Celebrate South Carolina with Fresh Summer Produce

Article by Eva Moore Communications Director, S.C. Department of Agriculture

For restaurants that serve local produce, summer in South Carolina is a time to breathe a bit easier.

South Carolina’s abundant summer harvest means simpler local sourcing and a bounty of menu ideas. But there’s still a lot to consider when choosing local foods.

The Certified South Carolina program was created by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture in 2006 to help consumers identify and purchase local fruits and vegetables, while supporting local farms. Members of the program can use the logo on their products and in their marketing, and the agency promotes Certified South Carolina through a variety of means, including social media, advertising, events, and sponsorships.

According to one study, the Certified South Carolina program enjoys 78 percent brand awareness among in-state consumers. Another recent study found that the program accounts for an additional $273.5 million in economic activity, 1,615 jobs and $51.2 million in labor income for South Carolina each year.

Since it was launched, the Certified South Carolina Program has grown to about 1,700 members.

Certified South Carolina has a free partner program for restaurants: Fresh on the Menu. Members of Fresh on the Menu commit to creating menus that at least 25% Certified South Carolina products in season. Whether it’s locally milled grits, local milk, South Carolina-caught seafood, SC-bottled sauces, or fresh produce, the program’s 300+ members have the opportunity to connect with diners around their commitment to local food.

Restaurants don’t need to be Fresh on the Menu members to source and serve Certified South Carolina foods, though. Summer is a great time to explore the fresh local food that South Carolina has to offer.

Despite a hard freeze in March, the 2022 summer harvest is looking good. Strawberry season will continue through June, with blueberries and blackberries remaining through July. Summer classics like watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, butter beans and sweet corn are all expected to have a consistent year.

As for South Carolina’s famous peaches, we are also anticipating a good year despite the freeze. Volume may be lighter in May due to damage to earlier varieties, but the rest of the summer should be back to normal and you can expect to find our tasty South Carolina peaches in good supply.

Unfortunately, inflation and high input costs have driven up all food costs in 2022. Increased input costs like fertilizer and fuel have made growing crops more expensive this year. And inflation is forcing consumers to make tough choices about how they spend their money.

The higher costs may have a hidden upside, though: This is an opportunity to increase your use of locally grown food. When you seek out Certified South Carolina food, you’re not only supporting local farmers and the local economy, you are also decreasing food miles. When food travels less distance from farm to plate, it minimizes costs – and minimizes the food’s carbon footprint. Plus, locally grown food is often fresher and tastier.

Sourcing local isn’t always easy, but there are many resources available to you, including:

• Asking your broadliner or distributor for a list of available local products.

• Ordering from a food hub that sources product from local farmers, like GrowFood Carolina, Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery, or the Gullah Farmers Co-op. Visit foodhubnetworkssc.com to find a hub.

• Visiting CertifiedSC.com to search Certified SC members by product, county or farm name.

Contact the South Carolina Department of Agriculture for help with sourcing:

Ansley Turnblad, Certified SC/Fresh on the Menu aturnblad@scda.sc.gov, 803-707-5418

Katie Pfeiffer, Market Development/Retail kpfeiffer@scda.sc.gov, 803-734-7209