Over the past ten years, Alta Mae Marvin and other agents with the Colleton County Clemson Extension Office have been working with churches in rural and underserved areas of the county to provide locally grown fruits and vegetables. As part of efforts to fight the increasing health risk of obesity, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program for rural African American churches was developed. The vision has been to increase the availability and accessibility of fresh produce to underserved communities, increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables among the target population, and identify ways to sustain the Mobile Farmer’s Market for future success. The efforts also provide economic impact for local farmers. Coordinated with leaders of participating African American churches, the program reaches between sixty and eighty families weekly during the summer months. In addition to fresh produce, families receive educational materials on health-related topics and recipes for preparing fresh vegetables.
The CSA Market program is offered at a small cost to the participants. Funding support from the local Walmart allowed participants to pay five dollars per week to receive seven dollars worth of produce. A mobile farmers market manager and a local farmer coordinated with other local farmers for the weekly produce. The food boxes of produce were assembled on Wednesday morning and delivered to the churches. The church coordinators delivered the produce to their participants. Survey results from the participants showed 82% were satisfied with the program, 82% were satisfied with the quality and variety of the fruits and vegetables, and 100% were satisfied with the cost. Plans are to transition the coordination of the 2021 CSA Market to the growers for long-term sustainability.
An upcoming event highlighting local farms is the 2021 South Carolina Ag + Art Tour, which will kick off in Colleton County May 29-30, 2021. This is Colleton County’s first year participating in our nation’s largest farm and art tour. The South Carolina Artisan Center, located in Walterboro, is the Folk Art and Craft Center for the State and represents artists from forty-three of South Carolina’s forty-six counties. Local organizers are excited about the upcoming Ag + Art Tour. Included in the tour will be several minority-owned farms, such as a presentation by SS Hamilton Farm’s owner, Joe Hamilton, who will talk about his years-long struggle sorting through heirs’ property to build today’s profitable tree farm. The weekend includes an aquaponics farm that reflects the Native American culture of its female owner and a minority-owned vineyard. These are just a few of the farms, farmers markets, local food vendors, and activities planned in Colleton County for the Ag + Art Tour.
Submitted by: Alta Mae Marvin, Regional Agribusiness Agent
