Governor Perdue Kicks Off National Agriculture Awareness Week in Georgia

ATLANTA – This week Governor Sonny Perdue and the Agriculture Advisory Commission launched the Second Annual National Agriculture Awareness Week in Georgia to recognize the contributions of agriculture and agribusiness in the state. A celebration held Tuesday featured approximately 60 agriculture commodities and organizations throughout Georgia displaying food products and related information. Guests attending included state legislators, FFA, 4-H, Young Farmers and other agriculture related organizations.

“Aside from providing us with a safe and abundant food supply, Georgia’s agriculture industry employs one out of every six Georgians and contributes over $57 billion annually to our economy,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “But beyond simple numbers, our state has a great farming heritage. The values and principles that farmers learn from the land have shaped the character of our people and the development of our state.”

The Governor’s Agriculture Advisory Commission brings together members of various sectors within the agricultural community to act as a sounding board for economic development ideas and to implement the Governor's agriculture strategies and initiatives. The Commission is divided into four subcommittees – agriculture awareness, economic development and retention, education, and environmental.

The agriculture awareness committee has curriculum available to every fifth grade class in the state to teach agriculture along with their math, science, history and other classes.

One winning fifth grade class that does the most to promote National Agriculture Week will be recognized for their efforts. More information is available at www.agawareness.com.

Agriculture is Georgia’s oldest and largest industry, and it remains a leading source of jobs and income. Georgia has one of the nations most vital and diversified farm economies, leading the nation in the production of poultry, pecans, peanuts, eggs and forestry products. Georgia consistently ranks as a top producer of watermelons, rye, peaches, sweet potatoes and cotton and is home to the world famous Vidalia onion.