The cultivating farmer champions campaign connects and cultivates food economies through public- private partnerships, strengthens capacity and regional food system development through community…

The Georgia Organics, Inc. will receive $859,362.24 under a Project Grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. The award is part of the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP), which supports expanding local and regional food systems.

Georgia Organics will deliver technical services in farm management, business planning, food safety, and organic certification to socially disadvantaged small farms in Georgia to meet demand for local, safe, and organic agricultural products. They will strengthen food system resiliency by cultivating chefs, caterers, food trucks, and early childhood education centers as buyers through an expanded Farmer Champion branding campaign. Georgia Organics will also facilitate connections between farmers and buyers through matchmaking events and farm tours. The goal is to broaden the pool of buyers from farmers and increase distribution of local and organic food from Georgia producers in an equitable manner. The period of performance is September 30, 2021 through September 29, 2024.

The cultivating farmer champions campaign connects and cultivates food economies through public- private partnerships, strengthens capacity and regional food system development through community collaboration, and develops marketing strategies for local food producers. Georgia organics will build a more resilient local food system by diversifying and increasing sales from small farms in georgia to chefs working in or outside of traditional brick-and-mortar restaurants (caterers, POP-UPS, food trucks) and in early care and education (ECE) sites. We will accomplish these goals through three objectives: provide technical services in farm systems management, business planning (including diversifying income streams), food safety, and organic certification to small farms in georgia, especially those owned by socially-disadvantaged farmers, to meet the demand and need for local, safe, consistent, and organic agricultural products in georgia's food marketplace; strengthen local food systemresiliency by cultivating a diversified market base of chefs working in or outside of brick-and-mortar restaurants and in ECE sites through an expanded farmer champion branding campaign that celebrates and recognizes chefs and ECE centers for purchasing from georgia's small farms; facilitate opportunities for connection and collaboration between chefs and farmers through farmer/buyer events (mix and mingle event; progressive meet and greet; direct one-on-one match making, including ECE centers; farm tours for farmers and buyers). Expanding our farmer champion campaign broadens the pool of chefs sourcing from farmers, increases distribution of local and organic food from georgia producers, and addresses equity, considering the challenges faced by bipoc and women chefs related to opening traditional restaurants.