Fitzgerald Nonprofit Gets Contracts Restored

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Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Tifton, Georgia

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Mana Nutrition photo

Mana Nutrition in Fitzgerald makes and ships ready-to-use therapeutic food around the world. The peanut-based food supplement has helped save the lives of severely malnourished children in 45 countries.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REINSTATES CONTRACTS FOR FITZGERALD NONPROFIT

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Just days after canceling all contracts with a Fitzgerald nonprofit that produces a fortified peanut paste shipped around the globe to combat malnutrition, the Trump Administration has reversed course and reinstated the contracts.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) notified Mana Nutrition in Fitzgerald on Wednesday that its contracts were canceled because they were “not aligned with agency priorities” and that “continuing this program is not in the national interest.”

But Sunday night, Mana was notified that all contracts were reinstated.

Mana Nutrition has nearly $50 million in USAID contracts for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) composed of peanut paste, milk, and a mix of vitamins and minerals. The "peanut butter on steroids" is then packaged and distributed globally to treat children diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition.

The Fitzgerald nonprofit is only one of two in the United States that makes RUTF packs. The other, Edesia Nutrition, is located in Rhode Island.

"We’re the noncontroversial part of USAID," Mark Moore, CEO and cofounder of Mana Nutrition, told the Tifton Grapevine.

After the federal contracts were canceled, several congressmen and U.S. senators lobbied to restore the contracts.

“Mana is an incredible mission-driven organization, and I am thankful to the Administration for reinstating their contracts," said Congressman Austin Scott, R-Tifton.

"The Administration is working to ensure that all U.S. foreign assistance aligns with our national security interests and global mission. Mana is committed to ending child malnutrition and is an organization our country should be proud of,” Scott said.

Mana said it reached a "remarkable milestone" in 2024 with feeding a total of 7 million children across the world. "This number represents more than just lifesaving treatments; it signifies lives saved and futures reclaimed. Over 1 billion packets of RUTF have traveled from (Fitzgerald) to 45 countries around the world, saving lives with Georgia peanuts," Mana wrote on social media.

"The innovation, investment, and employment that Mana Nutrition brings to our community is immense and it reaches far beyond Ben Hill County," said Jason Dunn, executive director of the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Development Authority.

"Mana is the type of company that can flourish in a challenging rural Georgia environment and continue to strengthen South Georgia's agricultural legacy. In just over a decade, they have grown from one to 135 employees, grown their facility to over 150,000 square feet, and hold the promise to make Fitzgerald known as the hunger solution capital of the world. We are grateful for Mana and our elected officials for working to restore their contracts," Dunn told the Tifton Grapevine.

In 2022, Gov. Brian P. Kemp applauded Mana during its expansion in Fitzgerald. "It's great to see the amazing work done by hardworking Georgians in Ben Hill County," Kemp said. "We are excited to watch Mana Nutrition serve communities in need worldwide with products from our state's No. 1 agriculture industry."

CAR FIRES DAMAGE 13 VEHICLES BELONGING TO FESTIVAL-GOERS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Saturday's Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival in Tifton brought record crowds and overflow parking, prompting many folks to park illegally in a private yard where a car sparked a fire that damaged 13 vehicles, totaling seven of them, says Tifton Fire Chief Bobby Bennett.

Scores of vehicles had parked in a private, vacant field at the corner of Sixth Street and North Tift Avenue, about a block from the festival at Fulwood Park. At 3:22 p.m. Saturday, authorities were notified of a fire at that location. The Tifton Fire Department says it was on scene at 3:26 p.m.

“We had every piece of apparatus and on-duty manpower available to respond to this location. The fire was started by a vehicle parked in high dead grass. Several cars were parked extremely close to each other which caused multiple cars to catch on fire,” said Fire Chief Bennett.

The fire chief said that fires burned underneath the vehicles which caused their fuel tanks to ignite, which made the fires difficult to extinguish. Because of dry conditions, high winds, and very closely parked vehicles with plastics, rubber, and fuel feeding the fire, the blazes were challenging to extinguish.

The Tifton Fire Department applied foam to the vehicles, and fires and hot spots were completely extinguished in approximately 40 minutes, the department said. When the smoke cleared, seven cars were totaled and six others were damaged, Bennett said.

“It was very unfortunate to happen, and our department did everything they could to limit the amount of vehicles involved. Due to their fast response and hard work, we were able to limit the damage. It could have been a lot worse,” the fire chief said.

No injuries were reported.

“The recent car fires were unfortunate, and we understand the hardship this has caused those who lost their vehicles. However, parking on public streets can help prevent these incidents like fires and avoiding unauthorized use of private property," said Tifton Police Chief Steve Hyman.

"We can only address private property parking when a complaint is made because we don't know if permission was given until it's brought to our attention. Ample parking is available on the streets, though it may require walking a little farther,” Hyman said. “We continually patrol the area around the park to assist with traffic and ensure safety. Our thoughts are with those affected by this.”

Saturday was an especially hazardous day for fires around Georgia. A state Red Flag Warning had been issued to prohibit outdoor burning because of low humidity, very dry conditions, and high winds.

Several brush fires broke out in Metro Atlanta, including one in DeKalb County, where a car fire on Covington Highway spread to nearby woods, igniting a large grass fire. That blaze damaged four structures, including a tire shop, a storage facility, and two residential buildings.

Other wildfires burned across Georgia with the Georgia Forestry Commission responding to 137 blazes on Saturday. Officials say the fires scorched approximately 2,400 acres statewide.

TIFTON CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS TIMELINE FOR ANIMAL REHAB ZONING COMPLIANCE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton City Council on Monday asked a Tifton wildlife rehabilitator to create a timeline plan to ascertain how long it will take to relocate her operation out of a Tifton neighborhood where it violates zoning.

Jessica L. Pisciotta has operated her nonprofit Steadfast Wildlife Rescue Rehab Inc. out of her home on Hall Avenue for about 20 years. At her home, Pisciotta has been helping all manner of injured wildlife in South Georgia, such as deer, vultures, coyotes, foxes, beavers, opossums hit and injured by cars, and baby squirrels and owls that have fallen from their nests.

On Feb. 14, she received a letter from the city giving her 30 days to bring her property into compliance with zoning laws. Pisciotta's Hall Avenue property is zoned as residential. Some of her neighbors have complained about the animals in the residential area.

In its letter, the city asked Pisciotta to alert officials if relocating the animals will take longer than 30 days. Pisciotta is working to raise money to move her operation outside the city and build the necessary structures and infrastructure.

On Monday, she formally asked council for an extension but couldn't say how long she needed. When asked how many animals she has at her home, Pisciotta told City Council, "Really, that's none of your business, to be honest."

Several people attended Monday's City Council workshop and spoke in support of Pisciotta's wildlife operation. Two of her neighbors also told council about issues with buzzards and a wild turkey in the neighborhood.

"There is nobody here that disagrees with the fact that what you do is admirable," said Mayor Julie B. Smith, but she noted there are zoning requirements for a residential area.

"I don't think anybody here would be opposed to an extension for you," the mayor said, and are "receptive to working with you."

Later in the meeting, Smith added, "I don't want anyone to think that we don't support the efforts that she does; it's the location of those efforts that has caused problems. ... It's the zoning that is the issue."

TWO CHARGED IN TIFTON VEHICLE BREAK-INS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Two men have been arrested in Tifton on multiple charges of breaking into vehicles.

Landis Mikhail Mitchel, 18, of Quitman, and Jon’marre David Cheatem, 18, of Enigma, are each charged with eight counts of entering an automobile, Tifton Police said.

During the early morning hours last Wednesday, the Tifton Police Department responded to a report of multiple vehicle break-ins in the James Avenue area. Officers searched the vicinity and apprehended a male hiding behind a shed near the break-in locations, police said.

The suspect fled on foot but was quickly apprehended, officers said.

During the search, officers discovered a red Mini Cooper abandoned and suspected that it was involved in the break-ins. The vehicle was impounded for further investigation.

Detectives initiated a comprehensive investigation, revealing that some of the break-ins had occurred outside city limits, prompting the involvement of the Tift County Sheriff’s Office. Several items were recovered from the victims’ vehicles and are being returned to their rightful owners, police said.

As a result of the investigation, the second suspect was arrested.

The case remains active. Tifton Police Detective Michael Gaskins, 229-382-3132. is leading the investigation.

BEN HILL SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVES GEORGIA READS COMMUNITY AWARD

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Ben Hill County School District is one of 10 entities across the state receiving the Georgia Reads Community Award, which includes $25,000 to continue their work improving literacy.

Georgia Reads recognizes communities with three to five years of proven local partnerships and data showing improvements in an area of literacy.

The Ben Hill County School District partners with several organizations, including Community in Schools, the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Chamber of Commerce, Dorminy Medical Center, the Monitor Enrichment Program, several civic organizations, PTOs, and private businesses and industries in Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County.

Community in Schools (CIS) collaborates with Ben Hill County schools to address barriers that students face, such as poverty, lack of resources, and academic challenges. CIS places site coordinators within schools to build relationships with students and families and offer mentorship, counseling, and academic support.

Georgia Reads is an outreach of the Georgia Council on Literacy, a 30-member council appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the House.

AREA EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL NAMED SOUTHEAST MENTOR OF YEAR

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Dr. Deidre Mercer Martin, former chief advancement officer for Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), was selected as the Mentor of the Year for the Southeast by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District III at a recent conference.

Martin currently serves as the gifts officer for the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) South Georgia.

Martin grew up on her family farm near Omega and credits her upbringing for her work ethic and teamwork.

“Being a mentor to others has been one of the greatest joys of my professional career,” said Martin. “I was fortunate to work for some amazing leaders through the years and took those lessons learned to heart when I had the opportunity to be a mentor. I am very honored to be recognized in this special way by CASE.”

Martin earned her bachelor’s degree from Berry College, her master’s degree from Georgia State University, and her doctoral degree from the University of South Carolina. She has worked in higher education for nearly 40 years at several institutions.

Former ABAC staff member Ric Stewart, annual giving director at Georgia Southern University, said that “in sports, coaching trees are used to trace the influence of a head coach over his or her former players, assistants, and staff who later had successful coaching careers of their own. In higher education advancement, there are few leaders who have built a coaching tree of fundraising professionals as extensive as Dr. Deidre Martin.

“Like so many others, I’m grateful that Deidre hired me for my first job in fundraising, and I wouldn’t be where I am without her guidance, advice, and friendship,” Stewart said.

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TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Callie" is an adorable little sweetheart with a playful spirit and a heart full of love. She was found as a stray and brought to the shelter, but no one came to reclaim her. Now, she’s ready to leave her past behind and find a forever family who will cherish her. Visit Callie and see other pets available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

TIFTON PROHIBITS 'IDLING, LOITERING, LOAFING' ON PUBLIC PROPERTY

~ MARCH, 4, 1912

Tifton City Council approved an ordinance March 4, 1912, prohibiting "idling, loitering, or loafing on the streets, alleys, public grounds, or about the depots or railroad stations, and provide a penalty for violation of same."