Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In a county famous for its fresh fruits and vegetables, food insecurity remains a serious challenge for many families in Fort Valley. But one University professor decided to do something about it. Reporting from Fort Valley, Damon Jones visits Sweet Valley Farms — a community-supported micro grocery born from a simple idea and a converted shed, now serving as a lifeline for hundreds of families in the heart of Peach County.
Assistant Professor Hamidah Sharif-Amanyi of Fort Valley State University's College of Agriculture saw the gap clearly — a community with some of the highest rates of chronic disease in the state, including diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, living in a high food insecurity area where access to affordable, healthy food was simply missing. Her answer was Sweet Valley Farms, where fresh produce is sold at prices families can actually afford.
The operation has grown far beyond its humble beginnings. What started with roughly 40 visitors per week now draws more than 500. The farm grows lemons, figs, and peaches in its own orchard, and partners with local growers and larger agribusinesses like Lane Orchards to fill out a diverse selection of more than 20 different fruits and vegetables. Families can preorder a curated ten-dollar harvest bag online — packed with around 25 pieces of fresh produce — or simply walk in with whatever they have and shop the barn.
But as Sharif-Amanyi makes clear, Sweet Valley Farms is selling something bigger than produce. It's selling hope. It's selling dignity. It's giving community members a place where they can freely choose healthy food and feel good doing it.
In a county famous for its fresh fruits and vegetables, food insecurity remains a serious challenge for many families in Fort Valley. But one University professor decided to do something about it. Reporting from Fort Valley, Damon Jones visits Sweet Valley Farms — a community-supported micro grocery born from a simple idea and a converted shed, now serving as a lifeline for hundreds of families in the heart of Peach County.
Assistant Professor Hamidah Sharif-Amanyi of Fort Valley State University's College of Agriculture saw the gap clearly — a community with some of the highest rates of chronic disease in the state, including diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, living in a high food insecurity area where access to affordable, healthy food was simply missing. Her answer was Sweet Valley Farms, where fresh produce is sold at prices families can actually afford.
The operation has grown far beyond its humble beginnings. What started with roughly 40 visitors per week now draws more than 500. The farm grows lemons, figs, and peaches in its own orchard, and partners with local growers and larger agribusinesses like Lane Orchards to fill out a diverse selection of more than 20 different fruits and vegetables. Families can preorder a curated ten-dollar harvest bag online — packed with around 25 pieces of fresh produce — or simply walk in with whatever they have and shop the barn.
But as Sharif-Amanyi makes clear, Sweet Valley Farms is selling something bigger than produce. It's selling hope. It's selling dignity. It's giving community members a place where they can freely choose healthy food and feel good doing it.
