Much of the garlic processing in the United States is centered around Gilroy, California which celebrates annually with a three day Garlic Festival at the end of July.  In the thirty plus years since the festival started some three million people have visited.

But don’t fret about having missed the California festival – Georgia has its own Garlic Festival. It is on a smaller scale (and the admission is free. Admission at Gilroy is $17 per person.)

Loganberry Heritage Farm’s annual Garlic Festival is scheduled for the last Saturday of August. You will have the opportunity to sample 14 varieties of garlic – and compare them to each other and to Elephant garlic, which is actually a member of the leek family. (Garlic, believe it or not, is a variety of Lily.) Just some of the varieties include Russian Red, French Red, Italian White, German White and Loganberry Red.

There will be fine arts and artists and talented craftspeople demonstrating and selling their wares, as well as cooking demonstrations by amateur and semi-professional chefs. Much of the annual harvest will be available for purchase as well. Live music and entertainment are scheduled throughout the day, animals to entertain the children and self-guided tours of the farm.

Loganberry Farm is a heritage farm – it has been in the same family for five generations. Sharon Mauney, also known as Organic Rose, tends the same land her ancestors farmed. It is a small farm, but the produce grown there will make your mouth water: zipper crème peas (see my blog about this last year – they are terrific!) beets, carrots, chard, corn, potatoes, cantaloupe, herbs, an amazing variety of heirloom tomatoes, okra, melon, onions, half-runner beans (an heirloom version of green beans) squash, sunflowers, eggs from pastured hens and sometimes, grass-fed beef.

Loganberry is located on Adair Mill Road, between Dahlonega and Cleveland in North Georgia. For more information see LoganberryHeritageFarm.com.