Georgia Grown, Georgia Restaurant Association announce 2014 Georgia Grown Executive Chefs

By Erica Lummus, spring intern

Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black and Georgia Restaurant Association Executive Director Karen Bremer announced who the Georgia Grown Chefs would be for 2014. The chefs were introduced at the Taste of Georgia Legislative Reception at the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot on Feb. 19.

"As demonstrated through the success of this program, Georgia Grown Executive Chefs create a greater awareness about the availability of the quality, local products that can be found on our state’s expanding culinary scene,” Black said. “This program is one of the many ways working with the Georgia Restaurant Association helps us promote and foster relationships between chefs and our farmers across the state.”

From left: Commissioner Gary Black; Chef Marc Taft; Chef Roberto Leoci;
Chef Virginia Willis; Chef Gary Coltek; and Georgia Restaurant Association
Executive Director Karen Bremer.

The chefs that were introduced are Chef Roberto Leoci of Leoci's Trattoria in Savannah; Chef Gary Coltek of Kennesaw State University Culinary and Hospitality Services in Kennesaw; Chef Marc Taft of Chicken and the Egg in Marietta; and Virginia Willis of Virginia Willis Culinary Enterprises, Inc. in Atlanta.

“We are one of the original members of Georgia Grown. We are the only university. We are excited about getting the word out about what we have here in our own state like at Kennesaw State we buy local. When I say local, I mean our goat comes out of Cobb County. Our vegetables, you know, we have 65 acres of our own farmland, so we keep everything local. I think that’s really what Georgia Grown means to me and to us as an organization” Coltek said. 

Holly Chute, executive chef at the Governor's Mansion, was also on hand for the ceremony.

“I was one of the first Georgia Grown Chefs the first year that they had them. To me, it is such an honor to be able to represent Georgia and Georgia products because at the mansion we try and use as many Georgia products as possible because that’s what we showcase when we entertain people from out of town, so it has been a great match to be involved with the Department of Agriculture Georgia Grown,” Chute said.

RECALL: Dried Egg Products Could Contain Salmonella

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary W. Black is alerting Georgians to the recall of select lots of processed egg products produced by Nutriom LLC of Lacey, Wash. Nutriom LLC announced on Feb. 15 that approximately 226,710 pounds of product were recalled.

Washington State Laboratories discovered discrepancies in lab results that could be due to Salmonella, and notified Food Safety Inspection Service personnel. Salmonella is a bacterium known to cause salmonellosis in humans and animals. Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. In some cases, they are known to be severe enough to require hospitalization and can cause serious complications or death in young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

The products in question were shipped nationwide, to US military installations and to Canada.

A list of affected products is as follows:

• OvaEasy Boil-in-Bag Egg Mix, Butter Flavor: 1,383-pound super sacks with lot code C0513-A
• OvaEasy Plain Whole Egg: 2,540-pound super sack with lot code B1913-A
• OvaEasy Plain Whole Egg: 2,409-pound super sack with lot code B1913-B
• OvaEasy Plain Whole Egg: 4,712-pound super sack with lot code E0713-A,B
• OvaEasy Boil-in-Bag, Heat and Serve: 1,265-pound super sack with lot code F1813-A
• OvaEasy Plain Whole Egg: 4,155-pound super sack with lot code I1113-A
• OvaEasy Plain Whole Egg, Cage Free: 6,132-pound super sack with lot code J2913-A
• OvaEasy Plain Whole Egg, Cage Free: 9,345-pound super sack with lot code A1414-A
• OvaEasy Boil-in-Bag Mix, Butter Flavor: 3.06-pound bags with codes 3074 and 3075
• OvaEasy Boil-in-Bag, Reduced Cholesterol: 2.34-pound bags with codes 3122, 3123, 3124, 3127, 3128 and 3129
• OvaEasy Plain Whole Egg: 4.5-ounce cans with codes 2903, 1343 and 2893
• OvaEasy Plain Whole Egg: 4-ounce bags with codes 0853 and 0863
• OvaEasy Plain Whole Egg: 1.75-pound packs with codes 0813, 1093, 1433, 1443, 1573, 1723, 2063, 2163, 2173, 2183, 2243, 2253, 2183, 2533, 2543, 2563, 2623, 2633, 2673, 2693 and 2703
• Wise Company, Wise Blend: 3.2-ounce bags with codes 0953, 0993, 1133, 1143, 1153, 1163 and 1353
• OvaEasy Plain Whole Egg: two-ounce packs with codes 2073, 2063, 2163, 2603, 2613, 2903, 2913, 2953, 3173 and 3183
• OvaEasy UGRA Boil-in-Bag, Reduced Cholestrol: 1.17-pound bags with codes 3129, 3130 and 3137
• OvaEasy: 1.75-pound packs with codes 2163, 2173, 2183 and 2243
• OvaEasy Plain Whole Egg: 4.5-ounce packs with code 2563
• OvaEasy UGR H&S: 1.1-pound packs with codes 3173, 3174, 3175, 3177, 3178, 3179, 3180, 3181, 3182, 3183, 3194, 3195, 3196, 3197, 3198 and 3199
• G0213-A UGR H&S: 1.1-pound packs with codes 3186, 3187, 3189, 3190 and 3191
• Egg Crystal, Sea Salt and Pepper: 128-gram packs with code 3033
• Egg Crystal, Sausage and Herb: 128-gram packs with code 3043
• OvaEasy UGR-A Reduced Cholesterol: 1.17-pound packs with codes 3141, 3142, 3148, 3149 and 3150
• eFoods Plain Whole Egg: three-ounce packs with codes 3173 and 3183

FSIS inspects egg products under the Egg Products Inspection Act. Because these products are in consumer packages bearing an identifiable US Department of Agriculture Mark of Inspection and FSIS had jurisdiction over the product when potential contamination occurred, FSIS and USDA are leading the call for this investigation. FSIS and the Food and Drug Administration continue to work together to ensure food safety, and the management of this recall is such an example.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare and consume egg products that have been cooked to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The only way to confirm that egg products are cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.

No illnesses have been reported to date. Georgia Department of Agriculture inspectors will be checking to make sure the recalled products are removed from sale.

Questions about this recall?

Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Julie Cuffee, customer service representative, at 360-413-7269, extension 101.

To view a comprehensive list of food and feed recalls affecting Georgia, visit our Food Safety Division recall website. If this recall expands or additional details become available in the future, the website will provide the most up-to-date information.

2014 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce the competitive solicitation process to award the 2014 Specialty Crop Block Grant. The SCBGP funds projects that “enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.” Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, Christmas trees, turfgrass, sod, nursery and greenhouse crops, including floriculture. Click here for a listing of all eligible crops.

 

The United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service will make grant funding available, with Georgia’s share being approximately $1.2 million. Grant amounts will be awarded from $10,000 to approximately $150,000 per project. Grants will be awarded for up to three years. 

 

The Department's intent is to fund projects that can produce the highest degree of measurable benefits to Georgia’s specialty crop producers, in relation to each dollar spent.

 

The Department is seeking applications from organizations that seek to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Georgia including: nonprofit organizations and corporations, commodity commissions, associations, state and local government entities and colleges and universities. Applicants must reside or their business or educational affiliation must be in Georgia.

 

USDA-AMS rules state: Grant funds will NOT be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual.  Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners.

 

Grant applications must be received by the Department by Friday, April 18, at 4:30 p.m., via email in Word format. Please refer to the Department's grants webpage for the application, guidelines and additional information.

 

Once all applications are submitted to the Department, each one will be carefully reviewed and evaluated by a Review Committee. Compliance and/or non-compliance of previous sub-grantees fulfilling their annual and final reporting requirements of their past grant award agreements is an important evaluation criterion. 

 

All Department-approved projects will then be combined and written as one grant submission to USDA-AMS. Upon approval from USDA, the Department will notify applicants (sub-grantees) of their status. No awards to any sub-grantee will be made until a final grant award is made to the Department (grantor) by USDA. 

 

Final approval is expected in early September 2014, but is subject to change.

 

For questions or additional information contact:

Jeanne Maxwell, Esq. Director of Grants Development & Compliance

Georgia Department of Agriculture

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill

19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive SW Room 216

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

404-657-1584

Jeanne.Maxwell@agr.georgia.gov 

 

TIMELINE:  2014 SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM 

 

FEBRUARY 25 - Tuesday

*Announcement of grant opportunity; Request for proposals and applications 

 

APRIL 18 - Friday

*Proposal, application submission deadline to Department

*Proposal, application must be received by 4:30 p.m., via email in Word format 

 

MAY

*Review Committee evaluation of proposals, applications 

 

JUNE

*Notice to applicants of acceptance or denial of their proposals by Review Committee 

 

JULY

*Submit Georgia’s State Plan to USDA-AMS-SCBG 

 

EARLY SEPTEMBER

*Send out award letters to sub-grantees

*Send out grant contract agreements to sub-grantees

*Announce grant awards through press release 

 

END OF SEPTEMBER

*3-year grant period will begin

Firewood Alert

Courtesy Georgia Department of Agriculture press office

 

As the temperatures continue to drop, Georgians are using increasing amounts of firewood in fireplaces, wooden heaters and campfires. The Georgia Department of Agriculture would like to remind consumers to limit the movement of firewood due to potential pest and disease infestation.

 Firewood can transport many invasive pests, including the emerald ash borer, Sirex woodwasp, Asian long-horned beetle and gypsy moth as well as diseases such as beech bark disease, sudden oak death and oak wilt. Infested trees can be cut, split into firewood and sent to other parts of Georgia and the US, thereby expanding the range of these pests.

 Campers, hunters and others also move firewood, often hundreds of miles, before their stash is burned. Given time and right temperatures, these insect pests can leave the firewood and infest new areas before the wood is burned in a campfire. 

Due to this pest movement, several states passed regulations and quarantines on firewood. In order to prevent and control the movement of these invasive pests, it is important to follow a few simple rules when handling firewood:

1. Wait to buy firewood when you reach your destination.
2. Use firewood from the area where you plan to burn it.
3. Do not leave any unused firewood behind.

For more information on the pest and firewood movement, please contact the Mike Evans in the Plant Protection Division at 404-586-1140.

Recall Roundup: Feb. 1 - 7, 2014

Editor's Note: Food recalls related to a foodborne pathogen will be featured on individual blog posts. Food recalls related to food allergens, mislabeling or other causes will be rounded up, when applicable, in a Recall Roundup blog post. For up-to-the-minute information on food recalls, follow @GaMktBulletin and @GDAFoodSafety on Twitter, and visit the Georgia Department of Agriculture's food recall website.

Recalls were issued on select lots of the following products:


Pro-Pet LLC: Hubbard Life Happy Hound Dog Food, 40-pound packages with lot codes 09613SML22A and 09613SML21A; Hubbard Life Cat Stars Cat Food, 18-pound packages with lot code 09613SML21A; Hubbard Life Maintenance Dog Food, 40-pound packages with lot code 09613SML22A; Joy Combo Cat Food, 15-pound packages with lot code 09613SML21A, 40-pound packages with lot code 09613SML21A and 40-pound packages with lot code 096 13 SML22A; QC Plus Adult Dog Food, 20-pound packages with lot code 09713SML22A, 40-pound packages with lot code 09713SML22A and 40-pound packages with lot code 09713SML21A
Recalled Feb. 5, potential Salmonella contamination. Read more ...

Georgia's Youth Celebrate Equine Championship Day

By Erica Lummus, spring intern

Young equestrians from all over Georgia traveled to congregate at the State Capitol on Feb. 4 to celebrate and be commended for their equine accomplishments.

Gov. Nathan Deal addresses attendees at the Fifth Annual
Youth Equine Championship Day on Feb. 4. Photo by
Evan Karanovich

“We look forward to Youth Equine Day each year and are thankful for the opportunity to promote and educate others on Georgia’s equine industry while honoring our young equestrians,” Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary W. Black said.

This year’s occasion marked the Fifth Annual Youth Equine Championship Day. 

“This event has grown from an idea that we had about six years ago. We had everyone over in [a Department conference room] and we were trying to fit 400 people in the room.  Commissioner Irvin, at the time, told me to go find a bigger building; so you can see where we are now.  We have a gaggle of people,” said John Clements of the Georgia Department of Agriculture Commodity Commission for Equine. 

The event recognizes young people who have participated in, qualified and won in regional, national or world championship horse shows.

“We have over 300 national world qualifiers, our state champions and 11 world champions.  That is very impressive for Georgia.  We have anything from mini horses all the way up to Quarter Horses, Appaloosas and Palominos and we have two world champions this year from the Mini Horse association and a reigning horse young lady from the Appaloosa association,” Clements said.

More than 200 horse show winners were recognized by Gov. Nathan Deal, Black and the Senate and House agriculture committees.

“We believe we are the only state in the nation that has a program of this kind honoring young equestrians. These kids all enjoy their Capitol Hill experience but it is also special for them to be recognized by their peers. Every year this event grows beyond our expectation,” Clements said.

Capitol Corner: What's Up Across the Street

Compiled by Chris Green, deputy policy director for the Department

The House passed the Governor’s FY2014 amended budget. It will now move to the Senate for a vote.

We are continuing to monitor HB 718, which would allow the sale of raw milk for human consumption. Georgia law allows for such products to be sold and used for pets and livestock, but NOT humans due to health concerns.

HB 780 was introduced last week, which would allow Georgians to own pygmy hedgehogs as pets. Hedgehogs are non-native wild animals in Georgia and owning one as a pet is prohibited under Georgia’s Wild Animal Law (OCGA §27-5-1). The Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Department of Agriculture drafted a briefing highlighting the significant public health and livestock concerns regarding disease transmission. Hedgehogs can harbor several bacterial and fungal disease agents that are transmissible to humans.

SB 213 revises the Flint River Drought Protection Act (2013 legislative session) and may be discussed in the House Agriculture Committee soon. We are watching this bill closely as it directly impacts agriculture water use, conservation, and efficiency of agriculture irrigation systems.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture supports HB 731 (J. Calvin Hill, Jr. Act) which will clarify some outdated language in the Official Code relating to measurements and the National Bureau of Standards.