229.273.1887

calhounproduce.com

SALTY AND SWEET

Bruce’s Nut-N-Honey

Farm

Homerville, GA

Blue Cheese, Honey, Candied Pecan Bits

912.487.5001

bruceshoneyshack.com

PEPPER JELLY PERFECTION

Pearson Farm

Fort Valley, GA

Cream Cheese, Pepper Jelly, Dill

888.423.7374

pearsonfarm.com

BUTTERY PECAN TOFFEE

Ellis Bros. Pecans

Vienna, GA

Caramel, Chocolate Pecans 800.635.0616

werenuts.com

BALSAMIC AND BASIL

Jaemor Farms

Alto, GA

Tomatoes, Mozzarella, Balsamic Vinegar, Basil

770.869.3999

jaemorfarms.com

MEDITERRANEAN MOMENT

Osage Farm Market

Rabun Gap, GA

Hummus, Peppers & Feta

Crumbles, Oregano 706.746.7262

osagefarm.com

LIFETIME OF

LEADERSHIP

Former Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue finds new role at home in Georgia

SONNY PERDUE

f the many ways Sonny Perdue has served his community, state and nation, he feels that his current position as chancellor of the University System of Georgia may be his most impactful role yet.

That’s a big statement for a man who served as the 31st Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from 2017 to 2021. He also spent two terms as Georgia governor, from 2003 to 2011, and was a member of the Georgia Senate from 1991 to 2001 where he chaired the Senate Higher Education Committee and eventually became Senate President Pro Tem.

“When I finished my term as Secretary of Agriculture, I came back home and signed in to LinkedIn. My profile said, ‘Born a dirt farmer, tried a couple other jobs, never could escape,’” he said with a laugh. “When I was announced as chancellor, I figured the Board of Regents expected something more erudite, so I changed it to, ‘Maybe the most impactful job I’ve ever had, Chancellor of the University System of Georgia ... 26 fine public institutions of higher education.’”

Named chancellor by the Board of Regents in April 2022, Perdue oversees 26 public colleges and universities with a $9.8 billion annual budget, 48,000 faculty and staff, and more than 340,000 students. It’s a big job, but thanks to his previous experience, he’s more than capable of handling it.

As Georgia governor, Perdue reformed the state budget while Georgia was gripped by recession. His fiscal management during those eight years prepared Georgia to excel when revenues returned. During his term, Georgia posted the highest high school graduation rates and SAT scores in state history.

As USDA Secretary under President Donald Trump, Perdue managed a workforce of 110,000 employees. Some of his accomplishments during that time included stabilizing the food supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic and launching the Farmers to Families Food Box program to ensure all Americans had food on the table.

I LEARNED THAT WHILE THE ACCENTS AND THE CROP PRACTICES MAY BE DIFFERENT, THE HEART AND SPIRIT OF FARMERS AND RANCHERS ARE THE SAME ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

“The USDA Secretary position was amazing in that I got all over the country, and even internationally, to see different perspectives. I learned that while the accents and the crop practices may be different, the heart and spirit of farmers and ranchers are the same across the country,” Perdue said. “President Trump had an affinity for farmers, and I’ve concluded he gained that from realizing that agriculturalists were the spirit of America that grew this country. They risk their lives, fortunes and family every year — through tornadoes and hail, drought and floods — and they pick up and do it all again next year. He appreciated that about the heart of the farmer.”

Perdue learned a lot in his USDA role, not just about farming, but about the impact he could have on the next generation of leaders.

“One of the most fulfilling things at USDA was to watch a cultural change of becoming the most efficient, effective and customer-focused agency in the federal government, while doing right and feeding everyone,” he said.

Picking up tidbits of knowledge along life’s path is something Perdue relishes, and he considers himself a lifelong learner. He earned his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Georgia and served four years in the U.S. Air Force. He said he’s continued to learn new things with every job he’s had, but the most important lesson was one he learned early on in his career.

“One of the jobs in which I learned the most in was my public service on the Planning and Zoning Board in Houston County, which was sort of a volunteer job. What I learned was to listen to both sides and not to make presumptions or conclusions before you hear the matter out. That was the best training I had for becoming a legislator,” he said.

Now, at 77, he’s bringing all that knowledge together for the betterment of Georgia students. In his new role, Perdue has the opportunity to help shape the future of education in Georgia, which directly impacts the 12 of his 14 grandchildren who are still in school.

A passion for education is part of Perdue’s family legacy in Houston County, where he was born and raised.

“I come from a family of educators. My mom taught English for 42 years in Houston County and my uncle was superintendent in Houston County from about 1960-80. When I came to the state Senate, my first job was to chair the Higher Education Committee,” he said. “I came into the Senate at the same time Zell Miller was governor, and what I realized was that the confluence of higher education and the economic future of the state were intimately tied. The best influence I could have in the Senate was in higher education.”

When he came home to Bonaire in 2021, after his time as Secretary of Agriculture had ended, he relished spending time with his wife, Mary, and their family. But he always suspected a life of retirement wouldn’t last for long.

“I hope to spend more time with family, but obviously I don’t do a very good job sitting on the porch and rocking,” he said in an interview at that time with the Farm Monitor.

Sure enough, a year later he was already back serving Georgians in a broader manner. A life of public service is what Perdue has always known. It’s what he believes God has called him to do.

“Biblically, as a believer, I believe you do the job that God calls you to do. ... I’ve been so blessed in this country, in this state, in this community, to grow up with unconditional loving parents on a farm,” he said.

And it seems that no matter where God leads him, he finds ways to apply what he learned from his childhood on the farm.

“From childhood, I learned the law of the land, to do things timely and in order. You can’t plant in August and hope to harvest in September. The best farmers are those who do things in a timely way, who are always prepared. My goal is to have us, as a university system, prepared for the next generation to better themselves. It’s an awesome responsibility, helping people build value within themselves. We give them the opportunity to invest in themselves, and when people understand that we are partners with them, in improving themselves, that’s when it works. The system is doing a great job at that,” he said.

Even as a man who’s been a leader at every level — in his home community, state and nation — he said the importance of his new position cannot be understated:

“This job impacts the lives of 340,000 young people — their future, their family’s future, their own prosperity and opportunities. That’s a big, impactful job, and that’s what drives me every day. We owe our best to these students, who entrust their money and their lives to us to help prepare them to create better lives for themselves.”

THIS JOB IMPACTS THE LIVES OF 340,000 YOUNG PEOPLE — THEIR FUTURE, THEIR FAMILY’S FUTURE, THEIR OWN PROSPERITY AND OPPORTUNITIES.

GFB President Tom McCall shares a few minutes with Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia.

TELLING THE STORY OF GEORGIA AGRICULTURE

Saturdays: 8 a.m.

Sundays: 6 a.m.

Thursdays: 6:30 p.m.

Sundays: 11:30 p.m.

Ray D’Alessio

Kenny Burgamy

honey just add

Atlanta tea company blends passion and flavor into successful tea business

rowing up in New Orleans, Brandi Shelton’s grandmother had an herbal recipe for every ailment. Her mother worked for Delta and they often traveled together. While traveling abroad, Brandi always found comfort in a cup while visiting tea rooms, and began collecting teapots from across the world. Tea always has been an important fixture in her life.

While Brandi was working as a wardrobe and prop stylist for print and commercial advertising, she began blending tea leaves with a little bit of fruit or herbs to find the perfect cup.

“Working as a stylist was a fun and rewarding job, and I would create tea blends as a hobby during slower months,” she said.

Soon she started getting calls from family and friends, asking her to make something special for them, or to give as gifts. In 2006, she took a leap of faith and turned her passion for tea into a career with the opening of Just Add Honey Tea Company.

“For a while, I was able to juggle both loves,” Brandi said. “As my tea business began to pick up and expand, I had to start turning down jobs and styling opportunities. It was a transition that allowed me the freedom to grow my brand at my own pace, and now here we are!”

Although it was at times all-consuming, for many years the business was just a hobby. Brandi sold tea at farmers’ markets, festivals and trade shows.

Jermail and Brandi Shelton at Just Add Honey’s East Atlanta Beltline location.

That all changed in 2014 when the business opened its first retail space on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta. When the storefront opened, it was Brandi’s first experience actually seeing people interact with her tea on sight, and she loved the community feeling it brought.

After a year, the company expanded to a bigger location at The Curb Market.

“That’s the space that really put us on the map. Our first location was more of a destination spot; people had to know we were there. With The Curb Market, a lot of people frequented that area and as people were walking around, they found us,” said Jermail Shelton, Brandi’s husband and Just Add Honey’s manager of sales and daily operations.

Gaining popularity, the business opened a second location just off the East Atlanta Beltline, in the Old Fourth Ward. In 2020, a production facility was added next door.

“We found a space where we can grow our wings, a location that’s community centered. We take a lot of pride in our community and allowing our community to bond over tea,” Jermail said.

In addition to its energetic owners with big dreams, Just Add Honey’s success all goes back to the tea — 45 specific blends, to be exact — and Brandi’s always in the lab cooking up more flavor profiles. Many of those blends feature ingredients grown in Georgia.

“We are a small business, and keeping things as local as possible is important to us. Obviously, the tea itself is not grown here, but we do partner with a number of different farmers to get other ingredients for the tea blends,” Jermail said. “We try to work with as many farms as possible and get as many different ingredients as possible. Consumers want Georgia-grown products. They want to know where things come from, and being able to tie it back to farmers is so important. Georgia farmers are growing so many things that we need to keep our bodies healthy. Farmers allow us to exist and to be our healthiest being.”

Some of the flavors sourced throughout Georgia include mint, hibiscus, ginger, chamomile, blueberry, peach and lemongrass.

“When the supplies are limited, we add Georgia farm items to our simple syrups, season-specific or limitededition blends,” Brandi said. “Sourcing locally provides us with a direct relationship with growers and providers. It offers fresh, flavorful and unique items to our blends. It keeps the money close to home. It is part of our mission to connect over a cup of tea.”

How can a rechargeable hearing aid that ts inside your ear and costs only $14 999 be every bit as good as one that sells for $2,400 or more?

The answer: Although tremendous strides have been made in Hearing Aid Technology, those cost reductions have not been passed on to you. Until now...

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Introducing Lucky

ucky is a friendly, fluffy farm dog who loves helping people. Bred for life on the farm, he isn’t afraid of hard work and is always ready for action. His most endearing quality is his fierce loyalty and dependability. He will never let you down.

More than a dog. More than a policy.

At Georgia Farm Bureau, we know your dog is more than just a pet, it’s a member of the family. We believe in more, and that’s why we are committed to offering more for our members.

We believe that when it comes to protecting your most important financial assets, you need more than just a policy. You need a dependable agent and a reliable insurance company that’s known for keeping its promises, a company that has been investing in your state and your community for more than sixty years. Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance:

• Has hundreds of dependable agents

• Keeps its promises

• Invests in your community

BREED: Australian Shepherd

FAVORITE TREAT: Anything with peanut butter

DATE OF BIRTH: January 31

FAVORITE TOY: Anything made of cotton

DEEPENING OUR WORK

We are developing a pipeline for Georgia’s next generation of farmers and agricultural leaders. Through early exposure to agriculture, classroom learning, higher education, farm-based mentorship and professional learning, our programs provide a structured path that fosters growth and sparks a passion in agriculture during one’s educational journey.

SEED

11,587 $65K 113

404 168

students taught in 63 counties

new teachers reached boots-on-the-ground volunteers supported our work

24,948

miles driven across Georgia

Invest in the next generation by giving the gift of agriculture today! If you would like to make a donation, please visit gafoundationag.org/donate.

worth of scholarships awarded

applications from 70 counties

HARVEST

1,651

GROW DONATE

farmer survey participants in 157 counties

122 13

media articles about the study

regional and national presentations

IS SERVED HISTORY

en. James Edward Oglethorpe. Wesleyan College in Macon. Nancy Hart. Old Capitol in Milledgeville. On their own, each is an excerpt of Georgia’s history. Put together on commemorative plates, these scenes depict people and places who shaped the history of our state.

In 1933, the Transylvania Club of Sandersville, Georgia, led by Louise Irwin, sponsored a set of plates in observance of the club’s 25th anniversary and Georgia’s bicentennial. Produced originally by Wedgwood, the plates have been used at the Governor’s Mansion, in the White House and by members of England’s royal family.

In 1974, they were named the official historical plates of Georgia by the state legislature. They remain popular collectors’ items today.

“Sales for the plates have remained steady over the years. Families in the Middle Georgia area, where the plates originated, inherit Georgia Plates from parents and grandparents. The nostalgia associated with the plates, whether through decorative or dining ware, keeps the love for the plates continuing through generations,” said Deana Bibb, Georgia Plate marketing chair for the Transylvania Club.

For many families, the plates have made their way off dusty china cabinets and into daily rotation.

“For years, my plates lived in my china cabinets and were generally brought out only for special occasions, but as I have gotten older, I have come to appreciate that china is meant to be used and enjoyed on a daily basis, so they have graduated from being on display to being a real part of our lives,” said Anne Brooker of Sandersville, who got her first set of plates as a high school graduation gift in 1989.

Dianne Mathis, a longtime collector and friend of the plates’ original designer, explained why so many have fallen in love with these slices of history.

“These plates pulsate with life as they tell the state’s history, emphasizing the valor of many heroes while reminding historians of our state’s agricultural products,” she said, adding that the plates’ borders feature cotton, peaches, long-leaf pine and other agricultural symbols.

Belleek Pottery in Northern Ireland is now the producer of the plates, which continue to be sold in Sandersville as well as online at gaplates.com. The income from the sale of Georgia Plates supports a variety of causes on behalf of the Transylvania Club.

Georgia Plate collection has delighted families for generations

Fresh Fixins

CREATED BY CHEF CLAUDIA MARTINEZ

With help from our Certified Farm Markets, try these lemon-glazed donuts created by Claudia Martinez, chef at Miller Union restaurant on Brady Avenue in Atlanta and a 2022 James Beard Award finalist in the pastry chef category.

Chèvre Cheesecake with Blueberry Lavender

Flour Sugar

Lemon Peaches

Brown sugar

Vanilla

Thyme

Bourbon

“The cheesecake is definitely my style of dessert, lighter and not as sweet. It uses chevre cheese from a local, woman-owned farm. The chevre gives it more of a savory aspect. The blueberry lavender sauce came from me playing with blueberries we get in at Miller Union. I really like that flavor combination,” Martinez said.

Lemon Glazed Doughnuts with Peaches

Local blueberries

Lavender

Brown sugar

In sharing these recipe ideas, Martinez wanted to show the two sides of her baking style. One is nostalgic and one guest-friendly, meaning there aren’t too many complicated flavors.

“Doughnuts with peaches is a super Southern flavor. We use local peaches, which taste so good on their own. Adding thyme brightens it up and gives it a new flavor,” she said. “There’s no exact recipe because the fruit tastes different every time you make it and with every season, so I’m always adjusting and modifying the combination to best suit the fruit’s flavor.”

Cream cheese

Local Chevre cheese

Walnut

Martinez encourages at-home chefs to play with fruit that’s in season when baking at home. If you’re not up for experimenting with the ingredients listed, the only way to try these desserts is by eating at Miller Union. While on the menu, the recipes remain a closely guarded secret! Visit gfb.ag/Neighbors to find full recipes and seasonal dishes.

BOOTS GROUND ON THE

We’re saluting the tough boots that help so many of us through the day of work and play. Whether it is traditional farming or doing business in an office, boots are the first choice of footwear for many Georgians.

Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful and most noble employment of man. - George Washington

Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness.

-

Thomas Jefferson

The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself. - Franklin D. Roosevelt

Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field. - Dwight D Eisenhower

CUTS WATER BILLS AND MOWING BY AS MUCH AS 2/3

Would you believe a lawn could look perfect when watered just once? In Iowa, the state’s biggest Men’s Garden club picked a Zoysia lawn as “top lawn—nearly perfect.” Yet, this lawn had been watered only once all summer!

5

IT STAYS GREEN IN SPITE OF HEAT AND DROUGHT

“The hotter it gets, the better it grows!”

Amazoy Zoysia thrives in blistering heat, yet it won’t winter-kill to 30° below zero. It goes off its green color after hard frosts, and begins regaining its green color as temperatures in the spring are consistently warm.

2 3

NO NEED TO DIG UP OLD GRASS

Plant Amazoy in an old lawn or bare ground. Set plugs into holes in the soil checkerboard style. Plugs spread to create a lush, thick lawn, driving out weeds. Easy instructions included with every order.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY No weeding means no costly chemicals. Amazoy Zoysia lawns naturally resist insects, so you’ll save money, while helping to protect the environment. Never expose your family and pets to weed killers and pesticide poison.

1 4

FOR SLOPES, PLAY AREAS, BARE SPOTS AND PARTIAL SHADE

Can’t beat Amazoy as the low-cost answer for hard-to-cover spots, play-worn areas, partial shade and erosion on slopes.

6 7

CHOKES OUT CRABGRASS AND WEEDS ALL SUMMER

Your established Zoysia lawn grows so thick, it simply stops crabgrass and most summer weeds from germinating!

NOW 3 WAYS TO START YOUR AMAZOY ZOYSIA LAWN!

1) Freestyle Plugs come in uncut sheets containing a maximum of 150 – 1" plugs that can be planted up to 1 ft. apart. Freestyle plugs allow you to make each plug bigger and plant further apart — less cutting and planting — you decide.

2) New Super Plugs come precut into individual 3"x3" plugs ready-to-plant (minimum 1 per 4 sq. ft.). They arrive in easy to handle trays of 15 Super Plugs. Save time and get your new lawn faster!

3) Amazoy Approved Seed – As The Zoysia Specialists for 70 years, we now have a Zoysia seed that meets our standards and homeowners expectations.

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