What began as a grassroots growers cooperative in the 1970s has become one of the Southeast’s most prestigious member-supported nonprofit farming organizations. After 25 years as a 501(c)(3), Georgia Organics continues to hold its ground in one of the country’s most agriculture-rich states, supporting organic growers and championing the local food movement.
In a region where the climate lends itself to abundant plant diseases, weeds and insect pests, organic farmers face greater challenges than those of conventional agriculture. Organic production, by its very nature, compels farmers to exhaust alternative management tools before using organically approved chemical products.
“Organic farming starts with living, healthy soil and that is the foundation of organic production,” said Alice Rolls, president and chief executive officer of Georgia Organics. “As my mother was a children’s librarian, I was always a fan of Aesop’s tortoise and hare allegory. You can go fast, or you can go slowly, thoughtfully and with purpose to build something that hopefully creates lasting change. It’s not always easy, but sustainability and resiliency won’t happen unless we take the long view.”
During the pandemic, when shutdowns exposed vulnerabilities in the nation’s food supply chain, Rolls said small and organic farmers, who were rooted in local communities, experienced an all-time high in demand during the early months of the pandemic.
“I hope that this recent experience will lead us to support a more localized food system, where consumers, schools and businesses are buying from networks of local farmers in their own community. We have tremendous buying potential within communities, so let’s keep those dollars local, eat seasonally and lift the farmers who are building soil and public and environmental health,” she said.
With its roots in farmer education and networking, Georgia Organics’ annual conference has been at the core of the…
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