Cafe Campesino started in 1997 when owner Bill Harris visited a Guatemalan coffee farm with Habitat for Humanity. The farmer made Harris see just how important one little plant can be. The company has been selling their fair trade ever since, starting with selling out of a VW van and then working with a collective of local farmers from South America and beyond. You can stop by to buy a bag from the roaster directly.
It’s five o’clock somewhere in Sumter County! Thirteenth Colony Distilleries began as friends making moonshine for holiday gifts, but they’re now one of the state’s best craft distilleries. You can try their lineup of award-winning whiskeys, bourbons, vodkas, and gins in the form of a craft cocktail from one of the local bars. The company’s name is a nod to the state of Georgia, which was the last, or thirteenth, of the American colonies.
The dish isn’t uncommon in the South, but one local eatery adds a unique flavor for a Made in Sumter favorite. The rosemary chicken salad was listed as one of Explore Georgia’s 100 Plates Locals Love, so stop by Sweet Georgia Baking Company in downtown Americus for the signature dish. Enjoy on soft foccacia bread with a side salad. The homemade pimento cheese is another crowd pleaser.
The folks at Koinonia Farm have long sought to bring people together around food. Founded in 1942 as an intentional farming community, people of all backgrounds have worked together here for decades. Started by Baptist ministers, the successful pecan farm encourages the principles of pacifism, simplicity, and racial integration.
When you think of glassblowing arts hubs, Murano, Corning, and Seattle may come to mind, but Americus has also earned a spot on the list. Mobile Glassblowing Studios is a one-of-a-kind business that creates portable furnace for everyone from the hobbyist to the professional and sold to top name glassblowers. Their Americus location has a small gallery of pieces and offers classes to the public.