Top Farmers Markets in Upstate South Carolina

We constantly hear the slogans, "go green" and "buy local." What better way to honor and combine these concepts than by buying from local farmers markets? As many of them open in the spring, they serve as an enjoyable outdoor activity for the public. Several noteworthy farmers markets in upstate South Carolina are reviewed below.

Carolina First Saturday Market

Located on South Main Street at McBee Avenue and Court Street in downtown Greenville, this farmers market has been drawing crowds since April 2003. It offers locally grown produce, livestock products, and freshwater seafood; cooking demonstrations; arts and crafts; musical entertainment; and a weekly "Booth with a Cause" sponsored by a nonprofit organization. While farmers' products are the specialty, arts and craft items make up one third of the vendor booths and include pottery, garden art, and handmade bath products. Some of the notable local farmers include Spurgeon Farms, from Taylors, SC, selling eggplants, green beans, spinach, tomatoes and strawberries; Merciful Hearts Farms, from Pelzer, SC, selling chicken and duck eggs, craft fibers, and knitted scarves; May Farms, from Greenville, SC, selling blueberries, honey, and bees wax; Geechie Seafood, from Simpsonville, SC, selling wild-caught shrimp from SC; Beechwood Farms, from Marietta, SC, selling cantaloupe, broccoli, egg plant, and lima beans; and Baylor Farm, from Ninety-Six, SC, selling apples, grapes, peaches, plums, okra, and squash. The Carolina First Saturday Market is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon between the months of May 2 to October 31, 2009. More details are available on its website www.saturdaymarketlive.com.

Anderson Jockey Lot & Farmers Market

From a very young age, I have enjoyed visiting the largest flea market in the south, Anderson Jockey Lot and Farmers Market located at 4530 Highway 29 N in Belton, SC. Existing since 1974, it offers fresh produce, livestock, pets, antiques, artwork, and much more. Making up the farmers market are various small business farmers from surrounding counties selling produce at affordable prices. For example, visitors will find large cantaloupes for $1, bagfuls of oranges, peaches, apples, and plums between $1 and $2, and a bagful of greens for under $2. Especially enjoyable are the roasted, shelled peanuts. These produce items are found at both the indoor and outdoor booths. This farmers market and jockey lot is open year-round on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

With these local farmers markets in mind, let's consider the health and environmental advantages of "buying local" while "going green". For one thing, residents are provided with the freshest, quality produce that is possible through less shipping time and efforts that prevent bruising, spoiling, and contamination. Not to mention, energy is saved from reduced transportation and storage, and money is saved since the prices are more affordable than those of supermarkets who import their produce from abroad. Also important, buyers will experience face-to-face interaction with the farmers who grow the produce, allowing them to ask questions about the way that the produce have been grown. Most of all, when buying from local farmers markets, we are supporting our local economy and expressing loyalty by keeping local farmers in business.

Sources

"Welcome to the Carolina First Saturday Market." City of Greenville, SC.