The Emanuel County Food Processing Facility has opened for the summer season, helping local families preserve their harvest while also providing valuable educational opportunities for students.
The facility, located at 104 Rountree Avenue in Twin City, officially opened for the season on June 1 and continues its long-standing tradition of serving as both a community resource and an agricultural education center.
The Emanuel County Food Processing Facility is part of Georgia’s network of agricultural education canneries and partners with local high school agriculture programs, the Young Farmers Association, and Georgia FFA. Nearly 30 similar facilities remain active across the state, helping residents safely prepare and preserve homegrown fruits and vegetables.
Local agriculture teachers manage the facility, and high school students assist with daily operations. Students gain hands-on experience in food science, sanitation, customer service, and food preservation methods.
“We are fortunate to still have a community food processing facility in our county,” said Dr. Shannon Lawrence, Emanuel County Schools Young Farmer Advisor. “Years ago, each county had at least one of these wonderful places. Today, we are the exception, not the rule.
“Students have a chance to learn while earning. Community members can preserve food in an efficient environment. Everyone has a chance to gain new knowledge and skills to give them independence.
“I hope more people will take advantage of this gem and that other communities will follow our example. The demand for food is not going away, yet the knowledge to make our locally grown precious food last for months and years is quickly vanishing. This is just one more reason why Emanuel is a great place to grow.”
The facility currently processes a variety of fruits and vegetables, including corn, tomatoes, peas, green beans, squash, peanuts, and more. For peas, staff use the Roto-Finger Sheller before blanching and bagging them. Corn services include shucking, silking, creaming, and bagging. Community members may process their own produce or request assistance from trained staff.
Community members are encouraged to support the local cannery and the students who participate in and learn from the program each summer.