Taste the Flavors of Farms and Restaurants in Georgia
Georgia is known as “The Peach State,” yet there are numerous other crops all over the state that make Georgia a flavorful destination.
Taste Georgia Blueberries
Blueberries, a crop that is actually three times as large as peaches in Georgia, can be found many places, including at Byne Blueberry Farm in Waynesboro, which grows 100 percent organic berries and offers opportunities to pick your own on select days throughout the year. Try a unique local favorite like the wine-infused blueberry jam made locally by Appalachian Kitchens in Blairsville, where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of the northeast Georgia mountains and scope out the starting point of the Appalachian Trail. Bite into a sweet blueberry treat at Southern Baked Pie Company (formerly Buttermilk Pie Co.) in Gainesville. This family-owned bakery gets the blueberries for its blueberry pie from local growers and from the owner’s grandfather’s organic blueberry bushes that were planted more than 25 years ago.
Visit the State's Peanut Capital in Plains, Georgia
Nothing says Georgia quite like peanuts. In fact, Georgia leads the nation in peanut production. Visit the state’s peanut capital of Plains, Georgia. While there, you can experience the boyhood home of President Jimmy Carter and rest your head at the Plains Historic Inn, which has seven rooms built by the president and others that are decorated in the decades of his life. Make sure to stop and snap a photo in front of a 13-foot-tall peanut that was built to honor the 39th president and lifelong peanut farmer. Sample Georgia-grown peanuts from Atlanta-based Georgia Grinders, a company that creates handcrafted, small-batch peanut butter from just two ingredients: non-GMO peanuts and sea salt. Before you leave, take home a fresh bag of locally grown peanuts from the Georgia Peanut Commission in Tifton.
Sample Georgia's Coastal and Mountain Treats
Escape in the tranquility of the coast, while dining on fresh-caught wild Georgia shrimp, which is so good it has its own festival – Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival that takes place in September on Jekyll Island. Visitors are also encouraged to travel north to discover the scenic beauty of our north Georgia mountains – enjoy specially prepared meals at our mountaintop inns or wander our vineyards while tasting our award-winning wines.
Explore Georgia's Olive Oil Farms
Southwest Georgia has seen a resurgence of olives, leading to a flourishing industry of craft olive oil. Georgia Olive Farms in Lakeland harvested Georgia’s first commercial olive crop in the late 1800s, and is producing award-winning olive oil that is now sold in stores across the country. The farm also offers tours and tastings year-round by appointment, allowing visitors to see and experience the craft of producing olive oils. You can also sample olive oils from other growers like Terra Dolce Farms in Lyons, Georgia.
Come savor all of Georgia's unique flavors and make sure to share your favorite foodie finds on social media using #GeorgiaEats.
Take a Georgia Food Tour
Get to the root of Georgia's top-quality ingredients with agritourism opportunities across the state. Start with the Clinch County Honey Trail, shopping for natural, sweet, bee-made treats; continue on to Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge for fresh apples; and taste so much more. Read more.
Shop Local, Buy Fresh from Georgia's Farmers Markets
Markets in each region of Georgia, such as Sweet Auburn Curb Market, offer an abundance of locally grown and handcrafted products, local history and fun for the whole family. Read more.
Dining in Georgia: A Culinary Hit List
Georgia is famous for traditional Southern cooking, and you can find native cuisine on menus at casual eateries, fine-dining restaurants, quaint cafés, and even food trucks. For example: The Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette serves up quintessential Southern including fried green tomatoes. Wherever you go, anticipate delicious food, warm hospitality and Georgia-grown ingredients. Read more.
