Publications

In Georgia, there are many small-scale producers that largely use ecological production practices, such as Certified Organic, and sell in farmers markets or other direct marketing channels. As these direct markets begin to saturate, these producers may need to forge a path beyond direct markets to wholesale or institutional markets that want sustainable products. Food hubs may offer a path for these small farms to scale up. There are three overlapping forms of food hubs in Georgia. Each has different markets and thus different requirements for the producers who sell to them. This publication discusses the types of food hubs in Georgia and gives producers guidelines on which form of food hub may work best for them.

The vineyard industry is growing across Georgia and across the Eastern United States. Frost is a perennial threat in these regions, and reducing frost risk can save approximately $48,000 per acre in return revenues. Since many growers new to the industry will be planting vineyards, it is important that they are aware of the risk of frost and ways to avoid it. This bulletin also serves as a good reference for current industry members who are unaware of the risk of frost or who want more information on how to manage its risk. This publication covers all aspects of vineyard frost protection, including weather patterns that cause frost/freeze damage, as well as passive and active methods that can be employed to reduce frost risk.

Label terms and certifications can be divided into those that are regulated and those that are unregulated. Regulated label terms and certifications are usually defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Within the USDA, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the agency responsible for the truthful labeling of meat and poultry products. The use of labels and certifications is governed by law and violations of use can have legal consequences. Unregulated terms have generally accepted definitions but do not have legal ramifications or verification of adherence. Many common label claims, such as “humanely raised” or “sustainably farmed,” refer to the process used to farm livestock but are unregulated, and there are no legal definitions for these claims. This publication summarizes some common regulated and unregulated terms in agriculture and livestock production.