Organic farming is growing in Georgia - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

If you've been to a grocery store lately, you've probably noticed a section for organically grown foods.  More people are making sure that the produce they buy is grown organically and the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie has noticed that trend.

As you make your way through the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie this week, you see all of the usual displays - back by popular demand.  But there's something new here as well - also in response to popular demand.  It's the organic pavilion, a nod from Expo officials to a growing industry.

Jerald Larson was an extension agent in east Georgia for nearly 25 years.  Now retired, he grows muscadine grapes organically and represents Georgia Organics at events such as this one.  He said, "nationally, it's been growing at 20 per cent to 25 per cent over the last 10 to 15 years."

The pavilion has everything that the budding organic farmer could need, from seed to manure. Most of the growth in organics is in things that are immediately consumed, rather than crops such as cotton or peanuts.

"More in terms of vegetable production, small fruits and tree fruits," said Larson.

But the organic food industry faces some challenges.  One drawback in organic foods is the price.

Larson said, "it's been a 25 per cent difference in price."

The hope there is that the price should go down in the years ahead as the supply goes up. Another issue is potential spoilage of the crop from things such as insects.  But now there's a way to control that as well.  One that CAN be applied to row crops.  The product is called GOS Neem 7 Way.

Linton Thompson is with Georgia Organic Solutions in Blakely.  He said, "we've been very successful in controlling nematodes."

It's a complex name for a fairly simple product.  Unlike standard pesticides, it comes from a tree in India rather than a laboratory.

"This product comes from the neem tree," said Larson.

Using natural techniques to control pests is almost as old as farming itself.  But convincing farmers to give up traditional pesticides can be an uphill battle.

"It's a slow process one step at a time," said Thompson.

Judging by the crowds in the tent today, consumers need no such convincing.

"People are more conscious of pesticide residues and nutrition in their vegetables and fruits so they're demanding a product that's of a higher quality," said Larson.

The biggest challenge in years ahead will be to make yields of organic crops comparable to their more traditionally grown counterparts.  If that can happen, then the next generation of Expo goers will be taking in more products grown in a more natural way.

Larson says that if a farmer wants to learn how to grow food organically, the best way to do it is to contact their local extension agent.  They can guide farmers on how to sign up to become an organic grower.

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