By: Wendy Griffin & Zane Tackett Georgia Grown From Field to Fork! Tifton, GA By: Wendy Griffin & Zane Tackett

Humble Beginnings…. Started in the 1930s by Lewis Taylor as a transplant producer for the Southeastern US 1985: The farm was purchased by Bill Brim and Ed Walker. 1989: The first greenhouse was constructed and just two years later produce production began. 1995: Packing facility constructed 2000: Lewis Taylor Farms contracted Rosemont Farms, Inc. to be the exclusive sales agent for produce. 2007: State of art cantaloupe facility built Today Lewis Taylor Farms serves as one of the largest privately owned vegetable and greenhouse operations in the Southeast!

Produce Products Bell Peppers (& Specialty Peppers) Broccoli Cabbage Cantaloupe Collards Cucumbers Eggplant Kale Mustard (Curly Leaf & Slick Leaf) Squash Tomato Turnip Greens Watermelon Zucchini

The LTF Greenhouses In order to preserve the traditions of the original farm’s founder, LT Farms continues to produce and sell vegetable transplants to growers throughout the South and Southeast US. They currently have over 660,000 square feet of greenhouse growing space giving it the ability to produce over 185 million transplants annually. The farm is also the second largest pine seedling producer in the country, producing a variety of pine seedlings from loblolly to shortleaf. They have 500,400 square feet under pivot irrigation to produce 45 million containerized pine seedlings to meet the needs of producers and the wholesale market.

Quality Produce, LLC. Using the latest technology, Quality Produce, LLC., has over 5,000 acres in plasticulture and ground vegetable production. Most of the acreage is irrigated and fertilized through a computerized drip irrigation system that puts water and nutrients right to the root zone of the plants. The packing facility is equipped with two standard coolers with a storage capacity of 850 pallets or 40,160 bushels, which is over 60 trailer loads of produce. Quality Produce is proudly one of the first among produce farms in Georgia to be certified under GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) and GMP (Good Management Practices). Plasticulture reduces weed competition. This ultimately increases plant yield and promotes production of higher quality vegetables with greater shipping tolerance and a longer shelf life. This irrigation process increases efficiency of water use by 80% while eliminating runoff. Quality Produce can accommodate fresh produce needs from the largest supermarket chains to the independent specialty markets.

Spring Hill Produce, LLC. Spring Hill Produce manages the packing facility specializing in cantaloupes, watermelons, broccoli and greens. For rapid cooling, a state of art Hydro Cooler, slusher and clamshell icer are onsite as an integral part of the produce quality program.

Athena Melon Program Many growers simply put their packed product into a cooler and bring the temperature down over 12-24 hours. Melons are hand selected at peak harvest Fresh water float off pool eliminates bruising and provides first sanitation steps and first critical control point in packinghouse. Cantaloupes washed and pre-graded, another critical control point for sanitization. Cantaloupes are precision sized and expertly graded. Cantaloupes exiting Hydro cooler which lowers core temperature from 100 degrees by 45-50 degrees in 20-30 minutes. This allows for the melons to be loaded directly onto trucks off the line. It also greatly increases the shelf life of the melon.

Food Safety Policy “Our primary concern is that the Vegetable Products we grow and pack are prepared to the highest standards using all the means we can and as a minimum we will comply with all relevant legislation and approved Codes of Practice.” Bill Brim • Produce is grown and packed under sanitary conditions that minimize the risk of cross contamination. • All employees are provided with the information, training and tools necessary to do the job hygienically and in compliance. • All employees comply with company Food Safety Policies and Procedures. • Management will ensure that employees comply and conform to these Standards. • Our Suppliers and Contractors adhere to these high standards. Strive to maintain a Policy of Sustainability, using drip irrigation to conserve water, regularly rotating our fields and fallow periods, and minimizing use of agricultural chemicals. Feel a moral obligation to operate a safe, injury free and healthy workplace, prepare products that are always safe to eat and to minimize their impact on the environment.

Contact & Information 1-800-835-2889 https://www.lewistaylorfarms.com/ 195 Ty Ty Omega Rd. Tifton, Ga 31793-6717