Georgia has been labeled the Peach State, but did you know that the farmers in Georgia grow almost as much if not more blueberries than Michigan which is known as the blueberry state! Speaking of peaches, we don’t grow as many as South Carolina, but I like to say our peaches are juicier and sweeter!
Georgia Grown is the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s marketing and economic development program. We help new agribusinesses grow, and established agribusinesses thrive. This includes agritourism which combines agriculture and tourism to create an experience.
If you are looking to visit a u-pick farm, a garden or arboretum, a corn maze, pumpkin patch, an agricultural museum, heritage farm, a winery, distillery and brewery or take a farm tour or stay on a farm, you can find a wide variety of agricultural experiences by visiting the Georgia Grown website or picking up the Georgia Grown magazine which can be found at any of the nine official state visitor centers.
Each year the Georgia Farm Bureau publishes the Farm Passport, a guide to discover over 90 certified farm markets, which helps people discover where their food comes from, meet the farm families who grew the food, and create lasting memories with loved ones as they travel the state. Farm Passports can be picked up at any of the participating farms or local Farm Bureau offices. You can also download the Passport from their website.
When traveling in Northeast Georgia, a must stop is Jaemor Farms. Located in North Hall County their market is always busy and filled with farm-grown strawberries, peaches and apples along with a wide variety of other locally sourced fruits and vegetables, baked and canned goods, dairy products, a bakery, flowers and other plants. They offer farm tours four groups, U-pick in season and a variety of events including a corn maze and pumpkins in the fall. I absolutely love their strawberry ice cream and fried pies!
Traveling northwest to Blue Ridge, Mercier Orchards is a fourth-generation family and veteran-owned and operated apple orchard. You can spend all day in their expansive farm market. Throughout the year, they offer U-pick, bus-school-tractor tours, hard cider and winery, a variety of home décor, and a bakery. My favorite are the apple fried pies…seeing a trend here? I am also a fan of the hard cider and wine.
Heading south, apple lovers will find even more apple options along Apple Alley in Gilmer County. Apple orchards dot the road with a variety of apples, cider, fried pies, dried apples, apple donuts and more!
If you are a wine enthusiast, then plan to pick up a Georgia Wine Highway Passport. Passport holders can visit wineries during a ten-month period where they can enjoy classic free tastings to exciting BOGOs, complimentary glasses of wine, and unbelievable discounts on glasses, bottles, cases, and more.
The Shed at Fitzgerald Fruit Farms in Woodbury offers wine tastings of produced in their Warm Springs Winery as well as picking strawberries and browsing through the farm market. A cool treat in the warm south Georgia sun is their strawberry ice cream! Again, I love the ice cream!
Just off I-75 South southwest of Macon in Fort Valley, visitors will find Lane Southern Orchards, a farm, café and roadside market. Shop for just about anything PEACH, Vidalia onions, syrups, butters, jams, jellies, baked goods, salsas, dressings, sauces, a variety of pecans and related products. If you are hungry, try the farm to market cafe. Members of Harvest Host can reserve a spot to spend the night at the market and wake up to coffee and pastries.
I mentioned blueberries before and although there are a lot of farms where you can pick blueberries, there is only one Blueberry Barn. It’s a small, unique, retail store located in Alma, Georgia that specializes in everything blueberry including jams, jellies, syrups, ice cream, bread. candies, snacks, handmade decor items, juice, sodas, etc. Alma, Georgia is known the Blueberry Capital of Georgia.
In the small community of Ashburn, Calhoun Produce has a small but well-stocked market. They grow and source their produce from local farms to ensure they deliver their customers the freshest, highest-quality fruits and vegetables. Although the butterbeans and peas fly out the door, I can’t pass up the strawberry lemonade and neither can my husband! It’s a great location for birthday parties and field trips. Kids love the large playground, pig races, wagon tours, corn maze, pumpkins, wagon rides and honeybee house, and strawberry fields.
If you are interested in history, then plan a visit to any one of the following farms or museums that offer a look into Georgia’s agricultural past, present and future.
The Shields Ethridge Heritage Farm in Jefferson is a unique collection of intact historic farm buildings that exist in their original location. Visitors can download an iPhone or Android app that shares the history and function of each of the buildings. I am never disappointed when I visit this farm. It touches my soul and I hope it touches yours.
Just south of Blairsville sits the Reece Farm & Heritage Center. Poet Byron Herbert Reece farmed the land and wrote his poetry and novels. Wander through the poetry garden, farm buildings, petting farm and gift shop with a small historical exhibit area.
The Georgia Museum of Agriculture in Tifton is an immersive experience into the agrarian and cultural traditions of the 19th century American South. Glimpse the innovative and storied history of Southern Georgia through hands-on learning experiences and historic sites and artifacts.
Before visiting a farm or agritourism attraction, call ahead for days and hours of operation. No matter the season, something is always happening on a Georgia farm, so I encourage you to get out and visit our great agritourism attractions. It’s good for the mind, the soul and your taste buds!
Georgia Grown www.georgiagrown.com
Georgia Farm Passport www.gfb.org/connect/passport
Jaemor Farms www.jaemorfarms.com
Mercier Orchards https://mercier-orchards.com
Georgia Wine Highway www.opengeorgiawine.com/
The Shed at Fitzgerald Farms www.fitzgeraldfruitfarms.com
Lane Southern Orchards https://lanesouthernorchards.com/
The Blueberry Barn https://theblueberrybarn.com
Calhoun Produce https://calhounproduce.com/
Shields Ethridge Heritage Farm https://shieldsethridgefarminc.com
Reece Farm & Heritage Center www.reecesociety.org
Vidalia Onion Museum https://visitvidaliaga.com/visitors-center/vidalia-onion-museum/
ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture https://gma.abac.edu
