Peaches, Melons and Scuppernongs: Three Days of Agritourism for Groups
Take a group tour of Georgia's top agritourism destinations to see - and taste - our state's homegrown offerings.
Sinking your teeth into a perfectly ripe peach picked right from the tree - that's Georgia's agriculture at its sweetest. But the beloved fruit isn't the only treasure in Georgia's trove of homegrown ingredients. From olives and onions to satsumas and scuppernongs - the cornucopia of foods here mirrors the limitless ways to enjoy them. Whether it's gathering berries from a u-pick field or eating your way through a historic downtown, these handpicked agritourism destinations offer mouthwatering experiences at the places where the state's best eats are grown and prepared.
Georgia Grown Trails 37 and 41
In 2014, Georgia created its first Georgia Grown Trail, a series of farms, wineries, restaurants, and more along Highway 37. Running east-west for 160 miles, this scenic route in southwest Georgia lays claim to an olive grove, gristmill, pickle maker, and more. Vertically bisecting South Georgia, Highway 41 came next with a butcher shop, pecan company, and sugar cane farm among its 30-plus plotted points. Go the distance or make just a few stops, but drive assured that you're never far from the next tantalizing nosh spot.
White Oak Pastures, Bluffton
Transparency, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability are guiding principles for this fifth-generation family farm. Through a rotational grazing method, its diverse array of livestock and crops collectively nurtures the land and feeds the community of Bluffton and beyond. Available by appointment, guided group tours end at the open-air Dining Pavilion surrounded on all sides by rows of organic vegetables. Bring a cooler and stock up on White Oak's famous grass-fed beef and newly available jamón Ibérico, a succulent cured ham.
Mark's Melon Patch, Dawson
What started as a pickup truck bed full of watermelons has grown into a legendary market offering peanuts, cantaloupes, sweet corn, tomatoes, and more - all grown by Mark Daniels and his family. Visitors may pick strawberries in the summer or wander a five-acre corn maze in the fall. In addition to a sack full of season fruits and vegetables, take home jellies, syrups, barbecue sauce and birdhouses made from hollowed-out, dried gourds. Group tours are available by appointment.
Overnight in Albany
Lane Southern Orchards, Fort Valley
Longstanding orchards like this are what earned Georgia its "Peach State" moniker. Since 1908, Lane has grown and harvested peaches, first selling them at a humble roadside stand and now shipping them across the country. The farm now produces 35 varieties, plus pecans, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and muscadines. Board a replica 1927 Blue Bird school bus with your group to traverse the orchards and learn about the past and present of peach growing in Middle Georgia.
Dickey Farms, Musella
During peach season (mid-May through mid-August), group tours begin in the orchard and end in the packinghouse, where guests are encouraged to pluck ripe fruit from the line to taste it at its sweetest and juiciest. A guided jaunt around this family farm, run by three generations of Dickeys, includes a scoop of homemade peach ice cream and a stop at the farm store, where you'll find all manner of peach-tinged treats.
Southern Belle Farm, McDonough
Since 1938, the Carter Family has owned and operated Southern Belle, first as a dairy and now as a u-pick fruit and vegetable farm. Spring brings strawberries, followed by the blackberries, blueberries, muscadines, suppernongs, and peaches of summer. Fall is a festival affair, complete with a pumpkin patch, corn maze, hayride, and corn cannons. Chickens, donkeys, cows, goats, and horses are on hand for meet-n-greets, and an on-site bakery turns out cakes, pies, and cobblers made with farm-fresh fruit.
Overnight in McDonough
UGA Research and Education Garden, Griffin
Who says science isn't beautiful? Students and researchers monitor the cultivated plots of this 65-acre expanse for everything from pollination to pest control, but visitors know it as Griffin's serene secret gardens. Groups may take free self-guided tours or schedule guided walks through the lush, themed landscapes. The takeaway? A peaceful stroll past vibrantly blooming flora complete with tips and inspiration you can take home.
Must-Stop Shopping: Downtown Madison
Once a center for the cotton trade, historic downtown Madison is a popular destination boasting an array of locally owned shops. Three to browse: In High Cotton for furniture and home decor; Barkin' Dogs for an old-school, sit-and-fit shoe-buying experience; and the Madison Flea Market for antiques, collectibles, and a Saturday morning bluegrass jam.
