Griffin Campus

A record-breaking 173 products were entered into the 2025 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest, setting the stage for an exciting competition on April 17 at The Classic Center in downtown Athens. First-round judges tasted their way through a delicious gauntlet to whittle down the 173 contestants to 37 finalists that will compete for top product of the year. The highest number of products entered was previously 148 in the 2008 and 2022 contests. The Flavor of Georgia contest is offered annually by the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The CAES Signature Event showcases the tastiest offerings from market-ready small businesses in Georgia.

From the small village of Batloun in the mountains of Lebanon to the American University of Beirut, Jouman Hassan carried the lessons her parents instilled in her. Their guidance has served her well at the University of Georgia. At the graduation ceremony for the UGA Griffin campus in December, Hassan shared powerful wisdom from her mother. “Jouman, the word ‘impossible’ doesn’t exist in my dictionary — I erased it,” Hassan recalled her mother saying to her, and she has used the words as a talisman throughout her academic journey. 

Starting seeds indoors can give you a jump on the growing season, helping you stay ahead of the stifling summer heat and the inevitable wave of insect pests. While the cold lingers, plenty of garden prep can be done indoors, including ordering seeds, mapping out your garden and purchasing supplies online or from your local gardening store. With mild afternoons upon us, you’ll be ready to tackle outdoor preparations. To help you get the best results when starting seeds, we turned to three top experts from University of Georgia Cooperative Extension to set you up for success.