Georgia Agriculture
Teaching Kids Where Food Comes From
Georgia Agriculture
Georgia
Bell Peppers
Georgia is the 4th largest bell pepper producing state in the U.S.
Georgia is home to over 4,000 acres of bell peppers.
Bell peppers can be 2 to 6 inches long.
Bell peppers are a FRUIT. Red bell peppers are also known as sweet peppers.
The bell pepper is the ONLY member of the pepper family that does not produce capsaicin.
Capsaicin is the chemical that makes other peppers spicy.
Bell peppers get sweeter the longer they ripen. on how long they ripen.
Georgia
Blueberries
Georgia’s soil is sandy and acidic which is ideal for growing blueberries.
Types of 1. Highbush 2. Lowbush 3. Rabbiteye 4. Half 4
Highbush
blueberries are the most common type of blueberry.
Blueberries are the #1 fruit produced in Georgia.
Blueberries are native to North America. JULY is National Blueberry Month!
The waxy coating on blueberries is called “bloom. ”
1 blueberry bush can produce 6,000 blueberries/year.
Blueberries are one the only food naturally blue in color.
Lowbush blueberries are smaller & sweeterperfect for making jam!
Georgia
Cabbage
Georgia harvests around 30,000 acres of cabbage per year.
Cabbage is a type of cruciferous vegetable like broccoli & kale.
can grow up 6 feet tall.
Cabbage has been harvested for over 6,000 years making it one of the OLDEST vegetables in existence.
400 varieties of cabbage. 1. Green Cabbage 2. Red Cabbage 3. Savoy Cabbage
Cabbage grows best in a lot of sunlight.
1. Early 2. Late
Early cabbage takes 45 days to mature, and late cabbage takes 87 days.
The most popular varieties of cabbage:
Cantaloupe are the most popular melon in the U.S.!
Georgia grown cantaloupe is the sweetest in June, July & August.
Georgia harvests around 54,000,000 pounds of cantaloupe each year.
“Musk melon”
Cantaloupe grow on vines that can reach up to 5 feet long.
Cantaloupe are pollinated by honeybees.
Cantaloupe plants take about 90 days to mature.
Georgia
Cucumbers
Georgia is the 4th largest cucumber producing state in the U.S.
The U.S. is the 4th largest cucumber producing country in the world.
The flavor of cucumbers comes from the seeds
There are types of cucumbers.
Georgia is home to 10,000+ acres of cucumbers.
Cucumbers are technically fruits since they are grown from a flower & contain seeds.
Cucumbers can grow up to 2 feet long!
1 vine can produce 25 - 125 cucumbers
Cucumbers grow on Bees are pollination of cucumbers.
Georgia
Green Beans
Georgia produces around 45,540,000 pounds of snap beans ach year.
Green beans taste best when they are thinner than a pencil.
Green beans are the 3rd most homegrown vegetable.
Georgia is home to 9,000 acres of snap beans.
Green beans are also known as string or snap beans. = 130+ varieties of green beans.
Georgia
Milk
Georgia produces around 227 of milk per year.
Nearly 98% of U.S. dairy farms are family owned & operated.
Georgia is home to 85,000 dairy cows & 73 dairy farms.
Georgia dairy farmers byproducts such as citrus pulp, brewers’ grain and whole cottonseed that are consumed by the cows instead of ending up in landfills.
1 Georgia dairy cow produces around gallons Milk is the source of ALL products!
Macon, Brooks & Sumter counties are Georgia’s leading dairy counties.
Milk contains 13 essential nutrients.
Okra
Okra is grown in every single county throughout Georgia.
Types of Okra:
Jambalaya
Star of David
Burgundy
Okra is a southern staple at the dinner table.
Okra is a warm-season crop.
Okra plants thrive in full sun
Okra is ready to harvest 60 - 70 days after being planted. plants can grow to be over 6 ft tall! “Lady fingers” 1. Clemson Spineless
Okra is 90%
Peaches
Georgia’s official nickname is “The Peach State. ”
Main Varieties of Peaches:
1. Clingstone
2. Freestone
Georgia’s two main growing regions are Central & Southern.
Georgia grows around 130+ million pounds of peaches each year.
Peaches are harvested by Peach trees can produce fruit for 12 years.
each year.
Peaches are in peak season from June - the end of August.
Georgia
Soybeans
Georgia harvest around 160,000 acres of soybeans each year.
75 MILLION acres of farmland are used for growing soybeans in the U.S.
Soybean pods usually contains 3 seeds each.
legume
family. Soybeans were first grown in the U.S. cattle feed.
“Miracle Bean”
The U.S. is the leading country in soybean production. Each soybean plant produces around 100 pods.
Georgia
Squash
In Georgia, both summer and winter squash are available year-round.
TWO Types of Squash: W I N T E R
Georgia is the 3rd largest squash producing state.
Winter squash has much harder skin than summer squash.
Examples of winter squash are pumpkins, acorn & butternut.
Squash require a lot of water to grow.
Examples of summer squash are zucchini, yellow & scallop.
Summer squash grows faster than winter squash.
1 acre of land can grow around 11,000 squash!
Squash are related to melon s!
Winter squash takes 80 - 120 days to mature after being planted.
Georgia
Sweet Corn
Sweet corn is grown in EVERY county throughout Georgia.
The U.S. is the LARGEST producer, consumer & exporter of corn in the world.
Humans only eat sweet corn
There are around 800 kernels on each ear of corn.
Georgia has over 27,000 acres of sweet corn.
In many other countries, corn is called “maize. ”
1 corn stalk produces 1 - 3 ears of corn
Corn stalks can grow between 7 – 10 feet tall.
Georgia is the 3rd largest sweet corn producing state in the U.S.
An ear of corn ALWAYS
number 1 field crop.
Vidalia Onions Georgia
Vidalia onions are ONLY grown in Georgia.
Vidalia onions became Georgia’s official state vegetable in 1990.
Vidalia onions are similar to yellow onions.
Vidalia onions sweet flavor is due to Georgia’s low amount of sulfur in
“The World’s Sweetest Onion”
200,000,000 pounds of Vidalia onions are harvested each year.
Only 20 counties in Georgia are allowed to grow & sell Vidalia onions.
The Vidalia Onion Act of 1986 ensures that these onions can ONLY be designated as a Vidalia if they are grown in 1 of the 20 specific counties in Georgia.
Georgia
Watermelon
Georgia is the 2nd largest watermelon producing state in the U.S.
40,000+ acres of watermelon grown in Georgia.
Most of the Georgia’s watermelons are grown in the Central region and along the southern Coastal Plains.
Watermelons are 92% water.
Watermelons are in the
Watermelons are grown in over JULY
Watermelons take 90 days to grow from seed to fruit. GMO crop.
National
Watermelon Month!
Wheat
Georgia harvests around 50 bushels of wheat per acre.
Classes of Wheat Grown in the U.S.
1. Hard Red Winter
2. Hard Red Spring
3. Soft Red Winter
4. Soft White
5. Durum
The average wheat crop grows to be between 2 & 4 feet tall.
1 bushel of wheat contains 100,000,000 individual kernels.
1 bushel of wheat can produce 90 loaves of bread.
1 acre = 40 bushels of wheat.
Wheat grows best in warm weather.
Wheat is the harvested crop in the world.
Georgia Agriculture
