Attendees discovered from Reggie and Roger Ramos, homeowners and operators of Develop with the Circulation. Photographs by Lydia Hsu. 

International Growers’ mannequin is to create a “coworking house” for farmers to come back in with their very own concepts and companies, share infrastructure and gear, and be in neighborhood with one another. By pooling these assets, capital bills and start-up prices are lowered, farmers have an area to learn to scale their enterprise, enter native markets, and faucet into one another’s farming experience. This notion of constructing neighborhood to strengthen and help Licensed Natural growers in Georgia is a key cause why Georgia Organics launched the Georgia Licensed Natural Community (GCON) in 2023. 

GEORGIA CERTIFIED ORGANIC NETWORK (GCON) 2023 PROGRAM RECAP 

The primary convening of GCON befell in Feb. 2023 on the Georgia Organics Convention & Expo in Perry, GA. This system was launched in response to the necessity for extra complete and tangible help for farmers who’re presently Licensed Natural in Georgia. In April 2023, a survey was carried out to get suggestions from Georgia’s Licensed Natural growers to information the path of the GCON program. The primary suggestions obtained was that there was a necessity for advertising and marketing assets, farmer neighborhood constructing, in-person networking occasions, and academic workshops. In Could 2023, the primary digital GCON networking session befell to share-out the survey findings and let Licensed Natural growers know what the 2023 GCON program would come with.  

In response to the survey suggestions, Georgia Organics developed Natural advertising and marketing assets, together with Licensed Natural market flags, an informative Natural magnet for purchasers, and academic brochures for Natural shoppers. These advertising and marketing assets have been distributed to Licensed Natural growers in Sept. 2023 and Dec. 2023 throughout Natural Focus Teams that befell following the Natural Growers Farmer Area Days. These Natural Focus Teams have been in-person networking alternatives for Licensed Natural farmers to be taught from one another, focus on greatest practices, and construct neighborhood and connections.  

In complete, Georgia Organics distributed 11 market flags, over 400 magnets, and 500 client instructional brochures to farmers who participated within the Area Days and Focus Teams. In flip, Georgia Organics’ Farmer Providers workforce gained beneficial suggestions from Natural growers on priorities for 2024 GCON programming.