Rodale Southeast & Fresh Harvest

Welcome to another episode of the Atlanta Foodcast, hosted by Georgia Organics!

As Georgia Organics launches our end-of-year fundraising campaign: Stay Local, we’re focusing on why it’s so important that Georgians continue to support Georgia farmers by shopping as directly as possible from them. In this episode, we’re discussing the environmental and economic significance of supporting small farmers and why it’s so vital to support Georgia farmers in and beyond this pandemic year. To learn more about Georgia Organics’ Stay Local campaign, visit georgiaorganics.org/staylocal.  

First up, we’re talking to Georgia Organics board member Rebecca Williams with Rodale Institute Southeast Organic Center at Many Fold Farm in Chattahoochee Hills. Rodale Institute’s Southeast Organic Center is opening soon, and we caught up about the work they’ll be doing to support research and policy-making in organic agriculture in Georgia and beyond. To learn more about the Rodale Institute Southeast Organic Center, visit RodaleInstitute.org and follow them on social media.

Rodale Institute Southeast Organic Center is hosting a virtual open house on Tuesday, November 17 at 7 p.m. to register, visit https://rodaleinstitute.org/events/soc-virtual-open-house/. 

For this week’s Gardening with Farmers, CheFarmer Matthew Raiford is sharing his tips for the fall vegetable and fruit garden. Matthew is the sixth generation owner and farmer of Gillard Farms in Brunswick, host of the podcast Jupiter’s Almanac, author of the forthcoming cookbook, Bress ‘n’ Nyam, and an Atlanta Foodcast co-host!

Finally, we caught up with Zac Harrison of Fresh Harvest about how their operations have weathered the pandemic year and why it’s more important than ever to be supporting Georgia farmers as directly as possible. We discuss how crucial it is that consumers who have shopped from farmers during the pandemic continue to do so to provide ongoing stability to Georgia’s small farmers who are planning their crops with these new customers in mind. To learn more about Fresh Harvest and become a member, visit freshharvestga.com/.

Curious about our Stay Local campaign? Through the end of the year, we're asking Georgians to STAY LOCAL, by doing two things:

First, consider keeping your charitable dollars in Georgia with a year-end contribution to Georgia Organics, which will go toward supporting local and organic farmers working to feed their individual communities across our state.

Second, please buy from those farmers directly where possible. Consistently shop at your local farmers market, and visit gfg.georgiaorganics.org to browse a selection of our farmer members who offer direct purchasing options through CSA subscriptions and online purchasing.

Visit georgiaorganics.org/staylocal to learn more.

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