By University of Georgia

On April 29, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed a bill to allow Georgia’s horticulture industry to hold a referendum to create a commodity commission for ornamental horticulture.

Town hall-type meetings will be held across the state to give producers a chance to learn more about the program, the way it would operate and the people who would be elected to shape the program’s future.

The meeting dates and locations are:

June 9 – Sugar Hill Nurseries, 2122 Highway 341 South, Yatesville, Ga., 31097

June 11 – Wakoola Water Gardens, 5235 Union Hill Rd, Cumming, Ga., 30040

June 16 – Casa Mexico, 311 GA Hwy 49 North, Byron, Ga., 31008

June 17 – Ag Center, 65 11th Avenue, NE, Cairo, Ga., 39828

June 18 – ABAC, Horticulture Building, Tifton, Ga., 31793

June 23 – Christ Church at Whitewater, 1577 Highway 85 South, Fayetteville, Ga., 30215

June 30- Jasper Extension Office, 109 Depot Street, Jasper, Ga., 30143

All producers of ornamental horticulture products are encouraged to attend, regardless of their operation’s size. Meetings will begin at 6 p.m. with a complementary cookout.

For directions to the meetings or to learn more, go to the Web site www.gahortcommission.org.