Full of farms, markets and organic-friendly restaurants and businesses, Georgia boasts a wide array of local, fresh food options. Though famous for apples from the mountains, Vidalia onions from the east, and peaches from the middle of the state, the many working farms in Georgia grow any kind of produce (with more variety) you can find at Publix.
You don't have to drive an hour and a half to find one of these farms, either—Cobb County has three, one of which is right on Macland Road in Marietta.
 |
| Anne Marie's Farm, a family farm in Marietta, Ga. |
So, why should you buy produce from local farms and farmers markets rather than the from your local Kroger?
1. You find out where your food comes from.
If you have kids, this is especially eye-opening. They get to see how the food they eat every day is grown—and you get to meet the person who does the work growing that food. Going to a farm or purchasing their food from a farmer's market shows support for their profession and shows support for a community that includes hard-working farmers.
2. You support the local economy.
Buying your produce directly from a farmer gives the entire retail amount to them rather than your local grocery store. This helps the farmer continue farming and gives you more local, fresh produce.
3. You eat healthier.
Local produce is sold directly after it's picked, meaning it's fresh and full of nutrients. Produce from the grocery is days old, which makes it less flavorful and less nutritious.
 |
| The Dekalb Farmer's Market in Decatur, Ga. |
Getting local produce can be simpler than you think. Cobb County has three local farms, while Dekalb boasts 10. Fulton—the county that houses Atlanta—has 20 farms within its borders. And none of these numbers include the farmers markets that sell the products being grown on these farms. To find a farm, farmers market, or organic-friendly restaurant near you, visit the impressive listing on
Georgia Organics.
After you've found your closest market, it's important to know what's currently in season.
 |
| Strawberries are one of the fruits that are currently in season. |
Fruit like berries (blackberries, blueberries and strawberries), peaches, tomatoes, cantaloupe and watermelon; vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, potatoes, peppers and squash; and plants like basil
are all in season. Head to the
Georgia Grown website to find out which crops are in season so you pick the tastiest local crops available—and can plan some recipes, too.
Use the
Georgia Grown Locator to find one of the farms near you listed in Georgia Organics that grow these crops and gather the best, freshest crops of the season.
