Attendees discovered from Reggie and Roger Ramos, house owners and operators of Develop with the Movement. Pictures by Lydia Hsu.
International Growers’ mannequin is to create a “coworking area” for farmers to come back in with their very own concepts and companies, share infrastructure and tools, and be in group with one another. By pooling these sources, capital bills and start-up prices are diminished, farmers have an area to discover ways to scale their enterprise, enter native markets, and faucet into one another’s farming experience. This notion of constructing group to strengthen and assist Licensed Natural growers in Georgia is a key purpose 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 came about 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 assist for farmers who’re at present Licensed Natural in Georgia. In April 2023, a survey was performed to get suggestions from Georgia’s Licensed Natural growers to information the course of the GCON program. The primary suggestions obtained was that there was a necessity for advertising sources, farmer group constructing, in-person networking occasions, and academic workshops. In Could 2023, the primary digital GCON networking session came about 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 sources, together with Licensed Natural market flags, an informative Natural magnet for purchasers, and academic brochures for Natural customers. These advertising sources have been distributed to Licensed Natural growers in Sept. 2023 and Dec. 2023 throughout Natural Focus Teams that came about following the Natural Growers Farmer Discipline Days. These Natural Focus Teams have been in-person networking alternatives for Licensed Natural farmers to study from one another, focus on greatest practices, and construct group and connections.
In whole, Georgia Organics distributed 11 market flags, over 400 magnets, and 500 client academic brochures to farmers who participated within the Discipline Days and Focus Teams. In flip, Georgia Organics’ Farmer Providers group gained helpful suggestions from Natural growers on priorities for 2024 GCON programming.
