The name is a tough nut to crack. Depending on where you live or regional influence, the pronunciation of Georgia's official state nut may be open for debate. According to a National Pecan Shellers Association poll, 45% of Southerners and 70% of people living in the Northeast are on team "pee-can," while the rest of Americans side with "puh-kahn."
It doesn't matter how you pronounce the buttery, flavorful nut because pecans are big business in Georgia, accounting for about one-third of U.S. pecan production.
Currently ranked the No. 1 state for pecan production, Georgia's average pecan harvest is about 88 million pounds—enough to make 176 million pecan pies.
No longer just an end-of-the-year holiday dessert, improvements in storage life, including temperature and humidity control, have increased the popularity and availability of pecans throughout the year.
Consumers are also grasping the significant health benefits of pecans. According to the American Heart Association, pecans are designated as heart-healthy. A single ounce (about 19 halves) is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Pecan production has steadily increased in the U.S., rising from 2.2 million pounds in 1920 to current yields of 250 to 300 million pounds a year. READ MORE
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In this episode, Joanne Jones, campus officer, provides an overview of PCOM South Georgia’s growth.
Located on a sprawling 31-acre site in Moultrie, Colquitt County, in August 2019, PCOM South Georgia welcomed its inaugural class of Doctor of Osteopathic (DO) students to its new campus.
Podcast highlights:
- What is a Doctor of Osteopathic (DO) medicine?
- After graduation from South Georgia PCOM, the inaugural class of DOs will begin their residency, including at regional hospitals.
- Pathway programs provide high school students with exposure to careers in healthcare.
- Thanks to regional partnerships, South Georgia PCOM plans to add new programs that meet the region’s healthcare needs.
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They don’t exactly know when, but some 40 years ago, Ronald Lewis and his wife Betty started their business, Eaglecraft Door Inc., in Moultrie, Georgia. They never knew just what it would bring to the future generations of their family. Since Ronald’s retirement in 2003, their son Randy and daughter-in-law ReBecca, grew the shop to become what it is today—a high-quality cabinet and architectural panel manufacturer.
Since its inception, Eaglecraft Door has changed and developed its product line. However, a few things remain the same, including quality products, superior workmanship, and excellent customer service. Those three things keep the company busy and set them apart from its corporate comparisons.
The company boasts a Georgia Made certification and takes pride in providing jobs within their local community. They attend job fairs, including ‘Senior Days’ at the local high school, and host workshops to reach many employees. The jobs that come with a custom cabinet company are meticulous, and the Eaglecraft team prioritizes providing training for their team. READ MORE
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The Edward and Rhonda Mark Health Sciences building sits on the northern end of the Valdosta campus and is home to fifteen programs in the health science field. The 96,000-square-foot high-tech building provides up-to-date classroom and lab space for the college.
“This has been a vision of the college for many years now,” shared Wiregrass Tech’s President DeAnnia Clements. “We are proud of our new facility and know that it will provide educational opportunities for generations to come.”
Programs housed in the new building include Associate Degree in Nursing, Transitions in Nursing (LPN to ASN Bridge), Nursing Technician, Dental Assisting, Dental Office Assistant, EMS Professions, Medical Assisting, Neuromuscular Massage Therapy, Opticianary, Paramedicine, Patient Care Assisting, Pharmacy Technology, Phlebotomy, Practical Nursing, Advanced Patient Care Assistant, Radiologic Technology, and Surgical Technology. In addition, biology and Chemistry labs are located in the new building.
Valdosta serves as the regional medical center for South Georgia with more than 79 healthcare entities, including hospitals, home health agencies, nursing, and assisted living facilities. READ MORE
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Ryan Degner, a welding and joining technology student from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (WGTC), was selected as this year’s Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner.
In its 50th year, the prestigious GOAL program recognizes the most outstanding technical education students at the 22 Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) institutions. As the GOAL winner, Degner will make public appearances as a representative for technical education, including meeting with Gov. Brian Kemp and addressing the Georgia General Assembly.
“This is an exciting day for the Wiregrass Georgia Technical College family,” said DeAnnia Clements, president of WGTC. “Ryan has a tremendous passion for technical education and the power it has to truly change the lives of our fellow Georgians. We are thrilled that he was chosen to represent TCSG this upcoming year.” READ MORE
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MANA Nutrition, a Georgia-based nonprofit that produces ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) to fight global malnutrition, recently announced an expansion at its Ben Hill County facility. With more than $36 million in investment, this is the company’s largest expansion investment to date. MANA will also add 10 new jobs, bringing the company’s employment in the county to 80.
The new expansion will increase MANA’s production of ready-to-use therapeutic food three-fold and mark MANA’s first step in addressing malnutrition in the United States. These RUTFs are composed of peanut paste, milk, and a special mix of vitamins and minerals and are distributed globally to fight malnutrition. Since its creation in 2009, MANA has helped nearly 5.5 million children and is predicted to feed an additional 1 million in 2022 alone. READ MORE
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