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Celebrating 23 crops grown in Georgia Teaching K ids W

Georgia Agriculture

Apples

85% of apples grown in Georgia are grown in Gilmer and Fannin counties.

Located in North Georgia.

The U.S. is home to approximately 322,000 acres of apple orchards. of the Most Popular Varieties of Apples: 1. Red Delicious

apples make 1 gallon of cider.

varieties of apples are grown in the U.S.

2,500+ 21% of apples are juiced.

An apple blossom is the flower that comes from an apple tree.

An apple tree takes at least 4 years to start producing fruit.

Bell Peppers

Georgia is the 4th largest bell pepper producing state in the U.S.

Georgia is home to over 4,000 acres of bell peppers.

Bell peppers are a FRUIT. Red bell peppers are also known as sweet peppers. Bell peppers can be 2 to 6 inches long.

The bell pepper is the ONLY member of the pepper family that does not produce capsaicin. Capsaicin is the chemical that makes other peppers spicy.

Bell peppers get sweeter the longer they ripen. on how long they ripen.

Blueberries

Georgia’s soil is sandy and acidic which is ideal for growing blueberries.

Types of 1. Highbush 2. Lowbush 3. Rabbiteye 4. Half 4

Highbush

blueberries are the most common type of blueberry.

Blueberries are the #1 fruit produced in Georgia.

Blueberries are native to North America. JULY is National Blueberry Month!

The waxy coating on blueberries is called “bloom. ”

1 blueberry bush can produce 6,000 blueberries/year.

Blueberries are one the only food naturally blue in color.

Lowbush blueberries are smaller & sweeterperfect for making jam!

Broccoli

Broccoli is grown in Georgia during the state’s cooler months.

Forms of Broccoli: 1. Sprouting 2. Heading

Broccoli is a part of the brassica family.

The brassica plant family includes broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower & more!

Broccoli is a type of cruciferous vegetable.

The word broccoli means “the flowering top of a cabbage.”

Broccoli is a part of the brassica family

Broccoli harvested HAND

Broccoli grows best in cool weather & plenty of sunshine.

Cabbage

Georgia harvests around 30,000 acres of cabbage per year.

Cabbage is a type of cruciferous vegetable like broccoli & kale.

can grow up 6 feet tall.

Cabbage has been harvested for over 6,000 years making it one of the OLDEST vegetables in existence.

400 varieties of cabbage. 1. Green Cabbage 2. Red Cabbage 3. Savoy Cabbage

Cabbage grows best in a lot of sunlight.

1. Early 2. Late

Early cabbage takes 45 days to mature, and late cabbage takes 87 days.

The most popular varieties of cabbage:

Carrots

Broccoli is grown in Georgia months

Carrots are 88% water.

Carrots are biennials, which means they have a 2-year life cycle. WINTERS underground!

Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe are the most popular melon in the U.S.!

Georgia grown cantaloupe is the sweetest in June, July & August.

Georgia harvests around 54,000,000 pounds of cantaloupe each year.

“Musk melon”

Cantaloupe grow on vines that can reach up to 5 feet long.

Cantaloupe are pollinated by honeybees.

Cantaloupe plants take about 90 days to mature.

Collard Greens

Collard greens are tastier & nutritious in the colder January - April.

Collard greens are one of Georgia’s most popular leafy greens. take 6 8 weeks to go from seed to ready for harvest. The stem can be 24 - 48 inches long.

“The Wild Cabbage Plant”

Collard greens are a member of the cabbage family.

Popular Varieties of Collard Greens:

1. Blue Max

2. Georgia

3. Vates

4. Champion

5. Flash

6. Heavy

Collard greens are biennials, which means they have a life cycle.

Collard greens produces small, yellow flowers.

These yellow flowers attract insects which is responsible for the pollination

Collard greens are a type of cruciferous vegetable

Cucumbers

Georgia is the 4th largest cucumber producing state in the U.S.

The U.S. is the 4th largest cucumber producing country in the world.

The flavor of cucumbers comes from the seeds

There are types of cucumbers.

Georgia is home to 10,000+ acres of cucumbers.

Cucumbers are technically fruits since they are grown from a flower & contain seeds.

Cucumbers can grow up to 2 feet long!

1 vine can produce 25 - 125 cucumbers

Cucumbers grow on Bees are pollination of cucumbers.

Green Beans

Georgia produces around 45,540,000 pounds of snap beans ach year.

Green beans taste best when they are thinner than a pencil.

Green beans are the 3rd most homegrown vegetable.

Georgia is home to 9,000 acres of snap beans.

Green beans are also known as string or snap beans. = 130+ varieties of green beans.

Looseleaf varieties of lettuce grow best in Georgia’s climate.

Looseleaf lettuce can be either green or red.

Darker green lettuce leaves are MORE LEAST MOST

Lettuce plants grow to be 6 - 12 inches tall.

Types of Lettuce:

Lettuce grows best in cooler climates.

Iceberg lettuce (also known as crisphead) is the most popular type of lettuce in the U.S. Main

Milk

Georgia produces around 227 of milk per year.

Nearly 98% of U.S. dairy farms are family owned & operated.

Georgia is home to 85,000 dairy cows & 73 dairy farms.

Georgia dairy farmers byproducts such as citrus pulp, brewers’ grain and whole cottonseed that are consumed by the cows instead of ending up in landfills.

1 Georgia dairy cow produces around gallons Milk is the source of ALL products!

Macon, Brooks & Sumter counties are Georgia’s leading dairy counties.

Milk contains 13 essential nutrients.

Okra

Okra is grown in every single county throughout Georgia.

Types of Okra:

“Lady fingers” 1. Clemson Spineless

Jambalaya

Star of David

Burgundy

Okra is a southern staple at the dinner table.

Okra is a warm-season crop.

Okra is ready to harvest 60 - 70 days after being planted. plants can grow to be over 6 ft tall!

Okra is 90%

Okra plants thrive in full sun

Peaches

Georgia’s official nickname is “The Peach State. ”

Main Varieties of Peaches:

1. Clingstone

2. Freestone

Georgia’s two main growing regions are Central & Southern.

Georgia grows around 130+ million pounds of peaches each year.

Peaches are harvested by Peach trees can produce fruit for 12 years.

each year.

Peaches are in peak season from June - the end of August.

Soybeans

Georgia harvest around 160,000 acres of soybeans each year.

75 MILLION acres of farmland are used for growing soybeans in the U.S.

legume family. Soybeans were first grown in the U.S. cattle feed.

Soybean pods usually contains 3 seeds each.

“Miracle Bean”

The U.S. is the leading country in soybean production. Each soybean plant produces around 100 pods.

Squash

In Georgia, both summer and winter squash are available year-round.

TWO Types of Squash: W I N T E R

Georgia is the 3rd largest squash producing state.

Winter squash has much harder skin than summer squash.

Examples of winter squash are pumpkins, acorn & butternut.

Squash require a lot of water to grow.

Examples of summer squash are zucchini, yellow & scallop.

Summer squash grows faster than winter squash.

1 acre of land can grow around 11,000 squash!

Squash are related to melon s!

Winter squash takes 80 - 120 days to mature after being planted.

Strawberries

Most of Georgia’s strawberries are grown across the central & southern part of the state.

Strawberries are a type aggregate fruit .

fruit to ripen in the spring.

Strawberries are a type of aggregate fruit.

Strawberries: 3

1. June-bearing 2. Ever-bearing 3. Day-neutral

200 seeds.

Strawberries are the ONLY fruit with seeds on the outside.

Strawberries are a part of the rose family.

Sweet Corn

Sweet corn is grown in EVERY county throughout Georgia.

The U.S. is the LARGEST producer, consumer & exporter of corn in the world.

Humans only eat sweet corn

There are around 800 kernels on each ear of corn.

Georgia has over 27,000 acres of sweet corn.

In many other countries, corn is called “maize. ”

1 corn stalk produces 1 - 3 ears of corn

Corn stalks can grow between 7 – 10 feet tall.

Georgia is the 3rd largest sweet corn producing state in the U.S.

An ear of corn ALWAYS

number 1 field crop.

Sweet Potatoes

Georgia sweet potatoes are grown mainly in the southern part of the state.

There are 400+ varieties sweet potatoes.

Sweet potatoes are grown underground!

Sweet potato roots are harvested 90120 days after planting.

Sweet potatoes are a popular Thanksgiving side dish.

Sweet potatoes are a starchy root vegetable. Jewel most popular sweet potato.

Sweet potatoes and yams are NOT the same thing!

Sweet potatoes can be orange, yellow, red, white or purple.

Orange sweet potatoes are the sweetes t.

Tomatoes

Georgia tomatoes are mainly grown in the southern part of the state

1. Cherry

2. Grape

3. Roma

MANY Americans grow tomatoes in their own garden.

“Wolf peach”

There are over 10,000 different varieties of tomatoes.

Tomatoes are a great source of vitamin C.

Tomatoes take 60-100 days to grow from seed to fruit.

Botanically, tomatoes are a type of fruit! season crop that LOVE the sun.

Vidalia Onions

Vidalia onions are ONLY grown in Georgia.

Vidalia onions became Georgia’s official state vegetable in 1990.

Vidalia onions are similar to yellow onions.

Vidalia onions sweet flavor is due to Georgia’s low amount of sulfur in

“The World’s Sweetest Onion”

200,000,000 pounds of Vidalia onions are harvested each year.

Only 20 counties in Georgia are allowed to grow & sell Vidalia onions.

The Vidalia Onion Act of 1986 ensures that these onions can ONLY be designated as a Vidalia if they are grown in 1 of the 20 specific counties in Georgia.