This past weekend, I joined hundreds of people at Farm Aid in Virginia Beach to celebrate farmers and the essential role they play in our communities. Standing among people I had never met, I was struck by how much our identities are shaped by the places we call home and, for some of us, by the land we are in a relationship with every day. It reminded me of something I’ve learned repeatedly during my time at Georgia Organics: farmers are not a monolith. Every farmer brings their own experiences, challenges, values, and definition of success to their work. As I step into this role, I too carry my own experiences with me while remaining committed to listening, learning, and understanding the diverse perspectives of the farmers we serve. They are my friends, my community, and my neighbors. And after eight years at Georgia Organics, I know I still have so much more to learn.
One lesson that continues to stay with me came in 2022, during a visit to a farm that participated in a Georgia Organics project in Southeast Georgia. Having been taught to focus on high production organic agriculture, I arrived focused on the questions I was accustomed to asking: How many row feet were planted? Which varieties did they choose? Did they choose the ones that mature the fastest (and therefore the correct ones)? How are they planning crop rotations? Looking over the two-acre plot, I remember wondering why anyone would dedicate so much valuable space to broccoli on such small acreage.
When I asked the farmer plainly about this decision, the answer floored me: the children helping manage the garden wanted broccoli. In that moment, I realized that while this wasn’t a production farm it was every bit as vital. The passion, intention, and care for the land were all there—arguably even more so. The experience challenged my assumptions and reinforced a belief I carry today: healthy food systems require many kinds of farms. If our goal is healthy people, connected communities, access to good food, and a world where our children, our neighbors’ children, and all sentient beings can lead full lives, then we need a broader definition of what agriculture can be. We need a bigger tent, one that welcomes everyone committed to caring for the land, rebuilding soil health, nourishing their communities, and contributing to a more resilient future. One type of farm is not more important than another.
That belief will continue to guide my vision for Georgia Organics. In the years ahead, I am excited to deepen our focus on farmer prosperity by working alongside farmers to identify the barriers that stand in the way of long-term success wherever they are on their farming journey. Whether that means exploring access to health benefits, increasing capital access, expanding coaching and mini-grant opportunities, or continuing to create spaces where farmers can learn from and support one another, the need is clear. The challenge before us is not deciding whether these solutions matter. It is determining how we bring them to life.
I am also equally committed to Georgia Organics’ role as a connector. We will continue to bring farmers and eaters closer together, to find opportunities to strengthen relationships between farmers and chefs who tell the story of our food culture, and to create spaces where farmers can share knowledge and build community with one another. Farmers are not only food producers. They are business owners, innovators, environmental stewards, and thought leaders whose insight and experience are essential as we work toward a healthier and more sustainable future.
If there’s one thing I know, it’s that all farmers are worth investing in. Building the future we want for Georgia’s food system will take all of us.
With gratitude,
Lauren Cox
Executive Director
Georgia Organics
