Like other types of agriculture, urban agriculture, which includes the turf, plants and flowers used in urban areas, requires water to grow.  However, it also requires other inputs such as a healthy construction market to truly thrive.  In Georgia, both water availability and construction activity have been problematic in recent years.

“During 2007, the urban agriculture sector lost 35,000 jobs in Georgia because of the drought and restrictions on landscape installations,” said Ken Morrow, president of Sod Atlanta.  “Just about when the restrictions were fully lifted in 2008, the construction industry collapsed.”

Sod Atlanta is a family-owned sod producer located in Cartersville, Ga.  Since 1985, they have provided commercial landscapers, golf courses, athletic fields and homeowners with premium bermuda, zoysla, centipede and fescue sod.

Turf providers and others in urban agriculture are still feeling the effects of the collapse in the commercial construction market.  According to Morrow, direct sales to homeowners have helped pick up some of the slack, as have sales to government and institutional projects.  In addition, Sod Atlanta is finding opportunities with third-party resellers serving the retail market.

On the cutting edge of turf production
Located 35 miles north of the metro area, Sod Atlanta is ideally positioned to serve homeowners, landscape installers and commercial developers in Atlanta, northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee.  Just as important is its proximity to the world’s leading turfgrass breeding and genetics program conducted by the University of Georgia at its Tifton and Griffin campuses.

The Turfgrass Program is part of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and is an interdisciplinary effort of 17 scientists.  Research on how to produce turf in more sustainable ways – with greater drought tolerance and pest resistance – is ongoing with emphasis on hybrid bermuda, centipede, tall fescue and seashore paspalum.

“We try to stay on the cutting edge of innovations in turf production so that we can meet the needs of our consumers with less water, fertilizer, pesticides and other inputs,” Morrow said.

In fact, leadership through innovation is one of the stated values of Sod Atlanta. The company strives to provide leadership through the application of new technology with an emphasis on environmental stewardship.

A reputation built on values
Sod Atlanta’s other values include excellence in customer service and product quality.  Excellent customer service in turf production means reliable, friendly service and knowledgeable employees who can help clients select the right sod for their property.  Excellent product quality means good thickness, no weeds, no grubs or diseases and good cuts made the day the sod is ordered.

Sod Atlanta has built its reputation on these values for 25 years.  That reputation has helped the company weather the tough years in urban agriculture.  Now Sod Atlanta looks forward to a continued steady recovery in the Georgia economy.

“We’re blessed to be part of the state of Georgia,” Morrow said. “It’s a great place to do business and the people are wonderful clients.”

For more information on Sod Atlanta, visit www.sodatlanta.com

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