[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 183 (Thursday, December 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING GEORGIA OLIVE FARMS

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                           HON. JACK KINGSTON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2011

  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Georgia Olive 
Farms for successfully harvesting the first olive crop in the eastern 
United States in nearly 125 years.
  An Italian vacation inspired Jason Shaw to envision olives being 
grown in, of all places in the world, South Georgia. To make his vision 
a reality, he partnered with his brother Sam Shaw and cousin Kevin Shaw 
and the trio planted their first olive orchard near Lakeland, Georgia 
in 2008. They later established a cooperative association with George 
Hughes and Berrien Sutton of Homerville, Georgia to create Georgia 
Olive Farms.
  Georgia Olive Farms was organized in 2009 near Lakeland, Georgia to 
establish and develop the innovative agricultural venture of mechanical 
olive harvesting. In September, they successfully harvested 
approximately three tons of arbequina olives to be processed into high 
quality extra virgin olive oil. This harvest marks a milestone in 
southern agriculture, as this was the first harvest of olives in not 
just the south, but in the entire eastern United States since the late 
1800s. In addition to harvesting, they are a distributor of olive trees 
and offer grower contracts for others who may wish to expand this 
historical venture in order to introduce olives as a new viable cash 
crop for southern farmers.
  Georgia Olive Farms' innovative techniques and information sharing 
have potential implications for some of our country's great problems. 
Georgia Olive Farms has developed a new market which will create a new 
revenue source for farmers, create new employment opportunities, and 
expand agricultural innovations and inspirations. Moreover, the new 
market for olives will increase the production of olive oil made here 
in America. As such, American-made olive oil can finally be a 
significant and healthy alternative to the standard cooking oils that 
are correlated with the high rates of obesity and health concerns 
plaguing this country. Georgia Olive Farms now exists as a reminder 
that the innovations and visions of small businesses do in fact provide 
the answers to many of our country's great questions and that we must 
obligate ourselves to supporting them.

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