News Stories - Page 153

University of Georgia vegetable horticulturist Tim Coolong received the Donnie H. Morris Award of Excellence in Extension during the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah, Georgia, on Jan. 12.

South Georgia farmers, community leaders and business owners recovering from Hurricane Michael can learn about additional recovery assistance available at a free resource fair immediately following the upcoming 2019 Georgia Ag Forecast meetings in Bainbridge, Georgia, on Jan. 31 and in Tifton, Georgia, on Feb. 1.

For the past 12 years, Georgia-based food companies have competed in the Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest. Being named a finalist — or better, a winner — in one of the contest’s categories is a great boost for companies seeking success in the competitive food industry. A few of last year’s winners had one thing in common: They have worked with the University of Georgia’s Food Product Innovation and Commercialization Center (FoodPIC).

Georgia pecan producers who are looking to replenish their crop after Hurricane Michael can turn to the ‘Avalon’ variety for a nut that produces high yields and is highly resistant to scab disease, according to University of Georgia pecan breeder Patrick Conner.

At 54, Becky Griffin was the oldest University of Georgia student on the Griffin campus to be awarded a degree this fall, but that fact only fueled her drive to succeed. After putting her graduate studies on hold for 30 years, Griffin juggled a full-time job and put thousands of miles on her car to complete her master’s degree.

With demand rising for organic produce and the industry growing to meet the need, the Georgia Organics Conference is a pivotal event for educating organic growers in Georgia and throughout the South.

It all started with a movie many people haven’t seen. About 10 years ago, Ruqayah Bhuiyan sat down to watch “Sunshine,” a movie about astronauts flying to the sun. Amid all of the high drama, fission bombs and personal conflict aboard the ship, there was a garden.

Chris Tyson, a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent for more than 10 years, has been named the new area onion agent at the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center in southeast Georgia.

A tried and true Georgia “boy,” University of Georgia blueberry breeder Scott NeSmith takes pride in creating new blueberry varieties for farmers in Georgia and across the Southeast. Now he can boast that blueberry varieties he’s bred through the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences have gone global.