Finding Special Food Items Prepared in Georgia

by Kevin Smith Author

It used to be easier to buy a truckload of pecans than a bottle of locally-prepared barbeque sauce. No more. You can still buy the pecans, but artisan specialty foods in Georgia are becoming widely available, and include not only local BBQ sauces but hot sauces, olive oils, goat cheeses, all manner of things. This brings about a very happy union of items grown and/or raised locally with a skilled hand and pallet to create a product worthy of gracing the table in Georgia, or anywhere for that matter. Read more about these items in this blog.

Our History

Artisans use their hands and talent to create special, near artistic items. Our artisans' creations are meant to be consumed and savored. It's not the look of the nut butter, it's the taste! So there are things you would expect to find in Georgia, like a great BBQ sauce, and some you wouldn't, like extra virgin olive oil. This lovely outcome is the result of history, new immigrants settling here bringing their traditional recipes, the general increased sophistication of the American palette, and the farming community providing a new level of fresh food items. Sometimes, it's also the result of someone being brave (or foolish?) enough to try to do what no one else has done.

Our Abundance

Presently, the availability of artisan food options are as varied as the imagination. Consider the following:

Extra virgin olive oil, pioneered by Georgia Olive Farm of Lakeland
Honey and honey-based products, from companies like Built by Bees
Sauces inspired by other cultures, for example, Chinese Southern Bell, an award winner
Pickles, relishes, and other condiments, as exemplified by Grump's Pepper Jelly or Jake's
Wineries, too numerous to mention

This only begins to scratch the surface of items available to Georgians. There are bakers, makers of jams and jellies, marinades, sauces of all types, millers of wheat and grits, coffee roasters, snack makers, it simply goes on!

Getting to Everyone

Some of our artisans are based in southern Georgia, others are located throughout the state. The best place to find information would be to view this agricultural bulletin that contains a wealth of details: This will not only provide you with more artisan information, including websites but also where you can find these products in markets. It will soon be apparent that the options for artisan specialty foods in Georgia are extensive.