Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Speaks To Rotary Club of Sandy Springs

From Sandy Spring Rotary Club:The word Georgia means farmer in Greek and it makes good sense, according to Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black who spoke to the Rotary Club of Sandy Springs on August 7, 2017.

Commissioner Black gave the Ag Report:

• Agriculture is the number 1 industry in Georgia worth $74 billion, $15 billion at the farm level and the rest value added;

• Georgia's top crops are peanuts, poultry, pecans and blueberries;
• Georgia is among the top three states for peach farming;
• Half of Georgia's pecans are exported to China;
• Dairy is growing in Georgia;
• The "Georgia Grown" brand is putting the spotlight on the quality of Georgia-produced foods and agriculture;

Georgia's beef industry in growing;School nutrition is another area that Georgia Grown is reaching into so that more Georgia Grown food is offered to schoolchildren. "A child that is hungry won't perform well", Black told the RotaryClub of Sandy Springs. Look to see more Georgia Grown logos on products in our restaurants and supermarkets, including Kroger dairy.

Commissioner Black then brought out a length of string with bottle caps attached at regular intervals. He explained that this was agricultural technology in some countries, where seeds are placed at the bottle caps and this action is repeated the length of the field. Black stressed that technology must improve worldwide as the population increases. Part of that process is educating people about farming. "The general public has a great appreciation for farming, more than for Congress, but we don't understand farming", said Black.

The Rotary Club of Sandy Springs has a 47-year history of service both internationally and
locally to the Sandy Springs community. Luncheon meetings are held most Mondays at 12:15 p.m. at
the Hilton Perimeter Suites, 6120 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. The club
welcomes interested business leaders, professionals and community leaders to visit for lunch.
Reservations aren’t required but may be made in advance at www.sandyspringsrotary.org . Additional
information on the Rotary Club of Sandy Springs may be found at www.sandyspringsrotary.org and
facebook.com/RotaryClubOfSandySprings.

Image Courtesy of The Sandy Springs Rotary Club