If each of the approximately 3.7 million households in Georgia spent $10 each week on products grown in Georgia, it would add $1.9 billion to the state’s economy.  That’s one of the eye-opening conclusions of “The Local Food Impact: What if Georgians Ate Georgia Produce?” – a new study funded by Georgia Organics and conducted by the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development.

“The potential uncovered in this study can lift all of agriculture in Georgia, not just organics,” said Alice Rolls, executive director of Georgia Organics, a member supported non-profit organization working to integrate healthy, sustainable and locally grown food into the lives of all Georgians.

Consuming below the national average of locally grown food
Currently Georgians eat less locally grown food than people in other states, the study found.  According to Rolls, food sales made directly from farmers to consumers tend to come from small farmers who sell directly to cooperatives and at farmers markets.  Missing are direct sales from mid-size farm operations.

“We need to build the distribution and processing infrastructure to link larger farm operations to local consumers,” Rolls said.

One example of missing infrastructure can be found in poultry production.  Rolls cited pastured poultry as a popular trend that allows farmers to use chicken litter as fertilizer while providing chickens with new nutrients as they move from pasture to pasture.  However, with no small-scale poultry processing facilities in the state, it is difficult to sell pastured poultry directly to local consumers.

“The regulations to process poultry on the farm are very confusing,” Rolls said.  “We need clarity on what it takes to process before people will invest in small scale facilities.”

Becoming a player in organics
Consumption of organic food has grown 10 to 15 percent per year on average for about the past 10 years.  Last year with the recession, organic sales grew 5 percent compared to 1 percent growth for all food.

“The huge health epidemic in America is driving greater interest in organic foods.  I don’t see that changing in the foreseeable future,” Rolls said.

Across the U.S. only 2 percent of farmland is in organic production.  In Georgia, it’s even less.  However, Rolls believes the state could be a major player in organic farming.

“Organic farming represents an entry point for young people into farming, many of whom have never farmed before,” Rolls said.  “Many organic operations are in their formative years.”

Training and education on organic farming from the Georgia Department of Agriculture and extension programs is critical.  Georgia Organics is helping to develop a team of organic farming experts by training the trainers in cooperative extensions and agriculture education programs.

Sponsoring the first sustainable agriculture debate
Rolls believes that statewide strategic planning is needed to build a strong network for sustainable, locally grown food production and consumption.  Georgia Organics, for example, is working to integrate food and agriculture into the curriculum at the elementary school level through programs that can include onsite gardens and culinary demonstrations.

The nonprofit also supports community food systems to ensure everyone has access to healthy, locally grown foods.  For example, its Wholesome Wave program enables people receiving food assistance to double their benefits at farmers markets.

On Sept. 2, Georgia Organics will be one of the sponsors of the state’s first sustainable agriculture debate with candidates for Agriculture Commissioner of Georgia.  The debate will be held at Tull Auditorium at Emory University in Atlanta.

“We’re going to have our first new ag commissioner in 41 years so this is a great opportunity to begin to shape state policies in support of sustainable agriculture,” Rolls said.

For more information on the 2010 Commissioner of Agriculture debate, please visit http://www.georgiaorganics.org/events/event.php?id=1265.  For more information on Georgia Organics, visit www.georgiaorganics.org

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