Georgia farmers work hard to provide food and other goods to consumers.
As a way to acknowledge their efforts, Fannin County Farm Bureau is celebrating Farm-City Week November 22 through 28 with refreshments in their office for anyone who stops by.
Agriculture is Georgia’s largest economic sector. In 2017, food and fiber production and industries responsible for processing and delivering the products contributed $73.7 billion to Georgia’s economy. Additionally, agriculture and related industries accounted for 392,400 jobs in the state that same year.
Georgia farmers led the nation in producing broilers, peanuts and pecans in 2017. The state also ranked second for production of cotton lint and seed, third for watermelons and top ten for production of bell peppers, cantaloupes, cucumbers, tobacco, blueberries, cabbage, eggs, onions, squash, peaches, snap beans and sweet corn.
Fannin County Farm Bureau President Tommy Hamby said, “It takes teamwork to stock our stores with food and clothes.
“Georgia farmers work year-round to grow cotton and produce the delicious beef, chicken, peanuts, milk, pecans, fruits and vegetables that we all love to eat. Then, employees of agribusiness companies work to prepare, market and transport the food and clothes to stores for consumers. It takes all of us to feed and clothe America.”
It is important to note that when looking at the prices in grocery stores, farmers receive an average of 14.6 cents from every dollar. The rest is contributed toward wages and materials for preparation, marketing, transportation and distribution.
In 2018, Americans spent an average of 9.7 percent of their disposable personal incomes on food, which is less than any other country.
Hamby said everyone should be sure to salute a farmer during Farm-City week.