No reason to be blue because July is National Blueberry Month! To honor this sweet fruit, we are featuring the maker behind one of our favorite blueberry products, Blueberry & Hemp Seed Granola from BFit BFly located in Atlanta, GA.

Tawana Cherie is the artisan behind this business that is driven by providing plant-based products that promote health and wellness. We recently had the chance to connect with Tawana about the inspiration behind BFit BFly and what sets her products apart from others available on the market today.

After her son was diagnosed with autism and dairy sensitivities, Tawana made it her mission to craft food that was simple, clean, and fresh while also having an outlet for her passion to create. 

“BFit BFly started in my little Georgia kitchen, testing recipes for how to make dairy-free cookies for my son, Myles, who was diagnosed with autism and dairy sensitivities. 

Spending time in the kitchen was therapeutic. It gave me not only space to create, but a sense of purpose that I was doing something to help my son with his food sensitivities. That purpose ultimately fueled my passion for baking and cooking health-inspired food for others, thus creating BFit BFly.”

Each product Tawana makes is filled with simple ingredients that are nutritionally-balanced and she derives inspiration from her love of fruit, familiar healthy ingredients, and holidays or seasons. 

“BFit BFly products are crafted with simple organic ingredients that bring together a balance of protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

The inspiration behind the product flavors first, comes from my love of natural sweet fruits like blueberries and cranberries. Then pairing the natural fruits with something familiar, healthy, and fun, like hemp seeds with blueberry, or dairy free chocolate chips with cranberry.  

Other flavors are inspired from a season or holiday…who doesn’t love a pumpkin spice gourmet granola during the fall and a holiday blend in the winter? Here at BFit BFly we love this stuff.”

With all of the health-centric foods available on the market today, you may wonder what makes BFit BFly products different. Tawana let us know this answer is four-fold:

“BFit BFly products are unique vs. what you find in most stores because: 

1.  The way we make our snacks. Each bag is handcrafted and baked in small batches (which helps keep the product fresh). 
2. All ingredients are personally sourced within Georgia and the surrounding areas to ensure the best possible product. 
3. Our snacks are dairy free and vegan (which allows most people with digestive issues and sensitivities to enjoy our products). 
4. It’s a mommy-owned company (so you know health and simplicity is always the priority when creating a product).”

As a culinary expert, we had to ask what’s Tawana’s favorite recipe to enjoy during the heat of the summer. 

“My favorite easy summer recipe is grilled peaches with a dollop of dairy free plain yogurt and BFit BFly Hemp Seeds and Blueberry gourmet granola crumbled on top. So good and guilt free.”

There’s no doubt about it: BFit BFly is providing delicious, healthful products unlike the rest, and we’re proud to support this black woman-owned business. If you want to try BFit BFly Hemp Seeds and Blueberry gourmet granola for yourself, order your own bag on our website or our Take a Hike gift box to get a taste of this granola as well as other snacks and sips made for the great outdoors.

The freezing temperatures and shorter days have the Georgia Crafted Peaches craving all things cozy. When we want to make our homes feel (and smell) warm and inviting, we reach for a Jack Be Nimble candle. 

Recently, we had the chance to sit down with Paul “Jack” Bruschi, a former professional ballet dancer and founder of Jack Be Nimble candles. 

In 2008, Paul founded Jack Be Nimble after being dissatisfied with run-of-the-mill, low-quality candles offered in stores. 

“I decided I was tired of buying candles that smelled great in the store just to get them home, and they lost their smell after a couple of burns. I knew there had to be a better way.”

With that, Paul began crafting his own signature formula that would later be the foundation for all Jack Be Nimble candles. 

 “I started experimenting and a year later, I felt I had the formula that would make a candle that smelled amazing from start to finish.  Jack Be Nimble was born and I still use that same formula today in all our candles.”

Jack Be Nimble upholds an unwavering commitment to quality that you won’t find in big box store candles. Hand-poured in batches of 12 in their Atlanta studio, all Jack Be Nimble candles are made using American grown soy wax, all-natural cotton wicks & fine fragrance oils. Plus, each candle has a clean burn time of 50+ hours.

When it comes to the divine smell of each Jack Be Nimble candle, Paul is inspired by smells that ignite nostalgia, like his fond memories of his childhood in Georgia, and his devoted customer base.

“I love developing scents that are nostalgic in some way and recall some pleasant memory from your past. Many of our scents, like Georgia On My Mind, come from things I remember from my childhood growing up in Georgia. Other scent ideas come from our amazing customers who ask if we can make a candle that smells like this or that.”

After coming up with another scent, the real work begins, as the process for creating a new candle scent can take up to a year.

“When I do come up with an idea, it usually takes up to a year to fully develop and test the scent.”

After twirling the top off of any Jack Be Nimble candle, you’ll find yourself inhaling deep and smiling as you breathe in each cozy note. Even before lighting one of these beautiful candles, Paul wants the scents to bring happiness to anyone who smells them.

“I really want the scents to bring a smile to someone’s face. I see it when people pick up a scent and smell it for the first time. Whether the smell reminds them of Christmas morning at their grandmother’s house or a relaxing day at the spa, I want them to make people happy.

With scents like Rustic, Harvest, Nutmeg & Ginger, and Georgia On My Mind, a Jack Be Nimble candle is the perfect way to bring folks together at every gathering. 

As the holiday season gears up, we couldn’t help but ask Paul some of his best entertaining tips. His answer: simplicity is key.

“I say keep it simple. You can’t have fun if you are working the entire time your guests are with you. Prep or buy your food and beverages ahead of time, light your Jack Be Nimble candles 2-3 hours before your party starts, and then relax and enjoy your family or friends.”

What’s Paul’s suggested host or hostess gift to bring along with you to every gathering this holiday season? Give a more thoughtful “Thank You” to your host(s) by choosing a Jack Be Nimble candle. 

“So many people are tired of giving a bottle of wine and are turning to unique gifts like our candles. Candles are a more personal gift and I always think including a handwritten note with the candle is a nice touch.”

Finally, as a Georgia native, Paul has had ample opportunity to explore the Peach State. His favorite Explore Georgia adventure? Visiting old houses that have a unique history to share and provide inspiration for his candles.

“I love exploring old homes whether in South Georgia, the Coast, or the Georgia mountains.  Old homes remind me of my youth and I get lots of inspiration for candles by visiting historic places or homes around the State.”

As the Georgia Crafted Peaches settle in for chilly season in Georgia, you can rest assured that we have a Jack Be Nimble candle lit to warm our homes and our hearts with every sniff.

If you want to bring the cozy feeling from lighting a Jack Be Nimble candle into your home, shop our entire collection here. 

With a disposition as sweet as their small-batch spreads, Suzy and Clark Neal, the makers behind Unicoi Preserves, are two of the nicest folks you’ll ever have the chance to meet.

Residing in the North Georgia mountains, Sautee-Nacoochee to be exact, this couple has a passion for creating Georgia Grown spreads that are sure to bring people together whether used in a party food, on a cheese plate, or in an old-fashioned PB&J.

Recently, we had the opportunity to chat with Suzy about everything that’s been going on for the Georgia artisans including their newest product addition, award-nominated pretzel rolls, and much more.

When your Georgia Crafted Peaches first found out about Unicoi Preserves’ newest jar of goodness, we were immensely excited to discuss their sweet with a little heat Cherry Jalapeno spread.

The idea for this sweet and spicy spread came from their love of cherries but with a little twist of flavor.

“Cherry Jalapeno Spread came about from our love of cherries. Clark and I look forward to cherry season every year and think that the bright, tart flavor of cherry is complimented by the spice of jalapeno peppers. Ours is a unique recipe that we have been cooking and taste testing for over a year, working to get the balance of sweet, tart and heat just right.”

As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, this spread is perfect for your holiday recipes and to include in a Georgia Crafted gift box.

“This is a beautiful product for the holiday season and gifting; it's just so festive spooned over goat cheese or cream cheese. We are all about entertaining and Unicoi Preserves Cherry Jalapeno Spread is the perfect pair with Georgia Crafted bamboo cheese boards.”

Adding their newest spread to their collection of other delicious flavors such as Vineyard, Vineyard Fire or Apple Cider Pepper has given Suzy and Clark plenty of new recipes to explore.

“Clark and I have been creating new recipes using Cherry Jalapeno Spread so stay tuned. It’s delicious on a toasted panini sandwich with roast beef and your favorite melty cheese and on bagels with a schmear of cream cheese.”

Not only are the Neal’s talented when it comes to concocting delectable spreads, but they also create delicious recipes to share with all of their friends, family, and followers. If there’s anybody’s get-together your Georgia Crafted Peaches would like to attend, it’s a party at the Neal house because they’ll serve up get-in-your-belly-good food.  

Recently, Suzy’s recipe for Peanut Butter Pretzel Rolls was a top contender at the National Festival of Breads in Manhattan, KS.

“I am very honored to have my Peanut Butter Pretzel Roll recipe chosen from over 300 entries as a finalist at the National Festival of Breads. Bread baking is a hobby I shared with my Mom and I'm always looking for unique ways to spotlight Unicoi Preserves, so a bread baking competition was right up my alley!"

"I created my recipe, took some pictures of my bread and submitted it online following the guidelines of the contest. I was thrilled to get a phone call from the organizers of the event asking if I was available to come to Kansas to compete and immediately said yes.  I competed in the Food Blogger category against three wonderful bakers and while I didn't win my category, I came away a winner with great memories, a lot of nice swag from the sponsors, new friendships and connections.”

Suzy’s Peanut Butter Pretzel Rolls are easy to bake and are best served with Unicoi Preserves Strawberry Vanilla Spread. 

When it comes to Suzy’s favorite recipe to cook up during the hot summer months, she prefers a delicious appetizer that brings the heat as well: Her Jalapeno Poppers glazed with Unicoi Preserves.

“There are never any leftovers when we take them to parties. We usually use Apple Cider Pepper Spread but we've recently tried our new Cherry Jalapeno Spread and its great as a glaze on them too!”   

With so many different flavors of Unicoi Preserves spreads to choose from, you have to wonder which flavors best reflect the personalities of the artisans.

Suzy says, “I'm Salted Caramel Peach Spread because I'm constantly looking at what's trending in the food world and I'm a proud Georgia Grown Peach!”

As for Clark, “He’s Strawberry Vanilla Spread because he's a traditional guy but is always up for an adventure and putting his unique twist on traditional recipes.”

To check out more delicious recipes from Unicoi Preserves, click here. We promise you’ll be hungry as soon as you start scrolling. To add all of their spreads to your pantry, you can shop our Unicoi Preserves collection to ship these little jars of goodness right to your doorstep.

As I pass Forsyth Park with its famous fountain where Forrest Gump dropped notable one-liners, I admire the oak trees with Spanish moss swaying with the Spring Breeze. A businessman is walking down the sidewalk getting to his office, two friends are walking along a path chatting, and tourists are already filling the park to take pictures of this historic site. These individuals have been brought together by the city of Savannah where life never gets old.

Traveling down the cobblestone streets of Savannah, it’s easy to get lost in the beauty of antiquity and history. I turn down West Hall Street in the historic district and find the cottage marked 208.

I ring the doorbell to the Salacia Salts Studio and the walking epitome of Southern sophistication wearing bright colors and pearls around her neck gracefully strolls up to greet me.

A woman of many talents, Cari Clark Phelps, is the owner and founder of Salacia Salts as well as her own design firm, Clark Creative.

She unlocks the front door and we’re transported to a place filled with the sound of seagulls and crashing waves.

As soon as you walk through the doors of the studio, you inhale the smell of relaxation and the sea, and exhale any worries you had before you walked through the door. The Salacia Salts Studio may be located in the heart of Savannah but the nautical décor and beach vibe makes the spot feel like you’re a few miles down the road on Tybee Island.

This small business is filled with bath and beauty products made from all-natural organic ingredients locally-sourced and inspired by scents of the South.

Like all other great prophecies, the idea for Salacia Salts came from a dream.

“I have helped brand companies and do packaging design for the past 15 years and in my dream I was helping someone find an economical way to package salt. I was also in the middle of a renovation with my husband in our historic downtown home. In the process, we were finding a lot of cool old things in our backyard including glass bottles.  I think I kind of merged what was happening in my real life at work and at home and had this dream that I was packing salts in a reclaimed bottle. I woke up and told my husband about this crazy weird dream I was having and he said, ‘Did you know that Tybee Island, 20 minutes off of our coast, is the Native American word for salt?’”

After having the dream, Phelps began researching everything she needed to know about salt.

Although most of us view salt simply as a way to season our food, she discovered that there was much more to this mineral.

“Salt is a natural cleanser and can be used as a household cleanser and as an exfoliant. It extracts and helps get rid of different types of dirt from your body and your environment. It’s great to detox and soften your skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. I don’t know specifically how many uses there are for salt but I know there are hundreds.”

With that, Salacia Salts was born. Phelps used her knowledge of salt as well as insights from her travels and living in the South to begin experimenting with local ingredients to create her products.

“I find ingredients that are natural or native to this area and try to use anything that’s Georgia Grown. The grits are grown in Lakeland, Georgia. Our pecans are grown in Valdosta. Our rosemary comes from an organic farm in Florida. I always try to use things that you can find in our area so that ends up being the catalyst for everything we’re developing.”

However, sometimes products don’t go as planned but can still end up working out for the best. After much urging from customers, Phelps started trying to create a foot scrub that would not be as slippery as her moisturizing salt soaks or body scrubs. However, after realizing that all of the ingredients were edible, she ended up making a completely different product.

“I had pumice, grits, sugar, salt, and I tried a whole bunch of different things that would exfoliate gently and naturally. When I removed the pumice and I was blending everything, I realized that all of it was edible. Because I’m a foodie at heart, I tasted it and thought this has some potential if I added more sugar. As I did, I realized, ‘Kiss my Grits’ because it had grits in it, it was sugary and I was using it on my lips. No longer was it a foot scrub. Instead, it became our signature product and it’s our number one bestseller.”

From your lips to your toes, Phelps has created products filled with natural ingredients to make every inch of your body feel soft, exfoliated, and moisturized.

With inspiration from the South and the sea, Phelps wants anyone using her products to feel relaxed and comfortable like a day at the beach.

“I want them to have the feeling at the end of the day when you’ve been at the beach. You’re at peace with nature, relaxed, and calm, but there’s also a comfort side with the fragrances of the South.”

Much like the warmth of the sun on your back or the feeling of sand between your toes, using any of the Salacia Salts products specially crafted by Phelps and her team, from soaps to salt soaks to lip scrubs, you will feel like you’ve given yourself a short getaway if only for a few minutes.

To pamper yourself with a gift from the Roman goddess of the sea, Salacia, purchase the Salacia Salts Seaside Citrus Salt Soak, Kiss My Grits Lip Scrub, and Southern Pecan Soap in the Build a Gift Box section of our website. You will feel relaxed and lovely after treating yourself to a wonderful spa day with these products from Georgia’s historic city by the Atlantic.

I drive past the blue city limit sign that indicates I have reached the hometown of Luke Bryan, Buster Posey, Phillip Phillips, and Carly Mathis. This small town in Southwest Georgia is not only home to this big talent but also houses some of the finest people you will ever have the opportunity to meet. Most especially, the Goodson family, who are the proud owners of Goodson Pecans, call this small town home.

Goodson Pecans is a small business located in Leesburg, Georgia that creates and sells shelled pecans, gourmet pecans such as the cinnamon sugar or sriracha flavors, and pecan butters. The idea for this business stemmed from Goodson Farms where all of the pecans are harvested for Goodson Pecan products.

David Goodson, the driving force behind making the dream of Goodson Pecans a reality, said that he pushed for his dad, a farmer since 1972, to bring the pecans grown by Goodson Farms to the internet.

“I had always been telling my dad about two years before we started we need to start getting our pecans online. The internet was a huge avenue already for things. We talked about that for two years and nothing. No traction.”

Goodson then took the business idea into his own hands and started to build Goodson Pecans.

“After that second year, I was like I just have to get out there and try it. We built a website and we essentially started Goodson Pecans at that point. We got a business license, and we were selling shelled pecan halves and pieces. The next year we added some sugar coated pecans and every year after that we’ve just been expanding.”

Goodson started running Goodson Pecans from his home, but as the list of pecan products kept growing, a new facility was needed.

As he sits on a metal stool in the middle of their packaging area, he said:

“We moved from our home into here when we started making pecan butter. We couldn’t do that in our home. We were required by the department of agriculture to be in a commercial facility. It was a big step for us to move from our home into a commercial facility.”

The facility is not incredibly large but allows the Goodson family to create most of their gourmet flavors and all of their nut butters in house. The store smells like warm pecans, cinnamon sugar, and chocolate. As you look around, you can tell that this facility is used to create, pack, and send Georgia grown pecans to people all across the country not just in this corner of Georgia.

One flavor of Goodson Pecans, Mimi’s Sugar Pecans, was created from an old family recipe and some flavors, such as the chocolate covered variety, are made locally. However, most of the delectable artisan products that Goodson Pecans sells are surprisingly created by trial and error.

“I love creating and it drives my wife crazy because I’ll say we need to try a savory flavor and I’ll get in the back and play with it. We’d play with recipes and say it needs a little more of this or a little more of this and we’d go back to the kitchen and work it out. That’s how Sriracha came about.”

The Goodson Pecans Gourmet Sriracha flavor has proven to be a successful savory and spicy flavor for the business, winning the 2017 Flavor of Georgia for the snack category.

“Sriracha won Flavor of Georgia back in March, and it’s been flying off the shelves this year. We’ve been super encouraged with it. We never thought that it would have been as popular as it was.”

Goodson Pecans prides itself on being a family business that creates products that are georgia grown.

“Georgia grown is important because of my product and our pecans are Georgia Grown. Pecans taste different here. They taste better. People say that and I’m probably biased but there’s also a little truth behind that.”

Goodson also knows the importance of georgia crafted products to his business as well:

“It’s valuable to be Georgia Crafted because that’s also who we are. We take what we grow and we craft it into something else. We add value to our product and that’s where I think there is great value in being Georgia Crafted.”

In this small town of Leesburg, Georgia, the taste of a Goodson Pecan reminds you that you’re in the part of the South that keeps it Georgia Grown, Georgia Made, and Georgia Crafted. 

To try Goodson Pecans, you can check out the 2017 Flavor of Georgia gift box featuring Goodson Pecans Sriracha flavor or purchase the Cinnamon Sugar or Sriracha flavors by the bag in the Build a Gift Box section of our website.

Welcome to the latest edition of Meet the Artisan! We're excited to introduce you to Roger Harrison of Harrison Family Farm. We featured Harrison Family Farm's "Sweet Jasper Heat" Eudora Chow Chow in a recent subscription box. Those of you with Southern roots were already familiar with Chow Chow, I'm sure, but if you're a Southern "transplant" like me, read on to learn more about Chow Chow and how to use it! Plus all the backstory on Roger, his family, and their family recipes!

(Doesn't this family look like fun?!)

Hi Roger!  Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about you and your family.

I am a ninth generation Jasper County Georgian. My grandmother's side of the family was the Kelleys (the second "e" was later dropped to make it Kelly) who immigrated from Ireland. John Kelley (b. 1630 in Ireland) settled in Virginia, and the family migrated south to Georgia. They settled in Northern Jasper County on what is now Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, a State of Georgia Nature Preserve. The original cabin is mostly gone now, but when I was a kid, my father and I visited it and brought back a dove-tail beam which served as a fire place mantle in my childhood home.

My 83 year old grandmother and I still operate the company. She is my "Chief of Institutional Knowledge," and has taught me all the recipes, tips, and tricks of making our products in the old-fashioned way. 

When did you launch your company? Tell us why you decided to launch.

Although most of our recipes are 200+ years old, and have been made continuously over the generations, we didn't start selling commercially until early 2016. After living all over the country and traveling the world with The Coca-Cola Company, I moved back to the farm to help with my aging and failing 85 year-old grandfather. My undergrad degree is in theatre, and I've had some moderate success in the film/tv/modeling industry booming in Georgia. Like any actor, it's rare to be booked every day of the week, so I started Harrison Family Farm, LLC to fill the down time. Little did I know it would consume my days, nights, and weekends in just 9 months.

Since you launched, what would you consider to be your most successful product?

It's really hard to pull one product out as the most successful since our products are so unique and each has its own, at times cult-like, following. We define success as making a quality product that is unique in the market—meaning it's not widely available, but is something people love and often remember from years past.

Clearly, our Eudora Chow Chow, has broken all barriers as it is now the largest artisan small-batch chow chow in the Southeastern United States. To go from 0 to light speed in the course of one calendar year is simply remarkable, and speaks to the incredible recipe, quality, and versatility of the product. When we launched it, we marketed it as more than just a condiment/topping for beans or veggies like older generations remember. It's really great paired with meats as well. Emory University's Oxford Campus uses it as a relish on their hot dog bar. The Company Store, in Porterdale, GA serves a Chow Chow Burger, and Bennie's Red Barn, in St. Simons Island, GA serves it as a side with their premium grass fed beef. People have discovered what a great addition it is in southern salads, like potato salad, chicken salad, or egg salad, and substitutes wonderfully for dill relish in deviled eggs. 

What has been a true highlight of launching your business?

We make the products just like our ancestors did; local produce, no preservatives, no fillers, and wholesome ingredients. If we were able to reach back into time, and taste the products next to each other, they would be strikingly similar, and we know that because our oldest living relatives and neighbors tell us the products "taste just like mama and grandma used to make." Seeing the smiles on their faces when they taste our family recipe products is truly priceless. Much like music, there is a connection to food that transcends time and space, and triggers multiple senses in the body. We are truly honored and grateful that we can connect people to their past with our products. 

We make the products just like our ancestors did; local produce, no preservatives, no fillers, and wholesome ingredients.

Last question: Do you have any new products coming out soon?  If so, can you give us a hint?

We don't want to be so broad in our product offering that we lose the quality for which we have become known. Currently, we offer 6 Gourmet Balsamic Vinaigrettes. We blend authentic imported Italian Balsamic Vinegar, from the Modena Region of Italy, with Georgia Grown produce, like blueberries, Vidalia Onions, Georgia Peaches, Georgia Tomatoes, and Strawberries, to create unique and flavorful dressings and marinades. I anticipate we will launch a low fat Herb Vinaigrette in January to tap into the New Year's Resolution Health Conscious market. Past that, we won't look at new product introduction until the growing/harvest season re-starts in Georgia in the late spring/early summer. 

Find Roger and Harrison Family Farms online:

Facebook: harrisonfamfarm
Instagram: harrisonfamilyfarm
www.harrisonfamily.farm

Thank you, Roger!

Our Meet the Artisan series continues today with Lauri Jo Bennett of Lauri Jo's Southern Style Canning. Our subscribers will recognize Lauri Jo's name since we featured her delicious Georgia Peach Salsa in the August subscription box. You might also recognize Lauri Jo's name from the October 2016 issue of Southern Living magazine—way to go, Lauri Jo!

Lauri Jo Bennett is a wife, mom, former teacher, and entrepreneur in Norman Park, GA. Lauri Jo took her family tradition and personal hobby of canning—along with hand-written family recipes—and built an award-winning business. Her company produces southern favorites like pepper jellies, pickles, and more.

Lauri Jo told us that throughout her married life, she had canned fresh vegetables for her family, using the canning plant at a local high school. Now, Lauri Jo does all her canning in-house in her very own 4000-sq-ft processing facility. We're inspired to hear that Lauri Jo has achieved such success, from very relatable beginnings!

Lauri Jo, when did you launch your company? Tell us why you decided to launch.

"My business launched in September of 2009 from a much loved hobby.  After giving away gifts for my husband's trucking company made of fruits of my labor from the summer at the canning plant putting up salsa, jams, soups, and pickles, I decided to see if it really would sell. Here we are today in over 1,200 outlets."

Since you launched, what would you consider to be your most successful product?

"Our most successful product is our Southern Pecan Pepper Jelly."

What has been a true highlight of launching your business?

"I think I would have to say my biggest highlight since launching our business would have to be getting emails and notifications from people across the US telling me how much the love the products and the different ways they use them. I also love traveling the Southeast speaking and sharing my story while promoting other great Georgia Grown Entrepreneurs as well."

Thank you for sharing your story with Georgia Crafted, Lauri Jo!

You can order Lauri Jo's Georgia Peach Salsa here on the Georgia Crafted website and be sure to keep your eye out, on our site, for more of her products this holiday season!

Welcome to the very first edition of our new "Meet the Artisan" series! We'll be introducing you to the artisans, makers, farmers and more who create the products you love, right here in Georgia. We hope you'll enjoy getting to know them, just like having a chat with a vendor at your local farmers' market.

To kick off the series, we're excited to interview Clay Oliver. Clay is the farmer behind Oliver Farm, makers of award-winning artisan oils and the fantastic Pecan Flour featured in our August subscription box.

Hi Clay!  Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about you and your family.

"My name is Clay Oliver.  I am a fifth generation farmer from Pitts, GA.  My wife, Valerie, and I have two girls.  Maggie is the oldest and is ten.  Mollie is eight.  We make cold pressed, unrefined, non-GMO oils and gluten-free flours.  We press and bottle everything here on our GA Centennial Farm.  Oliver Farm is a family farm.  My mother Jurice, and brother Clint Oliver focus on the row crop and cattle operation."

When did you launch your company? Tell us why you decided to launch.

"During the midst of the economic downturn beginning in 2008, I began researching the possibility of on-farm biofuel production.  By 2012, I had decided to try making cold pressed culinary oils from seeds and nuts either grown on the farm or sourced locally.  I formed Oliver Oil Co in 2013."

Since you launched, what would you consider to be your most successful product?

"To date, we have made oil from eleven different seeds and nuts.  The most popular have been the 2015 Good Food Award winning Pecan Oil, our estate grown Sunflower Oil, and the 2016 Good Food winner Green Peanut Oil.  These oils were chosen as Garden and Gun's Made in the South Food category winner in 2015.  Of our flours, the Pecan Flour has been the most popular."

What has been a true highlight of launching your business?

"There have been many highlights in launching this business.  That special gratification that comes from seeing a dream come to fruition, accolades for our products, recognition from the state of GA for our innovation and bringing attention to our great state, but I am most proud of the fact that Valerie and I are able to work together every day at something we both enjoy." 

I am most proud of the fact that Valerie and I are able to work together everyday at something we both enjoy.

- Clay Oliver

Do you have any new products coming out soon?  If so, can you give us a hint?

"We are now offering Pumpkin Seed Oil and Benne Seed Oil and their gluten free flours year round.  I have also done a little with hemp seed oil and flour.  I have not opened it up for retail sales, just some R and D to chefs."

Thank you, Clay, for sharing your story with Georgia Crafted! 

You can order BOTH the Pecan Oil and Pecan Flour on our website! We will ship within 24 hours (inventory permitting)