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Article published: Jun 17, 2009 Farmers' market open with fresh produce
The farmers' market at the fairgrounds is filled with all kinds of local vegetables. Market manager Dorothy Rinehart says "It's the best year yet for fresh produce."
Saturday morning early, the market came to life with farmers loading yellow squash and zucchini, cucumbers and corn, onions, peppers, tomatoes, greens, cabbage, blueberries, blackberries and more onto tables — leaving a wide center aisle for aspiring Palmettovores and Sumterites who just like good, fresh vegetables.
According to S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers, a Palmettovore is "a person who attempts to eat only farm products grown and processed in South Carolina," adding that "... only about six percent of the food consumed today by people in South Carolina is actually grown in our state. I think we can do better, and that's one of the reasons we're asking people to become Palmettovores. We need more market share for our own farmers."
Rinehart said the Sumter Farmers' Market offers the perfect opportunity to increase one's consumption of locally grown produce.
"I live for the farmers' market," she said. "Most of the produce is picked the morning of the day it's sold or late the afternoon before, so it naturally tastes better."
Apparently, Sumter residents agree, as the traffic through the Sumter County Fair's Agricultural Building was large and steady all day long.
This year's crops will probably be the best in the three years, said Rinehart, who manages the market for American Legion Post 15, which owns it and the fairgrounds. That's because of plentiful rain and sunshine, she said.
"The beans are producing faster, the berries are bigger and juicier and the squash are just the best," Rinehart said.
Because there has been no problem with blossom rot, which causes the hard, white flesh inside, local tomatoes should be juicy, sweet and perfect for the tomato sandwiches many Sumter residents love. On Saturday, most of the vendors had tomatoes from John's Island or Mount Pleasant, but all said they should have their own by this weekend.
Dianne Gamble and her mother, Nell Gamble, of G&G Farms in New Zion, had plenty of squash, cucumbers, zucchini and blueberries the size of large marbles on Saturday, and Dianne said, "We'll have butterbeans in about a week, too."
Kristen Dorr was helping her grandfather, Maynard Dorr of Gable's Dorr Farms, with their produce, and Clarence and Ella Stokes of Camden's Cactus Hill farm had huge cantaloupes, along with their other vegetables. Stafford's no longer has strawberries, but the white corn was going like hotcakes. Robert Stafford pulled the husk back on an ear, revealing even, plump kernels. Press one with your fingernail, and a moist drop sweet as corn syrup rises.
Rinehart said she expects (three or four) other vendors in the next week or so, including "the butterbean lady (Paula McNair) from Summerton. Butterbeans will be ready anytime," she said.
Each farmer pays $125 to sell his or her produce at the market from April through September. The market closes in September, two weeks before the Sumter County Fair. Hours are Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The prices are much lower at the farmers market than at supermarkets, Rinehart said. Tomatoes at 99 cents a pound, green peppers, four for $1, blueberries, $2.50 a pint, cantaloupes $1.50-$2.50, depending on size, sweet corn, 4 ears for a dollar are just a few examples.
"Get there early for the best selection," Rinehart said.
WANT MORE? Learn more about the Palmettovore movement at www.palmettovore.org. Check out some summer squash recipes online at http://southernfood.about.com/od/summersquash/a/zucchini_squash.htm, or visit the Sumter County Library’s Web site at www.midnet.sc.edu/sumtercls/. They have a huge cookbook section, and you can reserve them online.
Reach Features Editor Ivy Moore at ivym@theitem.com or (803) 774-1221.