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Fresh for Less

👩‍🌾➡️👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Fresh, healthy, locally grown food brings generations together. Remember eating Grandma’s sweet potato pie or enjoying a bowl of fresh strawberries after a trip to the farmers market? Food brings us together and creates memories that connect families and communities. 💡 WHY IT MATTERS: Access to fresh, healthy food is important at every stage of life. From children discovering new fruits and vegetables to families preparing meals together, Wholesome Wave Georgia supports our neighbors every day. 🎁Giving Tuesday is just around the corner. Your gift helps us get fresh, healthy, locally grown produce from local farmers to Georgia families in need. Donate today at the link in our bio.

👎 BAD NEWS: WWG recently learned that its long-standing USDA grant was not awarded for the upcoming cycle. The USDA grant has powered WWG's Fresh for Less -- our flagship, statewide food insecurity program -- since 2015. 👍 GOOD NEWS: Thanks to our broad base of support from committed citizens like YOU, WWG's Fresh for Less program is still going strong, Our base of support grew at Southern Chefs Potluck, which raised a record high $400,000. Although a major fundraiser like Southern Chefs Potluck makes a dent in our funding gap, it doesn't close it. 📢 WHY IT MATTERS: Budget cuts have a lasting impact for real people like Johnny from Columbus who depend on Wholesome Wave Georgia and the SNAP Program to eat healthy fruits and vegetables. "Without [WWG], we would not eat as healthy a diet! Neither myself nor my wife are capable of working anymore, so SNAP benefits have become an integral part of our budget." We’re in touch with state and local elected officials, corporate partners, and community foundations to secure additional support needed to continue amplifying access to fresh, healthy food to our communities. But the next opportunity for YOU to help is on Giving Tuesday. 🤝 HOW YOU CAN HELP: Donate to our Giving Tuesday campaign (link in bio) on or before December 1. Share our social media posts in November. Introduce us to elected officials and community foundations.

Wholesome Wave Georgia's office will be closed today for Election Day so our team members have the opportunity to cast their ballots. Every day, we work to get fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables from local farmers to Georgia families in need. Making our voices heard is another way we care for our neighbors. Today's an opportunity to shape the Georgia we all want to live in. Let's make Georgia the number one state for democracy. 🗳️ If you are able to make it to the polls today, we encourage you to vote!

😱Scary Fact: In Georgia, over 1.4 million people are considered food-insecure and receive federal nutrition assistance including SNAP benefits. The high cost and low accessibility of fresh foods leave these households with limited options to feed their families. 💀Scary Fact: People who experience food insecurity are at greater risk of dying prematurely and living a shorter life after age 50. 👻Scary Fact: Children’s learning outcomes suffer when they regularly experience hunger. Food insecurity affects concentration, memory, mood, and motor skills, all of which a child needs to be able to be successful in school. Wholesome Wave Georgia exists to get fresh, healthy food from Georgia farmers to families in need. We may not be Ghostbusters, but we are here to fight food insecurity one pumpkin at a time. Happy Halloween!🎃

🧡A heartfelt thank you from the Wholesome Wave Georgia Team to everyone who made Southern Chefs Potluck such a great success in 2026. With your help we raised almost $400,000. 🤯 Thank you to our AMAZING guests, our in kind and financial donors, our auctioneer, Erin Kienzle of Giving4Good Events, our events committee, our event coordinator, Tailor & Table, the service staff from Southern National, our kitchen leads, Brandon Martin and Crystal Leach, our talented photographer, Jenna Shea Mobley, our gracious host, Serenbe, the chefs that donate the most delicious food year after year, the mixologists, and the volunteers. 🙏🙏🙏 🥰My personal heartfelt thanks goes out to the Wholesome Wave Georgia teammates who step out from behind the scenes (their comfort zone) to take on forward facing roles and run this event annually. Every single person who helped make this day perfect helps put fresh, healthy, locally grown produce on the tables of Georgia families in need. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. 🫂 @giving4goodevents @tailortable @southernnationalatl @chefbmart89 @csleach93 @serenbe

🔮Southern Chefs Potluck 2026 included the roll out of a stellar Mystery Wall brought to you by Delta Airlines and curated by WWG Events Chair, Mallory deGolian. 🎁A $125 Entry included a mystery bag containing a little something for everyone--anything from premium wines or spirits to CaseMate bags and Garnish & Gather gift cards. ✈️BONUS - Each Mystery Wall purchase was entered into a drawing to win 2 tickets to anywhere in the world that Delta flies. We sold out in record time and had so much fun along the way! 🙏Thank you to Delta, United Distributors, Beautiful Briny Sea, CaseMate, Fresh Harvest, Garnish & Gather, Little Light Co., Minhwa Spirits, Cathead Distillery, Murrell's Row Spirits, and all of the amazing participating restaurants. @delta @friendsofunited @beautifulbrinysea @casemate @freshharvest @garnishandgather @littlelightco @minhwaspirits @catheaddistillery @murrellsrowspirits

Hey Athens! What are you up to on Wednesday evening. We will be at 5&10 from 5:00-7:00 for Southern Sips. Enjoy a complimentary drink and light bites from Wholesome Wave Georgia Board Chair, Peter Dale, and chat with friends about our mission to get fresh, healthy food from local farmers to Georgia families in need, all while looking radiant in the golden hour sun. Tickets are $25 and are on sale now at the link in profile. We hope to see you there.

Psssst... We have another sneak peek at some of the Live Auction Lots for Southern Chefs Potluck. Take a look early and get your paddles ready. Which will you bid on? 🪄Explore the Magic of Quercus Nestled in the privacy of Georgia's hidden foothills, you and 5 friends will enjoy an incredible meal with wine pairings at farm-to-table restaurant, Uberto, the laboratory of Chef Ryan Smith and Kara Hidinger’s Michelin-starred Staplehouse. Before dinner, you’ll get an exclusive farm tour and pre-dinner drinks. VIP transportation provided to and from the venue. @quercus 🚐Buford Highway Culinary Tour Take a one-of-a-kind bus tour of the living mosaic of cultures along the BuHi corridor. Experience authentic international shopping, cuisine, and stories guided by Angie Mosier and Mallory deGolian, complete with "on-board beverages" by Greg Best. The Sunday of exploration for 10 will end with a sit-down feast at Kamayan. Surprise guests may help guide the tour along the way. @angiemosier @mallorydeg @deepthirst @kamayan_atl 🌮Who doesn’t love a taco party? You and 50-75 of your friends or colleagues will enjoy tacos and more from El Ponce and Local Three. You'll feast on delicious tacos packed with locally sourced ingredients -- including pork from Riverview Farms and produce from Fresh Harvest's farmer friends -- along with all the fixins, margaritas, and cervezas! You pick the venue or have the party on the patio at El Ponce. @elponceatl @localthree @riverview_farms @freshharvest 🛏️New FORTH Ward Staycation One lucky couple will experience the Old Fourth Ward in a totally new way. Begin your journey with a wine tasting at 3 Parks Wine, followed by a fantastic dinner at Il Premio and dessert at Big Softie. After a luxurious stay at The FORTH hotel, you’ll have leisurely lunch at O4W’s newest restaurant, Sargent. @3parkswine @ilpremioatlanta @bigsoftie @forthhotel @sargentatlanta

The doc is in with your Produce Prescription! 💊 A Produce Prescription (PPR) is a medical treatment or preventive service for eligible patients who may have diet-related disease or face food insecurity. Here’s how PPR Helps ⚕️Improve Healthcare outcomes 💲 Reduces Medical Spending ☺️ Increases patient satisfaction Wholesome Wave Georgia takes PPR programming further through the WWG Food For Health Program! Through our local work, both patients and local farmers benefit: participants get direct access to fresh, healthy, locally grown food and farmers increase their revenue. No two plates look the same because no two households are the same, but they'll be full of healthy veggies. Wholesome Wave Georgia is a proud member of the National Produce Prescription Collaborative since 2023 🧡 🔗Click the link in our bio to learn more about Food for Health and PPR! 🍎"

💙Today's SNAP Story is brought to you by Kaiser Permanente. For most of his life, independence wasn’t something Reggie thought about. It was simply how he lived. He worked, cared for himself, cooked his own meals, and never imagined that one day something as ordinary as opening a can or chopping an onion would become one of the hardest parts of his day. Now, those small tasks have become daily reminders that his body has changed faster than his spirit. When asked how he’s doing, he rarely pauses before answering, “I’ll make it.” He says it with a smile. He says it while gripping his wheelchair. He says it as he watches his neighbors freely come and go. He says it when his hands no longer have the strength to prepare the fresh fruits and vegetables he wishes he could eat. I learned he also says it because hope has become a habit and a life line for him. Although SNAP helps Reggie purchase food each month, the reality of living with limited mobility means his choices are different than many people assume. Fresh produce often requires peeling, chopping, lifting, and standing – simple tasks that have quietly slipped beyond his ability. Instead, he carefully selects shelf stable foods that he can prepare safely on his own, stretching every SNAP dollar while doing everything possible to remain independent. Oftentimes there’s a bias against users of SNAP purchasing shelf stable foods. But through this conversation, it’s clear to me that sustainability is the main goal. Whether the nourishment is fresh or canned, the key is stability. Food security isn’t always about food being available. Sometimes it’s about whether a person has the physical ability to prepare it. If you or someone you know are having trouble applying for government benefits, Wholesome Wave Georgia's SNAP Connection hotline is here for you: 678-631-7101.

Story time from Wholesome Wave Georgia Fresh for Less partner, Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market: "One of the Statesboro Farmers Market’s founding beliefs is that food is an essential ingredient for building community and creating connections. Through in-person outreach and educational videos, we have worked tirelessly to increase access to fresh, healthy, local produce while helping community members feel more confident preparing and enjoying seasonal foods. Thanks to Wholesome Wave Georgia’s Innovation and Cultivation Grant, we produced a series of cooking videos designed to answer a question we often hear from our community: “What can I do with that?” Although we initially planned to produce 12 videos, we ultimately completed 9. We chose to prioritize the quality, clarity, and usefulness of the content rather than risk compromising the project’s purpose with too many videos. Through this project, we learned that producing high-quality videos requires significantly more time, editing, and labor than we originally anticipated. We look forward to continuing this work with those lessons in mind. There’s often anxiety in working with unfamiliar foods. To make trying new ingredients easier, our videos include written instructions, clear step-by-step visuals, and additional information about the ingredients featured in each recipe. While we don’t have a direct way to measure the effectiveness of the cooking videos, we saw a substantial increase in distribution and redemption of Fresh for Less incentives, and an increase in EBT transactions between 2024 and 2025. We believe these numbers reflect the growth of community connections and relationships we’ve developed. We are deeply grateful to Wholesome Wave Georgia for its continued support of our mission and for helping make this project possible! " Thanks for partnering with us, y'all. We love you! @mainstreetfarmersmarket

Wholesome Wave Georgia is proud to have The Food Mill in Columbus as a WWG Food for Health partner site. 🚚 Their hardworking team delivers fresh, locally grown produce and pantry staples directly to neighborhoods with limited access to healthy food, supporting local farmers with every stop. ✨New Market Stop: The Food Mill Mobile Market is expanding to a new market stop in Pine Mountain, bringing fresh fruits and veggies from trusted regional farms to a new community. 🍎Double Your Benefits: Buy fresh local produce and double your SNAP benefits to put more healthy food on tables for families and more money in the pockets of local farmers! 📅Check @thefoodmillcolumbus to view their September Mobile Market Calendar.

🍔A good burger, made with the best ingredients, can be a heartfelt testament to feeding neighbors. At Chef Malik Rhasaan's low key eatery, Che Butter Jonez, the burger rules. A variety of smash burgers, each one-upping the last, plus fish sandwiches and a few sides make up the small (but certainly not simple) menu. Chef Rhasaan's food speaks loudly, and we are here for it. We can't wait to see what he will whip up for Southern Chefs Potluck on October 4th. See you there! @chebutterjonez @chefmalikrhasaan

Chef Terry Koval and his wife, Jenn, run a trio of "cozy, convivial restaurants" in Decatur. All three draw inspiration from the local harvest, but they each honor their own special corner of culinary delight. Fawn celebrates Sea and Stone, The Deer & The Dove showcases Forest and Field, and B-Side fills you up with Wit and Whimsy (plus coffee, bagels, pastries, and sammies on the side). Chef Koval has been a true friend to Wholesome Wave Georgia, always answering the call and giving of his many talents. What do you think he will bring to the feast at Southern Chefs Potluck on October 4th? We hope to see you there! Link in profile. @terrykoval @fawnwineamaro @thedeerandthedove @b_side_decatur

We have been talking up the participating chefs at Southern Chefs Potluck, but now it's time to start spotlighting the folks behind the bar. First up for our Featured Mixologists are Miles Macquarrie and Brian Le. Miles Macquarrie hardly needs an introduction to the Wholesome Wave Georgia crowd. He has been shaking up the spirits at Southern Chefs Potluck since our 2nd event, and has supported Live Auction lots left and right for years. When he isn't lending his talents to our cause, he is earning James Beard Award nominations and Michelin accolades for his beverage program at Kimball House, developing cocktail menus for Gene's, creating recipes for Tip Top Proper Cocktails, and making waves at Shiny Dimes Oyster Farms. Phew...I'm exhausted just typing this all up. Meet Brian Le, lead bartender at Bar ANA (below El Ponce). Alongside the Bar ANA team, they serve up seasonal snacks, desserts, and cocktails to those in the know. Prior to Bar ANA, they joined Miles behind the bar at Kimball House. They love serving drinks, flexing and taking care of people, and that's just what they will be doing at Southern Chefs Potluck in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned for more featured mixologists.... Cheers, y'all! 🍹 @miles_macquarrie @kimballhouse @_genesgenesgenes_ @tiptoppropercocktails @brianvonley @barana.atl

Roberto Montalvo, General Manager and Culinary Director at El Ponce, has led the way to create a neighborhood dining spot that introduces a love and respect for traditional Latin American food and culture melded influenced by American sensibilities without straying from its roots. The typical crowd-pleasers have their place on the menu, but the ingredients at their base are locally grown or raised and are top quality. Experiments with traditional techniques and dishes that honor the families of El Ponce teammates are Easter eggs to find. At it's heart, El Ponce is about community, fellowship, and eating some really great tacos. 🌮🌮 El Ponce has been a huge supporter of Wholesome Wave Georgia for many years, and we can't wait to see what they will bring to Potluck. The mushroom flautas from Southern Sips hold a special places in our hearts (we mean tummies). Be on the look out for an awesome Live Auction Lot from El Ponce. @elponceatl

Not only does Chef Maximilian Hines churn out fun, casual bar food and Gulf Coast seafood favorites at Breaker Breaker, but he also fosters community and collaboration with his pop-up series, Stolen Goods, through which he hosts weekly pop-ups at Breaker Breaker and special occasion meals like the Fourth Annual Edna Lewis Sunday Supper at Bread & Butterfly. For a deeper cut, check out his short-lived but outstanding podcast, Just Sat with Maximilian Hines, where he speaks with major players of the Atlanta culinary scene. I wonder what Chef Hines will bring to Southern Chefs Potluck on Sunday. Whatever it is, we are here for it. Can't wait to see y'all! @maximilian_hines_ @breakerbreaker_atl @stolengoodsatl

Southern Chefs Potluck 2026 may have passed, but there are still lots of lovely folks to recognize. My apologies to these stellar mixologists that didn't get a shout out prior to the event. Everyone please put your hands together for ... 🍹The always amazing and generous with her time, Courtney Castaneda of Kimball House. Courtney has been a staple at Southern Chefs Potluck for years and makes appearances at Backyard Bashes, Southern Sips, and beyond. Anytime we need her, she is there. Currently slinging drinks at Kimball House, Courtney had a long tenure with Ticonderoga Club previously. We especially thank her for bringing the N/A cocktail this year at Potluck. @covrtjc @kimballhouse @ticonderogaclub 🍸Charles Howk of Little Bear approaches cocktails like many of the Southern Chefs Potluck chefs approach food -- focusing on hyper-seasonality, local ingredients, a hint of playfulness, and some vegetal flavors for good measure. If you didn't get a chance to try his Flying Dragon Smash featuring Sapelo Apertivo from Creature Comforts and Trifoliate Orange from Concrete Jungle, you missed out. You'll just have to pay him a visit in Summerhill. @hater_ackermann @littlebearatl @concretejungleatl 🥛James Kim and his business partner, Ming, aim to make Soju using traditional ingredients and methods at Minhwa Spirits. The grain to glass distillery utilizes locally grown rice and pure mountain spring water to create Soju and Makgeoli that pay homage to the old traditional methods. James may have made the perfect autumnal cocktail, pairing jasmine and apple with Soju. @minhwaspirits

Chef Peter Dale exudes a quiet confidence in conversation, is a serial restaurateur, a talented chef, but first and foremost, he is a leader. In fact, serving as Board Chair of Wholesome Wave Georgia, he is OUR leader. He meets his teams where they are, providing respect, opportunity, and guidance. He puts a final touch of love on everything he is a part of, which can be seen in his current businesses: 5&10, Maepole, and Condor Chocolates. While Chef Dale may be known for his savory dishes, at Southern Chefs Potluck this year, he will represent Condor Chocolates with mouthwatering signature treats on several attendee tables. We can't wait to sneak a morsel of chocolate...or two. @peter_dale @fiveandten @maepole_ @condorchocolates

Chef Demetrius Brown is classically trained, his resume boasts some of the highest regarded restaurants in Atlanta, and his calling is to teach Metro-Atlanta about the global journey of the cuisine of the African diaspora. Chef Brown, with partner Brandon Blanchard, owns Bread & Butterfly in Inman Park, a traditional bistro by day and home to Heritage Supper Club by night. In just a short time, however, Heritage Supper Club will have its very own brick and mortar location in Summerhill, focused on a Celebration of Caribbean and Afro-American Culture, Tradition, and Cuisine. The flavors and techniques Chef Brown brings to the table and the palate tell a story all their own. We can't wait to taste this years potluck offering. Get your tickets at the link in bio! They are going fast! @chefs_state_of_mind @bread_and_butterfly @heritage.atl

Of course, Southern Chefs Potluck would be nothing without the generosity of all of the 🧑‍🍳Chefs, 🍹Mixologists, and 💪Volunteers. Thank you for working so hard to help Wholesome Wave Georgia put on a hugely successful event, for providing such an amazing feast alongside the loveliest beverages, and for laboring into the evening alongside our team. We are eternally grateful to you.

While he may be best known for his beloved Charleston restaurant, Two Boroughs Larder (which closed in 2016), Chef Josh Keeler is currently working with The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, leading the opening of Oak Steakhouses all over the Southeast, and will take the culinary helm at St. Albans Sporting Club in Atlanta when it opens it's doors later this year. Oak Steakhouse in Athens opened just this month, and Chef Keeler heralded the relationships he is getting to build with local farmers and producers, saying, “Working with someone who you’re on a first-name basis with is incredibly important. They respect what they do.” Beyond hyper-seasonal cooking, Chef Keeler celebrates the individual ingredients, focusing on the natural flavor of each carrot or each steak on the menu, prepared in the best way possible. We can't wait to see what Chef Keeler has in store for us at Southern Chefs Potluck! It's right around the corner! @theindigoroad @oaksteakhouse @stalbanssportingclub @joshkeeler

_It's 5:00 somewhere (here, it's here) and we are dreaming of cocktails... Mixologist Carter Culwell of Talat Market will be slinging one of his delicious and creative concoctions at the Southern Chefs Potlluck reception on Sunday. When he was last with us in 2024, his cocktail featured cabbage. What do you think will be the key ingredient this go round? We would love to welcome our first ever Columbus-based mixologist, Chad Scrimpshire of Nonic. One look at Nonic's cocktail menu and you know that you are in for some fun. Bold and delicate flavors mix to form a playground for the palate. We are delighted to try one of Scrimpshire's libations. More mixologist profiles to come this week so belly up to the bar. You are in for a treat. @carter.culwell @talatmarketatl @nsync_fan69 @nonic_usa

Highly lauded for his ability to elevate Southern cuisine while embracing global influences, Wholesome Wave Georgia is excited to welcome back long-time supporter, Chef Duane Nutter of Southern National. Chef Nutter sources the best seasonal and local ingredients, creates playful and elegant dishes with them, and has a lot of fun doing it. We can't wait to see what he'll bring to Southern Chefs Potluck this year. Not only is Chef Nutter joining us, but Southern National will be providing their hospitality team to make sure the event goes smoothly at the tables. Thank you Southern National for everything you do for Wholesome Wave Georgia. 🧡🧡🧡 @chefdnutter @southernnationalatl

Thank you to Odum School of Ecology at UGA for hosting a screening of the fantastic documentary, Groundswell Film, in Athens on Thursday, followed by a panel discussion featuring Will Harris, WWG Fresh for Less partner, Jamila Norman, and Laura Turner Seydel. We walked away feeling inspired and grateful for the regenerative agriculture movement and the way it can return the land to biodiversity and cool our planet. 💚💚💚 @ugaecology @groundswell_film @whiteoakpastures @patchworkcityfarms @turnerfdninc

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Thank you to Odum School of Ecology at UGA for hosting a screening of the fantastic documentary, Groundswell Film, in Athens on Thursday, followed by a panel discussion featuring Will Harris, WWG Fresh for Less partner, Jamila Norman, and Laura Turner Seydel.