COLUMBIA, S.C. — The first full week of August is traditionally designated National Farmers Market week to celebrate locally grown produce and food items. This is the peak of the growing season in South Carolina, so get out and about to take advantage of the fresh fruits and vegetables that are being harvested now.
Local farmers' markets occur almost every day of the week in the Midlands. Here's a list of what's open and when so you can find the closest to you or check out a new market in a different area.
TUESDAYS
- Sandhills Farmers Market. 2-6 p.m. or dusk, 900 Clemson Rd., open through October 31
WEDNESDAYS
- The Market at Richland Library, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St., open 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 through November
- Blythewood Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m. Doko Meadows Park, 171 Langford Rd.
THURSDAYS
- Owens Field Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m. 1402 Jim Hamilton Blvd. outside Hunter-Gatherer Hangar
- Lake Carolina Farmers Market, 3-7 p.m. Lake Carolina Market Park, 5 Lake Carolina Way, open 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 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, open through September 30
OTHER MARKETS
- Cayce Farmers Market, 2329 Charleston Hwy., Cayce. The seasonal market opened on March 28, open seven days a week. Boiled p-nuts are a specialty.
- South Carolina State Farmers Market, 3483 Charleston Hwy., West Columbia. It's open year-round; peak season for locally grown 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 share size (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, including produce that doesn't require cooking before eating. Each Fresh Food Box has a recipe card with suggestions on using 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 see what produce is in season in South Carolina by visiting the Certified SC website. August is the season for peas and beans, peaches, peppers, okra, cantaloupe, figs, green peanuts, squash, corn, watermelon, sweet potatoes, raspberries and rice.
