2017 Ag Mag - Specialty Crops

An agricultural magazine for kids From Georgia Agriculture in the Classroom

Specialty Crops Growing Georgia’s Fruit, Nut and Vegetable Literacy

The Vidalia® Onion!

What is the Georgia state vegetable?

Specialty Crops Pecans

What are Specialty Crops?

Specialty crops are defined by the USDA Specialty Crops Block Grant program as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).”

In Growing Georgia’s Fruit, Nut and Vegetable Literacy Specialty Crops program, we will focus on Georgia’s top specialty crops: blueberries, peaches, watermelon, bell peppers, sweet corn, cucumbers, cabbage, onions and pecans.

Honeybees are also very important pollinators to ensure the successful production of these crops.

Georgia’s specialty crops include a wide range of fruits and vegetables with a Farm Gate Value of approximately $1.5 billion. The industry is growing through commercial production as well as local and regional farm markets.

For some easy and tested recipes, visit the GGTK (Georgia Grown Test Kitchen) section of Georgia Grown Feed My School at www.feedmyschool.org.

http://georgiapecans.org

Where did they come from? Pecans originated in North America.

When are pecans planted and harvested in Georgia? Pecans grow on trees. The trees take about 6-10 years to produce their delicious nuts. In Georgia, we harvest pecans in the fall.

Why are pecans good for you? Pecans contain more than 19

vitamins and minerals. With little saturated fat and no trans-fat, pecans are heart-healthy. They are a good source of dietary fiber and protein.

Onions

www.vidaliaonion.org www.onions-usa.org Where did they come from?

Onions originated in Asia.

When are onions harvested in Georgia? Green onions are harvested

from January through June. Vidalia® Onions are harvested from April through June.

What are Vidalia® Onions? These sweet onions

are grown only in the defined production area in Georgia where the soil and climate combine to produce the special characteristics of this onion. Under the terms of Federal Marketing Order No. 955, as well as a state law, Vidalia onions are defined to include only those produced in 13 counties (Emanuel, Candler, Treutlen, Bulloch, Wheeler, Montgomery, Evans, Tattnall, Toombs, Telfair, Jeff Davis, Appling and Bacon) and portions of seven others (Jenkins, Screven, Laurens, Dodge, Pierce, Wayne and Long).

Why are onions good for you? Onions are high in Vitamin C and dietary fiber.

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The Peach State!

What is Georgia sometimes called?

Specialty Crops Peaches www.gapeaches.org

Where did they come from? Peaches originated in China.

When are peaches planted and harvested in Georgia?

Peaches grow on trees. The trees take about 2-4 years to produce juicy peaches. In Georgia, we harvest peaches from May until September.

Why are peaches good for you? They contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, especially Vitamins A and C.

Blueberries Where did they come from? Blueberries originated in North America.

When are blueberries planted and harvested in Georgia? Blueberries grow

on shrubs. The shrubs take about 3 years to produce juicy blueberries. In Georgia, we harvest blueberries from June through August.

Why are blueberries good for you? They

contain a variety of vitamins and minerals and are a good source of Vitamin C and manganese. They are also a good source of dietary fiber.

Georgia has even more specialty crops!

We also grow apples, cantaloupe, carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, squash, leafy greens, lima beans, eggplant, grapes, muscadine grapes, peas, tomatoes, and strawberries‌just to name a few! Apples

are grown in the North Georgia mountains and are harvested from August through October. Strawberries are harvested from early April through early June and are a popular pick-your-own adventure throughout AgMag/Specialty Crops

the state. There are more than 30 Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Markets who have pickyour-own strawberries!

Scan here for the Certified Farm Market website

Explore the GFB Certified Farm Market website at http://www.gfb.org/membership/farm-marketsearch.cms to find a farm near you for locally grown products. Many of the farms are also agritourism sites and have hay rides, farm animals and special events.

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The honey bee!

What is Georgia’s state insect?

Specialty Crops Honey bees

www.honey.com Approximately 1/3 of the food Americans eat is directly or indirectly derived from honey bee pollination. Georgia’s fruit and vegetable crops are

dependent on honey bee pollination for success. Their large colonies can be moved to wherever they are needed, such as a watermelon field or peach orchard. They can communicate direction and distance from the hive to the source of nectar which makes them very efficient. Scouts communicate information about the source of nectar through what is called the “bee dance.”

In addition to pollinating our fruit and vegetable crops, we also get honey from them. Honey is a good source of energy and another way to provide sweetener.

Watermelon www.watermelon.org

Where did it come from? Watermelon originated in Africa.

When is watermelon planted and harvested in Georgia? Watermelon is planted

from March through May and harvested from June through September.

Why is watermelon good for you? Watermelon has excellent levels of Vitamins A and C and a good level of Vitamin B6. It is also 92% water and good for hydration.

Bell peppers http://gfvga.org/

Where did they come from? Bell peppers originated in Central and South America.

When are bell peppers planted and harvested in Georgia? Bell peppers are

planted in Georgia in late spring for summer harvest and late summer for fall harvest.

Why are bell peppers good for you? They contain a variety of vitamins and minerals and are especially good sources of Vitamins C and A. 4

AgMag/Specialty Crops

How much fruit should you eat each day?

One cup for children and two for adults.

Specialty Crops Cucumbers

http://gfvga.org/ Where did they come from?

Cucumbers originated in India.

When are cucumbers planted and harvested in Georgia?

Cucumbers are planted in the spring and harvested from June through August.

Why are cucumbers good for you?

Cucumbers are high in Vitamin K and a good source of potassium, but low in sodium.

Sweet corn

Cabbage

Where did it come from?

Where did it come from? Cabbage originated

Corn originated in North America.

When is sweet corn planted and harvested in Georgia? Sweet corn is planted

from February through May for spring/summer harvest and from July through August for fall harvest.

Why is sweet corn good for you?

Sweet corn contains a variety of vitamins and minerals and is a good source of dietary fiber.

A cool corny fact!

Ever wonder about all those hairy silks on an ear of corn when you shuck it? Well, those silks are very important! For an ear of corn to grow, it must be pollinated, but the ear is covered with an outer layer of “shucks” which protects the cob. So, the corn silks poke out of the end of the ear looking like tufts of hair. Each of those silks, which are actually like small tubes, is attached to a kernel. When pollen falls from the “tassel” on top of the stalk of corn, it travels down the silks to pollinate the corn. Yes, there are as many silks as there are kernels of corn!

AgMag/Specialty Crops

in the Mediterranean region of Europe.

When is cabbage planted and harvested in Georgia? Cabbage is

planted in late summer and harvested in late fall or early winter.

Why is cabbage good for you? Cabbage

is full of vitamins and minerals. It is especially high in Vitamin C.

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How much vegetables should you eat each day?

1-2 cups for children, 3 cups for adults

Activities Word Search USDA

BLUEBERRIES

PEPPER

CABBAGE

FRUITS

PEACHES

SWEET

ONION

VEGETABLES

WATERMELON

CORN

VIDALIA

HORTICULTURE

BELL

CUCUMBER

PECANS

NURSERY CROPS

Answers run vertically, diagonally, horizontally, backwards and forwards.

FLORICULTURE HONEY BEES

P L R Q S S N J A O P B I

E

I

V

Y F N L S O

S R A O K N L

S R C M P D E T T R

O C E U H A E S T

V D A E

I U R

F C M

N X C L

L E U P C C S N X E R

Q U

B S

S U U U E C U P E

C V A L D A

L M W L E G G A T

C B L A X T

T D B T B

Y

F L A

A E S N U W M E C U E

E

R T W

I

I

B N U R S E

R Y G R H O N E Y

B F E Q S E

I

R R E B

E U L B

A C O R N B U B T Z V

P H F K

G W W P D N R W J X R

T H K K

E C U Q W O D S

1. Which is NOT considered a specialty crop? a. fruits b. vegetables c. nursery crops d. pine trees 2. How much of the food Americans eat directly depends on honey bee pollination? a. 1/4 b. 1/3 c. 1/2 d. all of it 3. Can VidaliaÂŽ Onions be grown anywhere in Georgia? a. No b. Yes

X R E H U Z

O E D E P W E B V O Y

Choose the Answer!

L P G Z C Q D

4. What do blueberries grow on? a. trees b. vines c. shrubs d. individual plants 5. How many years does it take for a peach tree to produce fruit? a. 1 year b. 2-4 years c. 5 years d. 6-10 years 6. We eat the __________ of the corn plant which means it is technically a fruit but we serve it as a vegetable. a. seeds b. roots c. shoots d. stems 7. Watermelon is classified as a ________ because it is related to cucumbers and squash. a. fruit b. nut c. vegetable d. seed 8. When are bell peppers harvested in Georgia if they were planted in late spring? a. winter b. spring c. fall d. summer 9. What vitamin is cabbage especially high in? a. Vitamin A b. Vitamin B c. Vitamin C d. Vitamin D 10. Pecans are heart-healthy because they have very little __________. a. minerals b. saturated fat c. fiber d. protein

Scan this QR code to find the answers to all of the puzzles online!

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Apples float in water because they are...

...25% air!

Activities Hidden Message Instructions: Unscramble each of the clue words. Then copy the letters in the numbered blocks to other blocks with the same number. It will reveal the hidden message.

NONOI 9

NAEGDR

1

CEAHEPS

2

NIAMIVT

7

CABEAGB

11

5

JUYCI

6

RELKEN

4

WETSE 10

TIRFU

2

3

4

5

1

8

9

10 11

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7

MAKE IT! 1. C ombine all of the ingredients, except food coloring, in a large mixing bowl. Mix until well combined.

2. Lightly flour your work surface.

3. P lace the dough on the floured surface, and knead for a few minutes, until the dough is soft and pliable, but no longer sticky.

4. S eparate the dough into 3 equal amounts, and add 10+ drops of food coloring to each ball of dough. Knead the color into the dough. Keep adding food coloring until you get the color you want.

5. S tore in the refrigerator in a plastic baggie or airtight container.

Calculate how much of each ingredient you will need in order for everyone in your class to make their own honey playdough.

Flour =____________ Salt = _____________ Olive Oil =_________ Water =___________ Honey =___________

3 The heaviest watermelon weighed 350.5 lbs. and was 3

1

INGREDIENTS FOR HONEY PLAYDOUGH: 2 cups flour 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1/4 cup honey 3/4 cup salt 1 cup water Yellow food coloring (optional)

Cool Facts

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POCR

Honey Playdough

grown by Chris Kent (USA) of Sevierville, Tennessee.

3 Broccoli tops are immature flowers.

3 Honey never spoils.

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How much honey does a bee make in its lifetime?

About 1/12 of a teaspoon!

Build A Bee H

oney bees have similar parts but the most obvious difference between the types of bees in a hive is size and stingers. The queen is the largest, while the worker bees are the smallest; they both have stingers. Drones are bigger than the

Materials n Small styrofoam balls n Medium styrofoam balls n Black pipe cleaners n Small black pom-poms or beads (for eyes) n Tracing paper n Yellow/gold construction paper n Construction paper in a color other than yellow n Black marker n Brown marker or paint n Scissors n Glue

worker bees, but do not have stingers.

Using the suggested materials below or materials you can find around your home, create a 3-D model of a worker bee, then label the parts. antennae

head

eyes

foreleg thorax midleg wing

Parts to label n Antennae n Eyes n Head n Thorax n Abdomen

n Foreleg n Midleg n Hindleg n Wings n Stinger

Instructions 1. Cut one of the small styrofoam balls and one of the medium foam balls in half.

2. Give one half of each size to a partner and keep one of each for yourself. You should have half of a small ball and half of a medium-sized one.

3.

Color each half with dark brown marker or paint.

4. Fold your piece of yellow construction paper in half vertically (like a hamburger) and then cut it in half.

5.

On one half of the yellow construction paper draw a football shape that is larger than your medi8

abdomen

hindleg

stinger um-sized ball, then cut it out.

6. In the middle of a new piece of construction paper that is not yellow, glue down your two foam ball halves and your football to make the head, thorax and abdomen of your bee.

7. Draw black stripes across the abdomen and a black stinger on the end.

8. Next cut your black pipe cleaners into thirds and bend them to look like legs.

9. Put six pairs of legs into the medium-sized foam ball which is the thorax. (Three legs on each side – one pair in the front, one in the middle,

and one towards the back of the thorax).

10. On the tracing paper, draw two leaf or tear-drop shaped “wings.” use the black marker to make lines for veins.

11. Cut out the wings and glue them to the back of your bee on top of the thorax.

12. Glue the two small black pom-poms or beads to the head for eyes.

13. Use two more pieces of black pipe cleaner for the antennae.

14. Use your marker to label the parts on the construction paper.

AgMag/Specialty Crops

The only fruit with the seeds on the outside are...

...strawberries!

Cubing the Crops What you’ll need:

n A copy of the cube template n Scissors n Colored pencils or crayons n Glue stick Scan the QR code to get the template!

The cube template can be found here: www.gfbfoundation.org/agmag/specialty-crops-extras.pdf

Approach #1: I learned!

Instructions 1. Based on what you read in this Specialty Crops AgMag, choose six facts that you learned. These can be a theme such as nutrition facts, origin facts, things you did not know before, or just random facts.

2. Illustrate each box with the fact and a picture or drawing about the crop. These are the sides of the cube (there are six). Do not add facts on the smaller flaps because these will not be seen.

3. Be sure to put your name along one edge of your cube.

4. Carefully cut along the outside lines and fold into a cube. Glue closed.

5. Now you can display your Specialty Crop facts!

Approach #2: I researched!

Instructions 1. Choose one of the specialty crops listed in this magazine or your instructor may choose one for you.

2. Research more information about Corn will the crop specifically: always have • Amount grown each year an even • Nutrients it provides number of rows • Recipes it is used in on each cob.

• Part of the state it is grown in • What part of the plant we eat • Other states that produce this crop Continue with instructions 3 through 5 AgMag/Specialty Crops

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How do bees communicate?

By dancing!

Harvest Calendar this harvest calendar to help you know the best time of year W etodesigned find your favorite fruits and vegetables.

Broaden Your VOCABULARY! cultivation [kuhl-tuh-véy-shuh n] – to

promote or improved the growth of a plant, crop, etc. by labor and attention

Farm Gate Value – the net value of the agriculture product when it leaves the farm, after marketing costs have been subtracted

floriculture [flóhr-i-kuhl-cher] – the cultivation and management of ornamental crops, especially flowering plants

Georgia Harvest Calendar What is available and when

Commodity

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Apples Beans – Lima Beans – Pole & Snap Blackberries Blueberries Cabbage Cantaloupes Christmas Trees Collards Corn – Sweet Cucumbers Muscadines Okra Onions – Green Onions – Vidalia Peaches Peanuts Peas – Field Pecans Pepper Potatoes – Sweet Pumpkins Strawberries Turnips – Green Watermelons Dates may vary due to location and weather conditions Peak Availablity Periods

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horticulture [hóhr-ti-kuhl-cher] – the art,

science, and technology of growing plants for various purposes

nursery [núr-suh-ree] – a place where young plants and trees are cultivated and grown

pecan [pee-can OR puh-cáhn] – a smooth,

brown nut that grows on trees with an edible kernel similar to a walnut

plasticulture [plás-ti-cuhl-cher] – refers to the practice of using plastic materials in agricultural applications. The plastic materials themselves are often and broadly referred to as “ag plastics” pollinator [pol-uh-néy-tor] – an

insect or animal that moves pollen from one part of the plant to another which results in producing fruit

shrub [shruhb] – a woody plant that

is smaller than a tree and has several main stems arising at or near the ground

USDA – abbreviation for the United

States Department of Agriculture, the federal government agency responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, agriculture, forestry and food

Vidalia [vi-déyl-yuh] – mild, sweet yellow

onions grown only in certain Georgia counties

yield [yeeld] – to give forth or produce. Ex:

“Our garden yielded lots of vegetables this year.” “This recipe yields two-dozen cookies.”

AgMag/Specialty Crops

How many kernels are in an average ear of corn?

800 (and 16 rows)!

Recipes Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie Yield: One smoothie 1/2 cup vanilla flavored yogurt 1/4 cup fresh or frozen strawberries 1/2 cup seedless watermelon, cut into small pieces Quart-size freezer zip closing bag Small cup, scissors Use measuring cups to measure ingredients and place them in plastic bag. Zip tightly. Use your fingers to “puree” the mixture until the fruit is thoroughly blended with the yogurt. Use scissors to snip off the bottom corner of the bag and squeeze smoothie into cup. Enjoy!

Apple “Pizza” Core and thinly slice enough apples for the class. To keep the apple slices from browning, you can toss them with orange or pineapple juice.

Customization is the name of the game here! The students can “name” their pizza based on what they choose to put on their apple slice.

Layer 1: Granola, shaved chocolate or chopped pecans Layer 2: Peanut butter, honey or Greek yogurt Layer 3: Blueberries or diced strawberries Or they can combine ingredients to make a pizza with the works!

Challenge! How much of each ingredient will you need to make enough for each class member?

What is the cost?

Why were the strawberries so upset?

Because they were in a jam!

No-Bake Carrot Cake Bites Yield: 16 bites 3 medium carrots 6 medium dates, pitted 1/2 cup pecans, chopped 1 Tbsp. almond or peanut butter 1 cup oats, dry 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 tsp. ginger, ground 1/8 tsp. sea salt Finely grind carrots in food processor. Remove to a bowl. Combine dates and pecans in food processor and process until combined. Add carrots to processor and add remaining ingredients. Process until dough forms and you can roll it into balls. If the mixture is too wet, add more oats. Roll the mixture into balls and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. From www. superhealthykids.com

Classroom talk:

• What are your favorite apple pizza toppings?

• If you were stranded on an island with an unlimited supply of one, and only one, type of Georgia fruit, what would it be?

• Describe the taste and texture of your apple pizza slice.

AgMag/Specialty Crops

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This fruit can be used as a dye for cloth...

Blueberries!

Create a School Garden Plant Georgia’s Specialty Crops in your school garden!

http://extension.uga.edu/programs-services/school-garden-resources.html

gardens are great learning labs for all grade levels S chool and across many subject areas. This information from The

University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences school garden initiative provides a range of resources

for anyone interested in school gardens.

This website includes information on how to get started, curriculum to accompany your project, tips from teachers, and grant opportunities.

You can also obtain the School Garden AgMag in school sets of 30 from the AFB Foundation for Agriculture.

Visit the store at www.agfoundation.org

Scan the QR code to get info on school gardens

Did you hear about the magic tractor? It turned into a field!

What did the baby corn say to the mama corn? Where’s popcorn?

Why was the cucumber mad?

Because it was in a pickle!

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AgMag/Specialty Crops

How many pecans are in an average pecan pie?

Around 78!

My Edible Art! Purpose:

In addition to the subject areas addressed, the purpose of the activity is to provide a more creative atmosphere in which children may be more likely to try fruits and vegetables they do not normally eat. “Eating their Art” can encourage children to make healthier eating choices.

Materials

• Cardboard cake boards for teams of 4 (20 students=5 cake boards) 13 inches X 19 inches. These can be found in any craft store, usually in packs of 6 • Aluminum foil to cover each board • Table covering (i.e. cover the work tables with butcher paper or plastic table covers for easy clean up) • Knives to cut vegetables and fruit (sharp for teacher to pre-cut and plastic for children) • Paper Towels • Food service gloves for each student • Toothpicks • Georgia fruits and vegetables. (Be sure not to select items that are soft and juicy.)

AgMag/Specialty Crops

• Green beans • Squash (yellow and zucchini) – slices and chunks • Cucumbers – slices and chunks • Cherry tomatoes (or similar) • Broccoli • Strawberries • Blueberries • Bell peppers (pre-cut and remove seeds) • Carrots (baby carrots work well).

Make note that they are not really “baby” carrots at all. Large carrots are cut into pieces and then go through a large turning barrel with a stone that rounds the ends of the carrots.

• Watermelon (precut into pieces) • Ranch dressing and/or fruit dip (optional and can be made ahead by the students)

presentation to the class about fruits and vegetables. Also be sure to talk to them about food safety. Give each student a set of food service gloves.

4. Divide students into teams of four.

(Each group can come up with a name for their team.) Each team will designate a leader who will lead in the description of their artwork at the end of the project.

5. Each team will design and make an agriculture scene using the Georgia fruits and vegetables. Give them a set time (at least 15 minutes) to do their artwork.

6. Give each team 3 minutes to talk about their project.

7. Take a photo of the artwork and the student team.

8. Now it is time to Eat Our Art! (Don’t forget the dip or dressing!)

Procedures

Extended activity: Have the

1. Pre-cut some of the fruits and vegetables for easier handling.

2. Prepare cake boards by wrapping with aluminum foil 3. Have your speaker or speakers give a

students complete the survey about fruit and vegetable consumption and how this activity may have changed their view. (Survey found on the Extras Activities page.)

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Ag g i e

By Donna Rocker, Ag in the Classroom Coordinator 478-474-0679, ext. 5365 or dhrocker@gfb.org

Specialty Crops - Special for Georgia!

USDA defines specialty crops as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” Georgia’s specialty crops include a wide range of fruits and vegetables with a Farm Gate Value of approximately $1.5 billion. Georgia’s top fruit and vegetable specialty crops are blueberries, pecans, peaches, onions, watermelon, bell peppers, sweet corn, cabbage and cucumbers. Be sure to include these and all the other many fruits and vegetables we grow in Georgia for a healthy diet – they are delicious and nutritious! To learn more about these crops, match the words with the facts below and then find the words on the Word Search.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

USDA Crop Vegetable Fruit Farm Gate Value Blueberries

7. Alma 8. Pecans 9. Peach 10. Onion 11. Bell Peppers 12. Watermelon

A. This city is the Blueberry Capital of Georgia.

B. This Georgia Farm Bureau program has a list of farms where you can pickyour-own or purchase many of these specialty crops plus others such as fresh strawberries. Some of them offer agritourism activities as well.

C. This crop, which botanically is a fruit, is heavy and very juicy because it is 92% water. It is related to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash, and is a great source for vitamins, especially A and C. D. Although served as a vegetable, this crop is actually a fruit because the seeds are inside. Although seen in stores primarily as green, they can U X F A R M V L U S D F W F Q B B Z G Y

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S O E B M A J Z L D G A J Y I U K H U T

D O T B V A G H M Q T I S O S N A C E P

S W E E T C O R N E G T U U R D S K S W

D A X D H U K D Q P S H S R A R R O F P

A T I P S C L U E L R L E S L A E T M E

W E R F R U I T P L A O G I M S P P T A

A R I K E M O L P E L F U M A P P O R C

S M G I P B L U E B E R R I E S E Z O H

P E A C V E Z I P I Y A V K U K P I X I

13. Sweet Corn 14. Cabbage 15. Cucumber 16. Certified Farm Market

also be red, yellow, orange and even purple!

E. This agency (United States Department of Agriculture) provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management.

F. This vegetable is green and cylindrical in shape. It can be sliced and eaten raw or pickled and served on your hamburger or made into relish.

G. This plant part contains the seeds of the plant. Examples are peaches and blueberries.

H. This crop is a summer favorite and D L T P E R A J E U F X J D P A L Q B B

S O N I O N K A D D X J W M S U L X G V

O N R U L O R V E G E T A B L E E S Y M

D P L B B A G I A E G O W T E S B E L L

U V E G E P F B H F A H A W F A I T H S

O P B E L I E V E A B S W Q D H S V I J

E P I L T O K D S Q B P L S R K O U R S

P F A R M G A T E V A L U E Z T G W P L

M R E G V M L M H S C Y F B E T B M D G

E C R H D V B R K E B J F U S D R O F W

the

Ag D og

can be yellow, white or bicolor. It is a great source of dietary fiber.

I. This crop is native to North America. Native American tribes used this fruit for food, medicine, and dye for baskets and cloth. They are a good source of vitamin C, dietary fiber and manganese.

J. This term refers to a plant or plant product that can be grown and harvested for profit or subsistence. By use, crops fall into six categories: food crops, feed crops, fiber crops, oil crops, ornamental crops, and industrial crops.

K. This leafy crop is believed to be one of the oldest vegetables grown.

It is a good source of Vitamin C and dietary fiber.

L. The vegetable in this group labeled “Vidalia” is grown in 13 counties and portions of 7 others. The Vidalia Sweet is the state vegetable of Georgia. They are a good source of Vitamin C. M. This is a culinary term and not a plant part. There are some plant parts we refer to as this term, such as onions, bell peppers, sweet corn and cabbage.

N. These nuts grow on trees native to the United States and North America.

They are a rich source of energy, and contain health benefiting nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins such as vitamin E, several B complex vitamins and manganese.

O. This is the official state fruit of Georgia and is a good source of vitamins A and C. P. The net value of the product when it leaves the farm, after marketing costs have been subtracted. Since many farms do not have significant marketing costs, it is often understood as the price of the product at which it is sold by the farm.

Scan the QR Code with your smart phone to find the answers.

AgMag/Specialty Crops

Dr. Juan Carlos Diaz-Perez

Professor, Horticulture, The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Areas of Interest: Vegetables, plasticulture, protected agricultural technologies

Please explain your job? My job is to serve Georgia agriculture by developing new knowledge to be more productive in the science of horticulture. I work on cultural practices for vegetable crops. My goal is to increase vegetable yield and quality and increase sustainability. My vegetable research interests include (a) Plasticulture/Protected Agriculture Technologies (plant responses to plastic film mulches, shade nets, and high tunnels) and Crop-Environmental Interactions; (b) Effect of Preharvest Factors on PostHarvest Quality; (c) Sustainable/Organic Vegetable Production (efficient use of fertilizers and water; utilization of cover crops and reduced tillage; reduced use of inputs).

Who helps you with your research? I have three technicians who work for me. Two of them have bachelor’s degrees and one has an associate’s degree. I also have one graduate student/teaching assistant. Teaching is also a component of my job.

Do you ever contact other scientists about the work you do? I always work with other colleagues. Interdisciplinary work is a must to solve current agricultural challenges.

How closely do you work with farmers? Very close. Farmers “feed” us with knowledge and questions that help our research to be relevant.

What is the biggest challenge with your job? Funding. An important part of my job is writing grants to secure funding for research.

What do you like best about your job? Being connected with plants, life, nature. Plants connect you to life. It is different every day. The freedom to try new things in research is exciting. You talk to farmers and you can help them. It is very difficult to get bored – there is always a challenge. Working on agriculture (including horticulture), one of the oldest and relevant professions, is exciting because it involves working in a constantly changing field that demands the understanding of many sciences such as biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, social sciences, economics, etc.

What subjects in school helped you most in your job? In addition to the sciences and mathematics, anything connected to language (reading and writing) were very important. I must be able to communicate what I do with others and it is critically important when I am writing grants for funding.

The Specialty Crops AgMag was produced through a Specialty Crops Block Grant from USDA. AgMag/Specialty Crops

Pittman Family Farms

The Pittman Family Farm includes Timmy Pittman (Dad), Patricia Pittman (Mom), Mitchell (interviewee), Becky (Mitchell’s wife), Kyle (brother), Hope (Kyle’s wife), and Jonathan (brother). Friends and other family members often help at the market as well.

How long have you been in farming? From the time I could walk, I was following my daddy and granddaddy on our farm, which included a large hog operation, peanuts, corn and winter wheat. We began growing vegetables in 1999. I graduated from The University of Georgia in 2008 with a degree in Agri-business. My brother Kyle graduated from Southeastern Technical College in 2008 with a degree in commercial and residential wiring. We both stayed active on the farm while in school, and both came back to the farm full-time in May of 2008. Our vegetable operation grew and we opened a produce store. When my youngest brother, Jonathan, graduated from UGA with a degree in marketing and finance, he came home to manage the store. It had a full line of vegetables but Jonathan added retro candy, glass bottle sodas, jams and jellies, hand-scooped ice cream and much more to give it an old country store vibe. The store became Pittman’s Country Market. Now we are farming 400 acres of cabbage, 50 acres of watermelons, 100 acres of Vidalia onions, 225 acres of corn, 240 acres of peanuts, 250 acres of cotton, and about 75 acres of specialty crops for our store. We also have 25 head of cows and raise show pigs as well.

What is involved in growing vegetables? The most important thing is making sure you have a reliable source to buy your product and a labor force to gather it. It takes more revenue up front to grow vegetables than conventional crops, so managing money is a must. Vegetables also require more water, fertilizer, and spray than conventional crops. Every vegetable must be planted, harvested and packed by hand; a reliable labor force is so important.

Biggest challenge as a producer? I would say it’s paperwork, with food safety as the predominant factor. It constantly changes! We had about three notebooks for food safety in 2002, and now we have close to 20. We have always believed in producing safe, high quality food. All of the costs involved in the food safety process comes out of our pocket, and we do not receive a higher price for our product.

What do I like the most about farming? I love the family atmosphere. I grew up working with my grandparents and parents, and now working with my wife, brothers and parents is very special to me. Being able to raise our kids on a farm and seeing them get excited about farming is heartwarming.

I love to work and be productive with what God has blessed me with and called me to do.

What subjects in school have helped me in farming? I would have to say math. Numbers are everywhere in farming from being able to work numbers from seed populations, measuring chemicals in spraying, and dealing in money from expenses and revenue and so many other ways.

15

Teachers Tour South Georgia Farms As part of the USDA Specialty Crops Block Grant, 12 Georgia teachers toured farms in middle and south Georgia to learn more about Georgia’s fruits, vegetables and pecans. They also met with scientists who do research in those areas to help farmers produce a crop with improved yield, greater efficiency, and increased sustainability.

A big thanks to these teachers for developing lesson plans for Specialty Crops!

Elementary

Dianne Richardson, Walker County Lori Lehmer, Hall County Megan Huggins, Walker County Sara Gray, Houston County Mori Harris, Houston County Matt Farrell, Cobb County

Middle School

High School

Robert Rusconi, Dougherty County Carissa Hatton, Peach County Vanessa Ellis, Muscogee County (2017 Georgia Council on Economic Education Teacher of the Year)

The teachers are posing in front of a mechanical blueberry harvester at Alma Nursery & Berry Farm. Tour guide and Bacon County Young Farmer Brandon Wade is also author of the children’s book “Hi, I’m Billy Blueberry and This is My Story.”

Bradley Hall, Evans County, Agriculture Education Rholine Rose, Fulton County, Economics Amy Culp Jessee, Chatham County, Economics, Government & Psychology

Resources

Looking for more great resources? Check out these websites.

GFB Foundation for Agriculture

http://www.gfbfoundation.org/aitc.html • Curriculum Matrix • Teacher of the Year information • Kid’s Corner worksheets and video • Digital format AgMags • Grants

Teacher Matt Farrell takes photos of sweet corn being harvested at Green Circles Farm in Bainbridge.

Green beans are unloaded from a large trailer onto a conveyer belt for sorting.

National Agriculture in the Classroom www.agclassroom.org • Curriculum Matrix • Student Center

• Teacher Center • National Conference

Feed My School

(Georgia Grown, Georgia Department of Agriculture) http://feedmyschool.org/FMS/home • For the Classroom (activity books) • Resources • Featured Schools • Featured Resources

Special thanks to the AgMag contributors!

AFB Foundation for Agriculture

Recommended books and other publications for agriculture http://www.agfoundation.org/recommended-pubs

Georgia Farm Monitor

Check them out on YouTube for agriculture stories from around the state.

The mission of Georgia Agriculture in the Classroom is to provide educational resources and training opportunities to assist formal and informal educators to educate about agriculture while meeting state standards for teaching across the curriculum. GA-AITC is a program of Georgia Farm Bureau.

For more information, contact Georgia Ag in the Classroom P. O. Box 7068 • Macon, GA 31209-7068 478-474-0679 Ext. 5365 • dhrocker@gfb.org

11/17

The Georgia Ag Mag is a project of Georgia Agriculture in the Classroom with funding provided from the GFB Foundation for Agriculture. Visit the website at www.gfbfoundation.org.

GFB Foundation for Agriculture

Katie Duvall, Executive Director

P. O. Box 7068

Macon, GA 31209-7068

478-474-0679 Ext. 5230

kngazda@gfb.org

Donna Rocker, Editor Alicia Tomlinson, Activities Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom Georgia Department of Ag Lili Davis, Graphics