By Amy Zajac
Correspondent
CALHOUN, Ga. -- A group of Northwest Georgia farmers has joined together and given their blessing for the pursuit of $100,000 grant to promote agritourism in the area.
Dubbed the Highway 515 Farmers and Growers Initiative, the plan is to gather farmers in Pickens, Gilmer and Fannin counties and get them working together to sell and promote their goods, said Northwest Georgia Regional Commission member David Campbell.
Farmers "will continue to maintain the local farmers markets selling to tourists along Highway 515," he said. But they also want to reopen the former state farmer's market in Blue Ridge.
"It will be brought back into operation and we will tie as many farmers as we can into an organization to coordinate all their sales activity at that location," Mr. Campbell said.
"Ultimately, we will put in a full-blown USDA-approved shared community kitchen, cannery and freezer operation to provide for reselling products along that corridor."
Mr. Campbell presented the idea Thursday to the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission and got its approval to move forward with the plan.
Lloyd Frasier, director of community and economic development for the commission, said he was impressed with the concerted agreement among the 100 or so farmers present at the meeting.
"There were a lot of good discussions and presentations, but what really, really got my attention was when the meeting came to a close, there was a vote taken to decide if we should move ahead with this effort," Mr. Frasier said. "When they were asked, 'Let's see the hands of who's for it?' and 80 farmers and growers raised their hands, making it a unanimous vote, we were all very excited."
Since that meeting, another 20 farmers have joined, officials said.
WHAT'S NEXTThe Northwest Georgia Regional Commission will submit a proposal for a $100,000 USDA grant. An announcement on whether it gets the grant should come in August or September.
Union County, which is not part of the regional commission's area, will also participate in the initiative.
Mr. Campbell said farmers should learn in August or September if the grant comes through.
"Our meetings with the farmers and growers clearly show a 'we can do it' attitude," he said. "It's exciting to see normally very independent farmers and growers come together in unanimous agreement to focus on a positive future.
Amy Zajac is based in Gordon County. Contact her at azajac10@yahoo.com.
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