Laura Pallas, a trailblazer in sustainable berry farming, holds a doctorate in food science from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at University of Georgia. Her academic journey led her to explore the quality and sensory aspects of drying Georgia blueberries during her PhD project. Little did she know that years later, after meeting her husband, Cameron Phillips, while working in Australia, she would return to a town just a short drive outside of her alma mater to run her own blueberry farm.
Buffalo Creek Berry Farm was established in 2005 originally under Robert and Martha Daniel on 23 acres out in Oglethorpe county, but in 2017 Cameron and Laura jumped at the chance to carry on the dream. While they’ve encountered challenges in their journey to success, from drainage issues to figuring out where to market their produce, which was well beyond the demand for U-Pick visitors, the husband and wife duo have overcome all of them to create a truly special farm.
Buffalo Creek Berry Farm follows eco-friendly practices, avoiding pesticides and chemical sprays by using natural alternatives like free range chickens for pest control, and is working towards organic certification.
Dr. Pallas is also passionate about finding ways to reduce produce waste, and she makes everything from jams, pickles, salsas, to other value-added products to preserve the harvest.
As Laura reflected on her biggest takeaway from her PhD journey on the CAES Alumni Instagram page, she concluded it was the incredible relationships and network she created with blueberry farmers in South Georgia, and that those individuals provided the support and guidance to chase her dream.
Laura Pallas exemplifies innovation, sustainability, and community impact in the world of berry farming. We are proud to call Dr. Pallas an Ag Dawg!
Interested in booking an appointment to U-Pick at Buffalo Creek Berry Farm? Or wanting to know where to find their products? Check out their website: https://www.bcberryfarmga.com/