The Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative held its bi-annual Agribusiness Seminar Monday, Oct. 28, in the cooperative’s Robert D. Tisinger Community Center where more than 150 local farmers, National FFA Organization students, business leaders and elected officials gathered to hear from Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Gary W. Black.
The cooperative’s Agribusiness Seminar is an educational opportunity for individuals to learn more about the presence of agriculture in local communities. For four years, the bi-annual event has brought awareness and appreciation to the agriculture industry in the state of Georgia. Carroll EMC understands the importance of farming to the health of the state and supports its continued growth.
“It is important to educate the public on the factors of agriculture that affect daily life,” said David Huddleston, Carroll EMC Purchasing Manager and agriculture advocate. “These seminars give us a chance to promote the benefits of living in a rural area.”
Guest speaker, Commissioner Black, returned as guest speaker for Carroll EMC’s fall seminar. Black is a passionate advocate for the Georgia Grown program that supports farms in the state. By branding locally grown products, consumers can trust they are purchasing nutritious goods that support their neighbor farmers.
“Our world is agriculture,” said Black. “We live in a world where people want to know where their food comes from and want to know more about it. We knew if we put branding on that, people would begin to identify it. People would begin to ask for it at the grocery store and search for it as a consumer.”
During the past four years, the Georgia Grown program has worked to provide healthier meals to students within the school systems of Georgia. Black’s 20/20 vision for this venture anticipated that 20% of a cafeteria’s menu will be locally grown by the beginning of the 2020 academic year.
“We are locked solid arm-to-arm between the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture to meet these needs,” continued Black. “If we have more local products in our schools, we’ll have more local market for our producers, and we will put better fuel into our next generation.”
Carroll EMC is a Member-owned cooperative providing electricity to approximately 50,000 homes and businesses. The co-op serves Members in Carroll, Haralson, Heard, Paulding, Polk and Troup counties. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. For more information visit the cooperative’s website at www.carrollemc.com or follow Carroll EMC on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn. Carroll EMC: Community Built. Community Builder.
