ALBANY, GA --
Shirley Sherrod and Daaiyah Salaam with the Southwest Georgia Project approached the Dougherty County Commission about land for a local processing center.

The center would process produce from southwest Georgia farmers to be disseminated to grocery stores, hospitals and schools.

The land was owned by the county, but was given to the state to be used as a farmer's market. The state officially abandoned the land and the county must take possession of it again in order to lease it to the Southwest Georgia Project.

The 10,000 square foot processing center would also include a retail center where folks could buy produce, and include a museum spotlighting local farmers and the process the food goes through from farm to fork.

County Administrator Richard Crowdis says it will take until next summer before the land will be in the county's possession again. All commissioners have expressed support for this project.

Stay connected to MySouthWestGA.com as the story develops and the FOX 31 Newscast at 10 PM.