Georgia's Food Processing Industry

Georgia's food processing industry is diverse, employing 73,000 workers in 875 small, medium, and large companies across the state. In the last 20 years, the growth in Georgia's food processing industry outpaced the national rate, both in employment and value of shipments. Last year, Georgia's food processors shipped more than $16 billion of products and generated an annual payroll of $1.6 billion.

One of the unique features of Georgia's food processing industry is its broad diversity in terms of size, production, and geographic distribution. Virtually every region of the state feels the economic impact of this important industrial sector. Georgia produces 14 percent of all poultry nationally; 6 percent of bakery products; 5.8 percent of sugar and confectionary products; 3.8 percent of fats and oils; 3.6 percent of beverages; and 3.2 percent of grain mill products.

What is FoodPAC

The Traditional Industries Program (TIP) is a partnership of state government, Georgia's University System and its traditional industries - pulp and paper, food processing, and textiles/carpet. The program conducts research to improve the competitiveness of these three industries, which combined employ almost half of Georgia's manufacturing workers.

Georgia's food processing research program is led by the Food Processing Council of Georgia (FoodPAC), with representatives from 60 food processing companies around the state. Organizationally, FoodPAC's structure includes a Steering Committee and three Technical Committees (Environmental, Food Safety, and Process and Product Competitiveness).

The steering committee sets the program's strategic direction, oversees the project selection process, and makes the final recommendation for project funding to the Governor.

The technical committees review project proposals for technical merit and provide input to the steering committee in its selection of FoodPAC's annual research agenda. Technical committees also monitor and review progress on all funded projects.

FoodPAC's industry leaders meet regularly to discuss and set priorities for research needs, and to monitor progress of ongoing projects. Once each year, FoodPAC requests project proposals from faculty and researchers from the University System of Georgia. Projects must address critical competitiveness issues that impact a significant number of companies in Georgia. Projects are funded for a year at a time (July 1 through June 30), for a maximum of three years.

To help meet the demands for safe food and clean environment, FoodPAC researchers are at work in many fields, from waste treatment to robotics. Their efforts are ensuring a continued nationwide leadership role for Georgia's food processors.