A Historic Day for Georgia Grown

By Maggie Dudacek, summer intern

Back row, from left: Jack Spruill, Department marketing director; Duke Lane Jr.; Andy Stone;
Keith Odom; and Tony McBrayer; Front row, from left: Chairwoman Diana Earwood; Sheila
Rice; Carla Payne; and Coco Dunston. Not pictured:

New members were sworn in to the Georgia Grown Commodity Commission on May 27 in a ceremony held at the state Capitol in Atlanta.

In April 2013, Gov. Nathan Deal signed House Bill 298 which created the Agriculture Commodity Commission for Georgia Grown products. The goal of this commission is to expand Georgia’s agricultural products across the state, Southeast and the country through promotion and marketing.

“What we are doing right here is historical,” Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary W. Black said. “This is how we help everyone identify with the Department. It’s good for everything that we do.”

Diana Earwood of Destiny Organics is one of the new commission members. Earwood said she is both honored and humbled by this opportunity.

“I love Georgia. I am a Georgia girl and a Georgia-grown family. And anything we can do to promote agriculture in this state, I want to be a part of that,” Earwood said.

As official members, those in the Georgia Grown Commodity Commission have sworn to support and promote Georgia Grown to the very best of their abilities throughout Georgia and beyond, their oath states.

Shelia Rice from Calhoun Produce wants to use her newly appointed position as a way to make a difference. Rice wants consumers to know that whenever they buy a Georgia Grown product from their grocery store or farmers market, they are getting a great product. She hopes to see the Georgia Grown brand to be known not only throughout the state but throughout the country.

Earwood said there is a lot for the commission and its dedicated members to accomplish this year to bring the program forward.

She believes that they need to set a foundation for where they are going in the future by setting benchmarks to see what they can achieve. Earwood said she feels that the commission really needs to hone in on the Georgia Grown membership ensuring, that its members know they are valued.

The 2014 Georgia Grown Commodity Commission board members and advisors are as follows:

• Diana Earwood, Destiny Organics in Forest Park, Ga. (chairwoman)
• Duke Lane Jr., Lane’s Southern Orchards in Fort Valley, Ga. (vice chairman)
• Andy Stone, Superior Pine Products in Fargo, Ga. (treasurer)
• Sheila Rice, Calhoun Produce in Ashburn, Ga.
• Andy Futch, R&A Orchards in Ellijay, Ga.
• Coco Dunston (advisory board)
• Keith Odom (advisory board)
• Tony McBrayer (advisory board)