By Kayla Stroud, Communications and Events Specialist
JoNina Farms | Georgia Citrus Makers
Who: Linda Savelle
Where: Ochlocknee, Georgia, Thomas County
Lindy Savelle and her husband, Perry, own JoNina Farm/Georgia Grown Citrus, a USDA-certified citrus nursery that combines agriculture, education and community engagement.
Perry farmed on and off his entire life, and Linda grew up on a tobacco farm. “I thought I would never come back to a farm. But after I retired, we decided to come back here,” said Linda.
As the farm grew, Linda noticed a shift in what consumers value. “While appearance once drove purchasing decisions, customers today are increasingly focused on nutrition, flavor and overall health benefits,” she said.
“We have realized that people are now more concerned about what they’re putting in their mouths,” Linda said. “The health aspect of it, the nutrient density of it, not only how it looks, but how it tastes. What’s inside is more important than what’s outside.”
Quick Picks Q&A
Favorite season on the farm?
“The fall. Just the kids and people coming to the farm. The fruit comes in, and people come running out to the grove to pick fruit.”
What’s your most popular product with visitors?
“On the nursery side, our number one seller is Meyer lemons. Behind that would be Satsumas. Georgia Queens and Georgia Kisses are up there, too. People love Satsuma mandarins, they love to come here, take their family out to the grove and pick them.”
How do you feel about your farm’s impact?
“We’re in a rural community, so we employ people who live here locally. So the main thing is that we’re able to offer part-time and full-time employment.”
If you could describe your farm in 3 words, what would they be?
“Peace, beauty and love.”
Things to come:
“This past spring, we took out 200 to 300 trees — Satsuma trees — because we wanted to pivot to total agritourism, where, when you come here, you’ll have all these other varieties that you could pick. That is our goal: that one day, you come here and can take home 50 varieties. It seems like that was the right thing to do for us, and we were out of space, so we had to either eliminate some and replace them, or not do it. So that’s our goal: to sell everything that we grow right here.”