U.S. Department of Agriculture Leadership in Georgia Meets with Savannah Producers and Agricultural Leaders

Contact: Jay Ivey
Jay.Ivey@usda.gov
706-510-5318

ATHENS, Ga., Jan. 17, 2023 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director, Arthur Tripp, recently attended the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference to speak with members of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Additionally, Tripp visited with Savannah State University
administration and met with Savannah producers and agricultural leaders at Ottawa Farms to discuss FSA resources and assistance available to fruit and vegetable producers.

“With agriculture being the largest industry in Georgia, there are many different stakeholders that contribute to the success of our states number one industry,” said Tripp. “This is why it is so imperative for us to have these robust conversations with Georgians who represent different aspects of agriculture, whether it is with the
traditional producers who grow our food and fiber, newer urban farmers who are becoming more integrated within this field, or educators and researchers who develop our future workforce and new techniques for our producers to implement in the field.”

The Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference is hosted by the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the South Carolina Peach Council. The event included educational workshops, seminars, and a trade show and brought together producers, vendors, and industry leaders. Tripp spoke to the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Association’s Board of Directors and engaged with exhibitors to discuss FSA’s full portfolio of farm programs including safety-net, conservation, credit, and disaster assistance.

Tripp also visited Savannah State University and Ottawa Farms. At Savannah State University, Tripp met with representatives of the school’s administration to learn more about their involvement in urban agriculture and research. At Ottawa Farms, producers learned more about how they can benefit from participating in FSA
programs. Ottawa Farms is a third-generation family-owned farm that has operated in Chatham County since the 1870s. Families can visit the farm’s U-Pick fields in the spring to pick strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries.

FSA is committed to equitably serving all farmers, rancher, and agricultural partners through commodity price support, conservation, disaster assistance, and loan programs. Georgia’s FSA has 66 offices and 339 employees around the state. Producers are encouraged to contact their local USDA service center and schedule a meeting to determine the programs and loans that best suit their operational goals. During the first visit with FSA, producers should bring documents including proof of identity, proof of ownership, leases, and entity identification status.

Producers can learn more about FSA assistance options at fsa.usda.gov or by contacting their local USDA service center.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.