Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Grower's Association

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Local Labor Brings in the Harvest

June 5, 2011 – 7:43 am |  Filed Under: 
By Mark Davis The Atlanta Journal-Constitution PELHAM — The big engine growled as the tractor-trailer pulled away into the twilight. The truck held cantaloupes, harvested in a hurry that hot day.  In his air-conditioned office at Weybrenee Farms in Mitchell County, Brent Brinkley totaled the daily take and looked pleased. Thirty-seven crates, 10 tons of sweetness.  His inexperienced work force was getting the job done.  “We’re blessed,” he said.  He felt otherwise six weeks ago. A migrant labor crew that harvested his cantaloupes last year didn’t come to Georgia this picking season. The workers, Brinkley said, stayed away because they
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Farm owners, workers worry about immigration law’s impact on crops

June 3, 2011 – 5:39 am |  Filed Under: 
By Craig Schneider The Atlanta Journal-Constitution DOUGLAS -- One hundred degrees worth of heat beats down upon the blackberry field, but Ismael Rodriguez plucks berry after berry with the speed of a veteran fruit picker. Not far away, however, berries are shriveling on the vine on this South Georgia farm. The farm owners say they don't have enough workers during this peak harvest season, namely Hispanic pickers such as Rodriguez. Rodriguez is a migrant worker. He is also an illegal immigrant. And, like many of his fellow pickers, he fears a new state law aimed at illegal immigration. Many migrants
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WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

May 26, 2011 – 10:53 am |  Filed Under: 
TO ALL FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS in Georgia,  WE NEED YOUR HELP!!  Please help!!!  GFVGA needs you to support our industry and place some harvester and/or packing facility job orders with the Department of Labor.  GFVGA will do all the paperwork in filling out the orders, etc.  We have developed two generic job orders - for HARVESTER and PACKING FACILITY WORKER.   Click on either HARVESTER or PACKING FACILITY WORKER - you can fill them out and fax (706-883-8215) or email them back to us (info@gfvga.org).  GFVGA will do all of the work in filing out and submitting the forms for
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Fresh Produce GAPs and GMPs

January 31, 2011 – 7:56 am |  Filed Under: 
Title: Fresh Produce GAPs and GMPs Location: Athens, GALink out: Click hereDescription: This hands-on workshop will teach participants how to develop and document Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Sanitary Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) and Good Management Practices (GMPs) for farm and field operations, packing facilities, cold storage operations and produce shippers. Specific break-out sessions will use HACCP principles to teach participants to identify and prevent food safety hazards, set preventive/control measures and control limits, develop control and monitoring procedures, document and verify the results of their efforts, as established by the International HACCP Alliance.Start Date: 2011-02-15End Date:
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Southeast Regional Awards Breakfast

December 16, 2010 – 7:44 am |  Filed Under: 
Saturday, January 8, 2011 – 8:00 AM – Westin Hotel   A new breakfast presentation will be held on Saturday morning to recognize several key industry leaders for their accomplishments.  Special awards to be presented include the Donnie Morris Excellence in Extension Award and the Mr. Peach Award.  Several individuals will also be honored for the service they have provided to the southeastern fruit and vegetable industry.  Join us at this special breakfast to express our appreciation for the contributions of these individuals.    TICKETS – $29.00 per person.   Click HERE to reserve a ticket
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GFVGA encourages your ‘NO’ vote to S. 510.

December 1, 2010 – 11:50 am |  Filed Under: 
Wednesday, December 1, 2010              To the Georgia Congressional Delegation, Yesterday the Senate passed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510) by a vote of 73 to 25.  Both Senator Chambliss and Senator Isakson voted in opposition to this bill.  This bill may be coming to a vote in the House later this week.  The future direction of this bill is uncertain at this time.     The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) urges you to vote NO to the current legislation.  GFVGA supports a sound science, risk based approach to food safety.  We strongly supported S. 510
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