It's almost that glorious time of year — when we reap the rewards of local farmers' harvest. Here’s a partial listing of local markets where you'll find South Carolina farmers selling their flavorful treasures.
Many of these markets are seasonal, starting in June with the Seeds of Hope program, which connects congregations and farmers during the summer months. Others are year-round, and some are open based purely on the produce they grow.
Ah, the sweet tastes of summer — strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupes and watermelons; squash, cucumbers, green beans, zucchini and tomatoes.
So much to look forward to.
— Allison Askins
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Click on these links to explore other producer options
Have a favorite spot that should be added? Contact Allison Askins.
You can click the address for each market in the lists below to view an interactive map where you can get driving directions.
- Click your mouse button on the map and hold it, then move your mouse around to change the visible area, or use the "+" and "-" buttons on the maps to change the zoom level.
- You also can click on the corner of the map and drag the boundaries to resize the visible area.
- The maps are technically "pop-ups", so if your computer blocks them, try clicking the address links while holding down the CTRL key (Apple key for Mac users), or temporarily disabling your Interent browser's popup blocker(s).
KERSHAW COUNTY
Kershaw County Farmers Market, West Dekalb and Church streets. Seasonal. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. (803) 432-9071, ext. 111
LEXINGTON COUNTY
Berry Hill Farm, 219 Bluefield Rd, Lexington. Season opens: late June/early July. 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 6 p.m. until dark, Monday through Saturday. (803) 957-4203 or billsberries.com for updates
The Cayce Farmers Market, 2329 Charleston Hwy. Local and out-of-state produce. Open Easter through mid-January. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. (803) 791-1009
Collins Daylilies & Farm, 210 E. Boundary St., Chapin. Seasonal. 7:30 a.m. until, Monday through Saturday. Blueberries and other produce. (803) 345-3371
Rikard’s Country Market, 2165 U.S. 378, Gilbert. April through Labor Day. (803) 359-4438
James R. Sease Farms Inc., U.S. 1, Gilbert. Open April-August, 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Call ahead for daily picking information. Additional locations for berries: Four Oaks Farm on U.S. 1 and 3½ miles outside Lexington, past the Piggly Wiggly, on the peach farm. (803) 359-FARM for a daily recording
Sease Farms/The Farmer’s Shed, 2514 Augusta Hwy., across from Lexington High School, Lexington. Already-picked berries and other fresh produce. (803) 996-0700 or farmersshed.com
Shealy’s Farm & Market, 1361 Old Cherokee Road, Lexington. Opening May 14 and running through December. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Majority is locally grown produce. (803)755-1374
Smith Blueberry Farm, 341 Holly Ferry Road, Batesburg-Leesville. June 15 through Aug. 20. On county line between Lexington and Saluda counties. (803) 532-1102
RICHLAND COUNTY
The All-Local Farmers’ Market is 8 a.m.-noon on second and fourth Saturdays. On second Saturdays, it is in the courtyard of Gervais & Vine, 620 Gervais St. in the Vista; on fourth Saturdays, it is in parking lot of Rosewood Market & Deli at 2803 Rosewood Drive. Locally grown produce and breakfast. Rain or shine. Year-round.
Ashland United Methodist Church Farmers Market, 2600 Ashland Road, Columbia, between St. Andrews and Bush River roads in picnic area behind church. Seasonal, starting in June. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays. (803) 798-5350
Blueberry Hill Farms, 1247 Lorenzo Davis Road, Eastover. Last of June through July. (803) 776-2812
Bull Street Farmers Market, 2600 Bull St., Columbia. Seasonal, starting in June. 8 a.m.-noon Tuesdays. (803) 898-3471
Capitol Senior Center, 1650 Park Circle at Maxcy Gregg Park. Seasonal, starting in June. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays. (803) 779-1971
The Carolina Apartments, 3201 Meadowlark Drive. Seasonal, starting in June. 12:30-2:30 p.m. Thursdays. (803) 754-6200
Christopher Towers, 1805 Devine St., Columbia. Seasonal, starting in June. 9 a.m.-noon. Saturdays. (803) 799-5876
Columbia State Farmers Market, 1001 Bluff Road, Columbia. Year-round. Locally grown and items from out of state. Wholesale and retails. 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 1-6 p.m. Sundays. (803) 737-4664
Cottle Farms, Whitehouse Road, off Bluff Road just south of I-77. Strawberries. Seasonal. With tents at: Forest Drive across from Shandon Baptist Church; Garners Ferry Road across from SCE&G; and Sunset Boulevard across from the West Columbia zoo entrance. (803) 695-1714
Double-A Farms, 5412 Bluff Road. Blueberries starting first week of June. Muscadines in September. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Wednesdays by appointment. (803) 312-1327
Ebenezer Lutheran Church Farmers Market, 1310 Richland St., Columbia. Seasonal, starting in June. 8 a.m.-noon Thursdays. (803) 765-9430
Grace United Methodist Church Farmers Market, 410 Harbison Blvd., Columbia. Seasonal, starting in June. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays. (803) 732-1899
Main Street Marketplace, Hampton and Main streets at Columbia Museum of Art. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Fridays, May 2 through June 27. (803) 779-4005
Northeast Farmers Market, Town Center at Lake Carolina off of Hardscrabble Road, local produce and products, including small craft items from South Carolina. Opens at 3 p.m. May 8 and will run at the same time until dark every Thursday until Thanksgiving. (803) 429-9220
Porter’s Pantry, 155 Old Veterans Road, Columbia. Seasonal fresh produce, plus other grocery items, year-round. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. (803) 776-2464
Resurrection Lutheran Church, 3707 Moss Ave., Columbia. Seasonal, starting in June. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays. (803) 787-7968
Ringo’s Produce Market, 10545 Garners Ferry Road, Eastover. Year-round, 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. (803) 783-0108
Saint Julian Place Farmers Market, 1800 St. Julian Place. Seasonal, starting in June. 8 a.m.-noon Thursdays. (803) 545-4487
Saint Mark United Methodist, 3200 Lyles St.. Seasonal, starting in June. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays. (803) 252-7297
The Sandhill Farmers’ Market, 900 Clemson Road, at Clemson’s Sandhill Research and Education Center across from the Village at Sandhill. Fresh local vegetables, meats, cheeses, plants and a master gardener booth for gardening questions. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays, late April through Nov. 25. (803) 788-5700, ext. 32
Shandon United Methodist Church Farmers Market, 3407 Devine St., Columbia. Seasonal, starting in June. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays. (803) 256-8383
Tree of Life Congregation Farmers Market, 6719 N. Trenholm Road, Columbia. Seasonal. 8 a.m.-noon Thursdays. (803)787-2182
Trinity Episcopal Church Farmers Market, 1100 Sumter St., Columbia. Seasonal, starting in June. 8:30 a.m.-noon Sundays. (803) 771-7300
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Farmers Market, 2701 Heyward St., Columbia. Seasonal, starting in June. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. (803) 799-0845
Virginia Wingard United Methodist Farmers Market, 1500 Broad River Road, Columbia. Seasonal, starting in June. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays. (803) 772-0794
Washington Street United Church Farmers Market, 1401 Washington St., Columbia. Seasonal, starting in June. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays. (803) 256-2417
Whaley Street United Methodist Church Farmers Market, 517 Whaley St., Columbia. Seasonal, starting in June. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays. (803) 799-4104
Zion Chapel Missionary Baptist Church #1, Walter Hills Road off Fairfield Road. Seasonal, starting in June. 12:30-2:30 p.m. Saturdays. (803) 754-2752
Recipes: Dishes to make and give to new moms
