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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!

We're excited to have new and updated gift boxes coming for this holiday season! Today, we're revealing the first one:

The Southern Baking Kit

We created this gift box full of Georgia-made treats for anyone who loves to bake. This would be especially thoughtful as a gift for a new home owner, a family who bakes with their kids, or as a host gift.

Here's what's inside:

Chocolate Chewy Square Mix
Dr. Pete's, Savannah, GA

Dr. Pete's Savannah-made mix bakes up into fudgy squares, like the best brownies you've ever tasted. All you need to add is butter and an egg.

Pecan Flour
Oliver Farm, Pitts, GA

This gluten-free flour has a variety of uses in baking. We've shared a Triple Chocolate Pecan Brownie recipe. You can find even more recipes on the Oliver Farm website's recipe page.

Pecan Oil
Oliver Farm, Pitts, GA

Another favorite from Oliver Farm, this Pecan Oil can be used for baking, or even for frying chicken. And if you didn't catch it, the New York Times recently featured Clay Oliver of Oliver Farms for his artisanal Green Peanut Oil. 

Peach Cobbler Mix
Lane Southern Orchard, Fort Valley, GA

Make a Georgia classic peach cobbler, with this Georgia-made mix. Bakes up with fresh, canned, or frozen peaches, so you can enjoy it any time of year.

Banana Bread Mix
Back to the Basics 101, Cochran, GA

This banana bread mix was a Finalist in the 2016 Flavor of Georgia competition! The first ingredient is 100% whole wheat flour. This soft wheat flour is grown on a family farm and stone-ground, right here in GA. 

Whip It Good tea towel
French Silver, Marietta, GA

"Whip it. Whip it good." This towel from French Silver in Marietta, GA, will bring a little humor to your kitchen. The design is printed on a 100% cotton, soft & absorbent flour sack towel—great for drying dishes.

You can purchase this baking gift box on our site here: Southern Baking Kit.

At Georgia Crafted, we've got autumn on our minds. And our October "Georgia On My Mind" subscription box, in partnership with Explore Georgia, will be shipping soon!

Today, we're revealing the contents from our September subscription box. If you missed out, this is your chance to get a peek into the Georgia-made goodies we sent out last month. If you're intrigued by the products—or if you received the September box and want to order more of your favorites—you can purchase items individually in the Build a Gift Box section of our site. I'll give links to each product below in the reveal, too!

Remember, you can visit the Subscribe section of our site to sign up for the November box. We offer 1 month, 3 month, or 6 month options.

Now, without further ado...

September Finds

In our September Discovery Box, you'll find 4 different products. As always, these goodies are Made in Georgia! 

Apple Cider Pepper Spread

Unicoi Preserves, Cleveland, GA

For September, we wanted to include something with apples to celebrate the start of apple season. In this Apple Cider Pepper spread from Unicoi Preserves, local apple cider meets the heat of jalapeños. It's no wonder that this Apple Cider Pepper Spread was a finalist in the 2015 Flavor of Georgia competition! 

Try serving this spread over cream cheese with crackers, or spread it on a smoked turkey and cheese sandwich.

 
Order HERE!

Sweet Jasper Heat Eudora Chow Chow

Harrison Family Farm, Monticello, GA

Enjoy this old family for a Southern delicacy known as chow-chow. For those of you not raised in the south, chow-chow is a tangy vegetable relish. It's traditionally served over beans or canned vegetables to add some zing. You might also enjoy adding chow-chow as a condiment on your barbecue sandwich.

 
Order HERE!

Georgia coasters

Our Georgia coasters are made of a durable wood composite. Use these 4x4 coasters when you have friends and family over! We sent 2 coasters in each September box, but you can round out your set by picking up a few more on our site. They'll make a great stocking stuffer for the holidays, too!

 
Order HERE!

Fall Puppy Chow

Freckled & Blue Kitchen, Smyrna, GA

Freckled & Blue, our Smyrna neighbor, created this sweet snack—with both pumpkin and candy corn to celebrate the fall season.

When you sign up for a Georgia Crafted Subscription Box, you will receive a wide array of products - all to help you Discover what amazing products are being made right here in Georgia. 

We are officially taking pre-orders for our November Subscription Box! You have until 10/31 to sign up, and you will receive your box between the 15th and 25th of November. We're already sourcing new local and seasonal products for you—it's going to be a good one!

You can sign up here: https://georgiacrafted.com/collections/subscribe

We hope you enjoyed our "September Finds" reveal!

Check out these new products available on our site this month! All of these items are available à la carte in the Build a Gift Box section of our store.

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

This Pumpkin Spice Syrup is made with real pumpkin and spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Drizzle it over waffles, pancakes, or even oatmeal for a seasonal breakfast treat. Add it to your coffee for a homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte!

Buy a bottle of Pumpkin Spice Syrup here!

Shower Bombs

Thievery Shower Bomb

Fall has finally come to Georgia (yay!), but that means cold and flu season isn't far behind. This Shower Bomb will turn your shower into a spa-like steam treatment. It's scented with a Thievery essential oil blend, including Cinnamon, Clove, Rosemary, Eucalyptus & Lemon.  This blend is known to help with cold & flu germs.

Buy a Thievery Shower Bomb here!

Aller-Ease Shower Bomb

Just like the Thievery Shower Bomb, this Aller-Ease Shower Bomb will turn your shower into a relaxing steam treatment with essential oils. It's like a bath bomb for the shower! The Aller-Ease blend includes Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint essential oils to reduce symptoms of allergies and hay fever.

Buy an Aller-Ease Shower Bomb here!

Lip Balms

We're now stocking Pucker Stick lip balms in Margarita, Ginger Lemongrass, and Peppermint. These balms are creamy and smooth, never waxy or greasy—and they're 100% natural, too.

Buy a pucker stick (or 2!) here: Margarita, Ginger Lemongrass, Peppermint.

As always, our new products are made in Georgia by local businesses, creating artisan-style products in small batches. We're proud to support the state of Georgia! This month's new products come from Blackberry Patch in Thomasville, GA and rinse bath & body co. in Monroe, GA.

We featured delicious, gluten free Oliver Farm Pecan Flour in our August subscription box. Have you used yours yet? You can also buy a bag of this Pecan Flour in our shop, whether you missed out in August or you're ready to buy more.

Here's a great way to use that Pecan Flour: Clay at Oliver Farms sent over a decadent pecan flour brownie recipe. With triple chocolate and double pecans (and 2 sticks of butter, y'all!), these brownies promise to be a truly special treat.

Pecan Flour Brownies

These pecan flour brownies are a rich, triple-chocolate treat—perfect for a special occasion. Top with vanilla ice cream for an even-sweeter treat!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (gluten-free if needed)

• 1/4 cup Oliver Farms Pecan Flour

• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

• 1 cup toasted pecan halves, finely chopped

• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

• 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature and cut into pieces

• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

• 4 large eggs, room temperature

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Position rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 350º F.

2. Coat a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray, and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, pecan flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in chocolate chips and chopped pecans.

4. Gently melt chopped semisweet chocolate, unsweet chocolate, and butter together in a medium bowl over simmering water, or in a microwaveable bowl. Cool to lukewarm.

5. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in the lukewarm chocolate mixture while whisking, then allow to cool to room temperature.

6. Add the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined.

7. Pour into prepared pan.

8. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, rotating once during baking, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Do not overbake.

9. Cool on a rack before cutting.

These brownies can be stored at room temperature in an air-tight container. Best eaten within 3 days.

Recipe courtesy of Oliver Farm, via Dede Wilson on bakepedia.

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!

Georgia Crafted has been featured as a Made in America favorite business in the South. Head over to Krrb.com's blog, where they're "celebrating the best handmade, eco-friendly and small batch goods the country has to offer," to find out why Georgia Crafted is their top pick for the state of Georgia.

Here's a hint: they think we're the "easiest (and most fun) way to shop locally"—and we agree!

Check it out!

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)

It's really hard to believe that, today, we are celebrating our 3rd birthday.  I recently pulled out my "business plan" that I wrote back in June/July of 2013 and chuckled as I read all about the "subscription box" program I was going to launch.  To think how much Georgia Crafted has grown and changed - all very organically - over the past three years is amazing.

When we first launched, we dreamed of curating items ONCE a month and shipping ONCE a month - really just to give people a whole new way to discover Georgia-made products through our Subscription Box Program. Today, we carry over 100 Georgia-made items, have a wide array of themed gift boxes, still offer a subscription program, have partnerships with amazing organizations such as the Georgia Department of Tourism and Georgia Grown, have been named Top Business to Watch by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce two years in a row, and have provided gift boxes for incredible corporations such as CNN, Chick-fil-A and Georgia-Pacific. We've even launched our own line of State-Shaped Bamboo Cheese Boards, and are the supplier of Georgia Made Products to various gift shops and restaurants, including the Ritz Carlton Downtown Atlanta location.

Our dream of helping get the products from small local artisans into the hands of others has been a dream come true...and we hope to continue doing this for years to come!

Happy September 1st, y'all!  How did that just happen? Seriously. It's September 1st. That means college football season is finally upon us, and cooler weather is just around the corner. It also means that holiday shopping is REALLY around the corner! We can't wait! :)

Last week, we shipped out our "August Finds" Box. After spending 5 days at AmericasMart in July and discovering SO many new products, we thought August would be a fun month to send you a Discovery Box filled with 4 of our favorites from this year's show. 

With that being said...drum roll please!!! Introducing the "August Finds" box!

In this Discovery Box, we curated 4 products from all over Georgia - Norman Park, Savannah, Pitts and Marietta, Georgia. 

Georgia Peach Salsa
Lauri Jo's - Norman Park, GA
All I can say is WOW.  This stuff is GOOD. The perfect fruit-salsa ratio if you ask me and it just screams Georgia! Laurie Jo's is based in Norman Park, GA.  While she is widely known for her incredible pepper jellies, she has an incredible line of other products including this Salsa.  We are a HUGE fan and expect to see this product for a long time on our website!

Order HERE!

Pimento Cheese Dressing
Dr. Pete's - Savannah
When I think back to my time at AmericasMart last month, I sometimes chuckle to myself because every time I walked past Dr. Pete's corner booth, I would seriously try to SNEAK a taste of their Pimento Cheese Dressing. I wish there was video footage of my face when I first had it - priceless.  Pimento Cheese Dressing, y'all! SO.DARN.GOOD.

Order HERE!


Pecan Flour
Oliver Farm - Pitt's, GA
You may be asking what is Pecan Flour exactly.  Well, it's a type of Gluten Free baking flour made from pecans.  It's that simple.  It's such an incredible replacement for traditional white & wheat flour. It is downright amazing in some pancakes or even some brownies.  We will be touching upon this a bit more in the near future...but let's just say this should be a staple in your pantry!

Order HERE!

Lemongrass & Mint Soap
Indigo Bath & Body - Marietta, GA
You can never go wrong with a bar of soap from Indigo Bath & Body. The girls who run this company are not only some of the coolest in Georgia - they are amazing entrepreneurs and run their business from their farm in Marietta. The ingredients in their soap - Lemongrass & Mint - are not store-bought ingredients.  They are grown right there on their farm and incorporated into their products.  I'd like to call that Farm to Body (I'm going to coin this term and make it mine, y'all!).

Seriously - get yourself some of this soap. It lasts an extremely long time and smells amazing.

Order HERE!

When you sign up for a Georgia Crafted Subscription Box, you will receive a wide array of products - all to help you Discover what amazing products are being made right here in Georgia. 

We are officially taking pre-orders for our "Georgia On My Mind" Subscription Box that is in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Tourism! You have until 9/30 to sign up and you will receive your box between the 15th and 25th of October!


You can sign up here: https://georgiacrafted.com/collections/subscribe

This box will contain 4 products that will definitely keep Georgia On Your Mind! 

We hope you enjoyed our "August Finds" reveal!

We were so happy when we met Lia Picard, owner of The Cardigan Kitchen...an absolutely incredible blog that I had been following for quite some time.  We met up at Porch Light Latin Kitchen one evening over drinks and hit it off immediately.  Lia gladly accepted our Flavor of Georgia Gift Box and, based on what we read, absolutely LOVED it!

Read out how much she enjoyed the Spicy Southern Cheese Straws, Mayhaw Pepper Jelly, Zucchini Relish and incredible award-winning Caramel Pecan Pie.

Read all about it here:

https://thecardigankitchen.com/2016/08/11/georgia-crafteds-flavor-of-georgia-box/