Released: Oct. 22, 2026
TIFTON, Ga. – Rusty Bowers, owner of Pine Street Market in Avondale Estates, received a $10,000 prize check from the Georgia Peanut Commission today for his entry in the Georgia Peanut Product Innovation Award contest. Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler J. Harper and Georgia Peanut Commission Chairman Donald Chase presented the award at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia, for his “Georgia Peanut Potlikker Sausage,” which features local chicken, peanuts and collard greens. The sausage won the innovation prize for demonstrating both creativity and exceptional flavor.
“Peanuts are like the essence of Georgia to me,” Bowers says. “I’ve visited the farms and the shelling facilities and know how important peanuts are to our state. I really want to create a salute to Georgia agriculture… which is why I chose a chicken sausage with peanuts, collard greens and herbs. I felt like I was telling a Georgia story.”
Georgia farmers grow more than 50 percent of all the peanuts produced in the United States each year.
The Innovation Award contest, created by the Georgia Peanut Commission, recognized the food-related concept that best presented peanuts in a unique and desirable way. The contest received 28 entries, and the top 5 finalists were required to submit product samples. The judging panel was comprised of experts in food innovation, start-up finance, retail distribution, and an executive chef, who worked independently to grade the product concepts based on several criteria.
“Georgia Peanuts are one of the most sustainable protein sources produced in America,” explains Georgia Peanut Commission Chairman Chase. “They require less water and help improve the soil health. That’s becoming increasingly important these days, so it stands to reason we should be finding more and more uses for them. There may only be one winner, but there were several concepts we believe are worthy of continued conversations and support.”
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper also praised the winning product for highlighting the versatility of Georgia peanuts and the creativity of the state’s food producers.
“Congratulations to Rusty Bowers and Pine Street Market on winning the Georgia Peanut Innovation Award! His Georgia Peanut Potlikker Sausage is a great example of the creativity and innovation that make Georgia agriculture so special,” says Commissioner Harper. “By bringing together Georgia peanuts and other local ingredients, this product showcases the incredible flavors of our state and the hardworking farmers behind them. It also reminds us that Georgia peanuts have universal appeal and can be enjoyed in so many different ways.”
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