Georgia Organics supports local farming community

Georgia Organics is a member-supported nonprofit that champions organic agriculture, food justice and healthy communities. Right now, Georgia Organics is focusing on growing the number of profitable organic and regenerative farmers making a living wage, particularly people of color and rural farmers; creating a network of advocates championing organic farmers; and enlarging investment in organic farmers and regional food systems.

“During the past 20 months of the pandemic, we saw food rotting on big farms, global food supplies jam and processing plants mired with COVID. Meanwhile, local farmers’ markets were flooded with new customers, and small-scale farmers scrambled to meet the demand for healthy food in their own communities,” said Director of Communications Mary Elizabeth Kidd. “The pandemic validated the resilience of the local food movement and our work.”

Over the past two years, Georgia Organics has distributed $100,000 in emer- gency farmer relief via The Farmer Fund, purchased over $200,000 in food from farmers for Farmer Cham- pion and invested $175,000 in local food and farm innova- tors through its Farmer Accelerator program and community mini-grants. Georgia Organics also ran a 32-week Mid-Week Pop-Up Market, serving an average 45 customers per week.

“The pandemic and racial justice movement have chal- lenged Georgia Organics to grow in bold and creative ways,” said Kidd. “Day in and day out, we strive for the following: farmer prosperity; soil health and environmen- tal stewardship; anti-racism; community and collective impact; and climate action.”

To work toward its missions, the Georgia Organics team provides training, tools and mini-grant resources to farmers, community food leaders and school nutrition teams. One of its largest resources is the Accel- erator Program, which provides 10 farmers each year with funds and coaching in business, finance, marketing, sales and more.

“We believe that thriving farmers are the catalyst for a transformed world,” said Kidd.