COLUMBIA, S.C. — April in South Carolina means the first harvest of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables and the opening season for local farmers markets. Getting out and taking advantage of seasonal produce is a perk for those living in the Midlands -- there are multiple farmers markets in the area, some opening Wednesday, April 5, 2023.
TUESDAYS
- Sandhills Farmers Market. 2-6 p.m. or dusk, 900 Clemson Rd., opens May 2 through October 31
WEDNESDAYS
- The Market at Richland Library, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St. open April 5 through October 2023. Customers will need to bring their own bags for purchases
- Forest Acres Farmers Market, noon-6 p.m. under the covered tent in the lot next to Richland Mall on Beltline Blvd. Open April 5 through November
- Blythewood Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m. Doko Meadows Park, 171 Langford Rd., opening April 19
THURSDAYS
- Owens Field Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m. 1402 Jim Hamilton Blvd. outside Hunter-Gatherer Hangar, now open
- Lake Carolina Farmers Market, 3-7 p.m. Lake Carolina Market Park, 5 Lake Carolina Way, opens April 20 through November 9
SATURDAYS
- Soda City Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the 1300-1600 blocks of Main Street, Columbia open year round
- Kershaw County Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to noon, 906 Broad St., Camden, open April 15 through November 19
- Irmo Farmer’s Market, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Irmo Community Park, 7507 Eastview Dr., Irmo
- The Market at Icehouse, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Icehouse Amphitheater Pavilion, 107 West Main St., Lexington, opens May 20-September 30
OTHER MARKETS
- Cayce Farmers Market, 2329 Charleston Hwy., Cayce. Seasonal market opened March 28, open seven days a week. Boiled p-nuts are a specialty.
- South Carolina State Farmers Market, 3483 Charleston Hwy., West Columbia. Open year-round, peak season for locally grown produce and bulk produce is April through October.
Another way to access fresh produce is to sign up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share. CSAs allow you to purchase a share of the crops grown on a local farm. You pick the size of the share (usually small, medium or large), the frequency (some are weekly, monthly or full season with different subscriptions for spring and fall harvests), your pick-up location, and pay in advance. This is a great way to support local growers and producers and take advantage of locally grown foods.
- Bushels and Bags Farm, Ridgeway
- FoodShare has Fresh Food Boxes and a No Cook Box option which includes produce that doesn’t require cooking before eating. Each Fresh Food Box has a recipe card with suggestions on how to use the produce in the box
- Gruber Family Farm, St. George, has pick-up locations in Columbia, Irmo, Lexington, and Orangeburg
- Hollywood/Rose Hill CSA features produce from Organically Rowland and Greenleaf farms
You can check to see what produce is in season in South Carolina by going to the Certified SC website. April is the season for blueberries, strawberries, asparagus, sugar snap peas, mixed greens and lettuces.
