PEACH REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH
CENTRAL GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM TO ENHANCE HEALTHCARE SERVICES

Peach Regional Medical Center and Central Georgia Health System/The Medical Center of Central Georgia today announced plans to develop a partnership to enhance healthcare services in Peach County and the surrounding counties served.

“We are excited about this partnership which will be a positive endeavor for the people of Peach County,” said Nancy Peed, Chief Executive Officer of Peach Regional Medical Center. “We believe that a partnership with Central Georgia Health System will enable us to build a much needed replacement hospital for substantially less than if we built it on our own. By working together, we will improve the quality of care and broaden the scope of services provided in our community.”
For the past several years, Peach Regional has been working toward the construction of a new hospital to replace its aged facility. While the hospital’s certificate of need for a replacement facility was approved by the Georgia Department of Community Health, plans for the facility have not prevailed due to the downturn in our national economy. The hospital approached Central Georgia Health System/The Medical Center of Central Georgia to determine the feasibility of a developing a new regional partnership for the future provision of healthcare in Peach County and surrounding communities.
“Peach Regional and the Medical Center have had a good working relationship for many years, through a past management agreement and, currently, working together daily as the Medical Center is the designated acute care hospital for our patients,” Peed added. “We look forward to developing this new partnership over the next several months with a goal of building a new facility and exploring other opportunities that will meet the mission of both organizations in providing quality healthcare for the communities we serve.”
Central Georgia Health System President and CEO Don Faulk said, “Having worked with Peach Regional’s administration and boards for over 20 years, we are now looking forward to having them join the family of services within Central Georgia Health System. The size and scope of services of Central Georgia Health System and The Medical Center of Central Georgia will bring great value in health care to the residents of Peach County. Still under development, we hope to complete all approvals within the next few months. In our role as the region’s tertiary hospital, we will continue to work with other regional hospitals to improve the delivery of health care services to the citizens of Central and South Georgia.”

Cleveland Organics is the first company in the history of the contest to compete with two products and the first to win first place in two categories. Twisted Pecans, which are made with naturally grown Elliot pecans are dry roasted with sea salt and organic sugar, nutmeg and a dash of red pepper flakes, won the snack foods category. The company’s Coffee Toffee took home first place in the confections category with its rich, smooth flavor of chocolate, pecans and coffee. Cleveland said the coffee toffee is her favorite product.
The annual contest is conducted by the University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development.
Twisted Pecans and Coffee Toffee competed with 19 other products sampled and judged by a panel of food brokers, buyers and other food industry experts. Contestants were awarded points based on flavor, Georgia theme, unique or innovative qualities, commercial appeal and originality. Finalists were chosen from 89 entries from all across Georgia.
“We typically see submissions from most of the major state commodities and have a broad representation,” said Sharon P. Kane, contest organizer and a UGA CAED food business development specialist. This year’s other final products included pork, Vidalia Onions and pecans as well as blueberries, milk and shrimp.
“This contest is a way to develop food entrepreneurs and showcase their products,” said CAED director Kent Wolfe. “The connections these producers make with food industry leaders and with each other are the real success of this contest.”
Judges gave this year’s contestants the highest scores ever received at Flavor of Georgia. Scores were also the closest they’ve ever been. Three to four points separated first from fourth in several categories.
Category winners were:
? Barbecue and Hot Sauces – Kenneth Dasher of Hogwaller BBQ Sauce in Hoboken, Ga., won with Hogwaller ‘Blue Heaven’ Blueberry Gourmet BBQ Sauce.
? Confections – Beth Cleveland of Cleveland Organics in Fort Valley, Ga., won with Coffee Toffee.
? Dairy – Nicki Schroeder of High Road Craft Ice Cream & Sorbet in Atlanta won with Caffeine and Cacao ice cream.
? Jams, Jellies and Sauces – Emily Myers and Gina Bodell won with Emily G’s Jam of Love: Pear Honey Jam.
? Meat and Seafood – Linda Whiddon of Dubberly’s Seafood in Savannah won with Sweet Savannah Shrimp Cakes.
? Other products – Marco Martinez of 100% Artisan Foods LLC in Atlanta won with Jalapeno Tamales.
? Snack foods – Beth Cleveland of Cleveland Organics in Fort Valley, Ga., won with Twisted Pecans.

The people’s choice winner was Lauri Jo Bennett of Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning in Norman Park, Ga., for Lauri Jo’s Blueberry Pepper Jelly.
Winners and finalists earn the right to have their products stamped with the 2011 Flavor of Georgia logo.
“We provide education and applied research” through the contest, Wolfe said. “All contestants receive feedback from food industry leaders on packaging, ingredients and taste. And they have an opportunity to meet people who can help them grow their business.”

“Flavor of Georgia is only a starting point for many of the category winners,” said Kane. She followed up with the 2010 winners and found that nearly 90 percent increased their sales and business contacts as a result of the contest. Over 80 percent experienced increased interest in their products, and 75 percent saw an increase in the publicity for their product.

The annual food contest is sponsored by the UGA CAED in partnership with the Office of Governor Nathan Deal, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Agribusiness Council, Center of Innovation for Agribusiness, Walton EMC and the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Department of Food Science and Technology.

Writer: April Sorrow 706-542-9724 aprilr@uga.edu
Source: Sharon P. Kane 706-542-9809 (spkane@uga.edu); Beth Cleveland 478-825-3440
(beth@naturalpecans.com)

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