Gerrald Farms grows carrots, a group of Statesboro Kiwanis Club members learned Thursday.
The Bulloch County produce farm is known for its cantaloupes, watermelons and Vidalia onions. But last year, Terry Gerrald formed a partnership with a Canadian group interested in the sweet carrots that can be grown in Georgia.
Gerrald Farms was one of two stops the Statesboro Kiwanis Club visited Thursday during its annual Farm Tour, organized by member Bobby Deal, with the help of Bulloch County Agents Pat Todd and Wes Harris.
"We can grow a sweeter carrot than anywhere in the world," Todd said just before the bus stopped at the farm and plant in Clito.
United States brokers aren't that interested in sweet carrots, but processors are, he said. And after researchers developed a carrot that is sweet and disease resistant, a group of Canadians were interested enough to partner with Gerrald. Now Gerrald is seeking local farmers to rent land for the winter so he can grow more carrots, Todd said.
Already, about five local farmers are working with him on the carrot project, he said.
Jamie Brannen, a partner in Gerrald Farms, told the group carrots are grown in Georgia in the winter - and packing lasts from December to April. Then, when the temperatures get hot, carrots grown in Canada are packed there from April to November.
Brannen explained how the carrots go from the fields to the packing operation and are placed into "big hot tubs that wash them - the dirt goes right out," he said. "Then they go into a ... polisher ... and a hydrocooler that is like a swimming pool with water that is 32 degrees."
Gerrald and Brannen showed club members and their guests the equipment used to clean, sort and pack carrots, onions, and melons. They also toured a cooling room with cold air coming from vents in the concrete floors. And a sampling of a variety of watermelon that is used for selling in packages instead of sold whole or by the slice was welcome. The sweet, crunchy pink melon is more suited for being cubed and sold in trays, Brannen said.
Arena will offer variety of events
Club members boarded the bus for the second part of the tour, which was an educational stop at the Bulloch Center for Agriculture on Langston Chapel Road.
The building houses several agriculture-related agencies and creates a "one-stop shop" for farmers needing the services of more than one agency, Harris said.
The Farm Service Agency is a "federal agency .. with a five-person committee that oversees programs" that is elected by local farmers, said Gaye Harris.
The USDA agency administers farm commodities, crop insurance, farm credit, and conservation programs for farmers, she said.
Ken Phillips spoke to the group about services offered through the FSA Farm Loans programs. Once known as the FHA, the agency "lends to family farmers unable to get loans elsewhere," including beginner farmers. The services include direct loans, emergency loans, and youth loans for 4-H or FFA members 10-20 who are interested in a small business showing animals or raising produce, he said.
Amy Caldwell spoke of the USDA Rural Development agency, which helps "low income families who need repairs or want to purchase homes," she said. The service gives direct loans to people who qualify and the government subsidizes the payments, she said.
Jason Gatch told the group about the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which helps farmers with grazing systems, pasture and watering systems, and other conservation efforts including conservation tillage and wildlife habitat programs.
Thomas Joyner spoke about the Georgia State Soil and Water Conservation agency, which focuses on urban erosion control, conservation and rural water quality and quantity.
Harris spoke about the Cooperative Extension Service and its services to farmers, as well as to other members of the community through its 4-H program, which he said "is the best program in the state."
The Cooperative Extension Service is funded by federal, state and county support, and the local school board pays a third of the Bulloch County 4-H Agent's salary, he said.
The agencies renting space in the county-owned building together have "over a half billion dollar impact" on the county, he said.
After leaving the Bulloch Center for Agriculture, Kiwanis members were returned to the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fairgrounds where they met for lunch in the Kiwanis Community Building. Each member participating in the tour went home with a seedless watermelon from Gerrald Farms. Deal said the club usually pays for the melons, but Brannen insisted upon giving the watermelons to the club in appreciation of what it does for promoting agriculture in the community.
Gerrald Farms also gave 500 cantaloupes to the Statesboro Food Bank, said club member Alton Odom, who along with other members Dan Foglio and Joe Bill Brannon, are affiliated with the food bank.
The Bulloch County produce farm is known for its cantaloupes, watermelons and Vidalia onions. But last year, Terry Gerrald formed a partnership with a Canadian group interested in the sweet carrots that can be grown in Georgia.
Gerrald Farms was one of two stops the Statesboro Kiwanis Club visited Thursday during its annual Farm Tour, organized by member Bobby Deal, with the help of Bulloch County Agents Pat Todd and Wes Harris.
"We can grow a sweeter carrot than anywhere in the world," Todd said just before the bus stopped at the farm and plant in Clito.
United States brokers aren't that interested in sweet carrots, but processors are, he said. And after researchers developed a carrot that is sweet and disease resistant, a group of Canadians were interested enough to partner with Gerrald. Now Gerrald is seeking local farmers to rent land for the winter so he can grow more carrots, Todd said.
Already, about five local farmers are working with him on the carrot project, he said.
Jamie Brannen, a partner in Gerrald Farms, told the group carrots are grown in Georgia in the winter - and packing lasts from December to April. Then, when the temperatures get hot, carrots grown in Canada are packed there from April to November.
Brannen explained how the carrots go from the fields to the packing operation and are placed into "big hot tubs that wash them - the dirt goes right out," he said. "Then they go into a ... polisher ... and a hydrocooler that is like a swimming pool with water that is 32 degrees."
Gerrald and Brannen showed club members and their guests the equipment used to clean, sort and pack carrots, onions, and melons. They also toured a cooling room with cold air coming from vents in the concrete floors. And a sampling of a variety of watermelon that is used for selling in packages instead of sold whole or by the slice was welcome. The sweet, crunchy pink melon is more suited for being cubed and sold in trays, Brannen said.
Arena will offer variety of events
Club members boarded the bus for the second part of the tour, which was an educational stop at the Bulloch Center for Agriculture on Langston Chapel Road.
The building houses several agriculture-related agencies and creates a "one-stop shop" for farmers needing the services of more than one agency, Harris said.
The Farm Service Agency is a "federal agency .. with a five-person committee that oversees programs" that is elected by local farmers, said Gaye Harris.
The USDA agency administers farm commodities, crop insurance, farm credit, and conservation programs for farmers, she said.
Ken Phillips spoke to the group about services offered through the FSA Farm Loans programs. Once known as the FHA, the agency "lends to family farmers unable to get loans elsewhere," including beginner farmers. The services include direct loans, emergency loans, and youth loans for 4-H or FFA members 10-20 who are interested in a small business showing animals or raising produce, he said.
Amy Caldwell spoke of the USDA Rural Development agency, which helps "low income families who need repairs or want to purchase homes," she said. The service gives direct loans to people who qualify and the government subsidizes the payments, she said.
Jason Gatch told the group about the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which helps farmers with grazing systems, pasture and watering systems, and other conservation efforts including conservation tillage and wildlife habitat programs.
Thomas Joyner spoke about the Georgia State Soil and Water Conservation agency, which focuses on urban erosion control, conservation and rural water quality and quantity.
Harris spoke about the Cooperative Extension Service and its services to farmers, as well as to other members of the community through its 4-H program, which he said "is the best program in the state."
The Cooperative Extension Service is funded by federal, state and county support, and the local school board pays a third of the Bulloch County 4-H Agent's salary, he said.
The agencies renting space in the county-owned building together have "over a half billion dollar impact" on the county, he said.
After leaving the Bulloch Center for Agriculture, Kiwanis members were returned to the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fairgrounds where they met for lunch in the Kiwanis Community Building. Each member participating in the tour went home with a seedless watermelon from Gerrald Farms. Deal said the club usually pays for the melons, but Brannen insisted upon giving the watermelons to the club in appreciation of what it does for promoting agriculture in the community.
Gerrald Farms also gave 500 cantaloupes to the Statesboro Food Bank, said club member Alton Odom, who along with other members Dan Foglio and Joe Bill Brannon, are affiliated with the food bank.