b'ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTCONTRIBUTEDCONTRIBUTEDNational Distribution: Tara Foods produces store-label products for Kroger grocery stores. Located in Albany, Georgia, the facility manufactures more than eight million pounds of products each month.A family-owned business, nestledopened Pretoria Fields in downtown on 1,760 acres in Albany, in 2020,Albany. What started as a hobby, was Sunnyland Farms was named a mid- put on hold while he pursued a career sized Exporter of the Year by thein medicine, then in 2017, his dream of Georgia Department of Economicowning a brewery came to fruition. Organic Brew: Pretoria Fields inDevelopment International Trade downtown Albany uses organic barley,division. Growing organic barley, wheat, rye, and wheat, rye, and hops, plus a variety ofhops, plus a variety of fruits on Georgia fruits grown on Georgia farmland.Specializing in selling gourmet nuts,farmland, gives Pretoria Fields as unique candies, and confections directly toadvantage as a grower and brewer. of beef a week to a downtown Valdostacustomers via its website and mail-market. Still owned and operated byorder catalog, Sunnyland Farms alsoThomasville, Thomas Countythe Carroll family and now in the fourthsells wholesale pecans directly toOne of Thomasvilles oldest and largest generation, the company is known for itsbusinesses. industries, Flowers Foods opened its Sunset Farm Brand smoked sausage andfirst bakery in 1919 and maintains one its other sausage and boneless ham lines. Over at the Albany-based Marsof the countrys most efficient and Wrigley Confectionery plant, moretechnologically advanced bakeries.With more than 200 employees, thethan six million COMBOS are companys products are distributedproduced each hour. The Albany plantHeadquartered in Thomasville, Flowers regionally and in more than 24 states.is also sources and roasts peanutsFoods operates 46 bakeries across the Sunset Farm Products are also availablefrom local shellers for the companysU.S., and is a significant producer of in the Caribbean, Central America, andpopular Snickers Bar and other snacks. packaged bakery foods. all U.S. military commissaries around the world. For more than 40 years, Tara FoodsFrom bread to snack cakes and sweet has produced store-labeled productspastries, Flowers Foods brands and Albany, Dougherty County for Kroger grocery stores, includingproducts are household names like Known as the pecan capital of the world,peanut butter, peanut oil, juices,Wonder, Sunbeam Bread, Natures Own, Dougherty County has about 17,000 acressauces, wines and vinegars, bakingTastykake, Merita, and Home Pride. In of pecan trees, thats about 600,000 trees.and flavoring extracts, and liquid waterFY20, Flowers Foods had sales of $4.4 enhancers. The Albany plant producesbillion.Getting Georgias favorite nut tomore than eight million pounds of customers worldwide, Sunnyland Farmseach product a month. Flowers Foods set the pace, says has expanded into a thriving globalShelley Zorn, president and CEO of e-commerce business. Bringing his love of beer and familysthe Thomasville Payroll Development history of farming, Dr. Tripp MorganAuthority. When you have a 100-year 22 SG MAGAZINE| WINTER 2022 BUSINESS + CULTURE23'