In a unique gathering at the former Kmart parking lot early Monday morning, July 1, 2024, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper met with local farmers, producers, and citizens of Bulloch County.
The informal meeting, led by Jimmie Deloach, a member of the Parking Lot Coffee Club, highlighted the significance of agriculture in the region and underscored the Commissioner’s commitment to supporting the industry.
"This is actually a one-of-a-kind Kmart parking lot meeting. I love it because it gives me an opportunity to swing by and say hello to folks and visit with the farmers and citizens here in Bulloch County and Statesboro," Commissioner Harper said. "I also had a great opportunity to visit with a couple of local producers this morning before this 7:30am gathering. We talked about agriculture issues and what's important to this part of the state and Bulloch County and, you know, the role that agriculture plays across the state being our number one industry."
Commissioner Harper's visit to Statesboro coincided with his engagement at the Governor's Honors Program, where he addressed agriculture science students at Georgia Southern University. Harper praised the community and the university for hosting the prestigious program and emphasized the importance of agricultural education.
"It's always good to be back in Statesboro. I am here for the Governor's Honors Program. I'm speaking to the agriculture science students this morning and talking about Georgia agriculture with them. The fact that Georgia Southern University is hosting the Governor's Honors Program is a huge deal for Statesboro and Georgia Southern University. I thank them for being such great hosts for this program," Harper added.
Commissioner Harper also took the opportunity to highlight the success of the Georgia Grown initiative, a program championed by his predecessor, Commissioner Gary Black. Harper emphasized the program's role in connecting consumers with locally produced goods and expanding the market reach of Georgia's agricultural products.
"In bringing identity to what farmers do, the Georgia Grown program is just a phenomenal opportunity to put a stamp on a product that a local producer grows. Consumers know that whenever they buy that product and see that logo in the store, they can rest assured of its local origins," Harper stated. "At the same time, it gives us the ability to market our products all over the world and the country. It's a phenomenal program."
Harper also spoke about the success of the Innovation Center in Metter, which has significantly boosted ag-related businesses, and announced plans to expand the initiative with a new center in Albany in Southwest Georgia.
"The Innovation Center in Metter has been phenomenally successful and helped stand ag-related businesses up and given them a platform to do that. We’re expanding that program. We're opening a new Innovation Center in Albany in Southwest Georgia to continue to build on that footprint. Hopefully, we can establish these centers all around the state, providing producers and companies in the AG industry a platform to build out their business visions," Harper explained. "Agriculture is our number one industry, and these Innovation Centers are helping us take our state's economy to the next level."
Commissioner Harper's visit to Statesboro underscores the vital role of agriculture in Georgia's economy and his commitment to fostering growth and innovation within the industry. His engagement with local farmers and the broader community reflects his dedication to ensuring the continued success and sustainability of Georgia agriculture.
