City Awarded Roadside Produce Stands
January 7, 2011
Greenwood, SC - The City of Greenwood has been awarded two roadside produce stands from the South Carolina Department of Commerce. The stands could show up in the Uptown area along Maxwell Avenue as early as the spring of this year.
The initiative is made possible through the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Fund and is a cooperative effort between the Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Corrections. The Department of Corrections provides the labor needed to construct the roadside stands.
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“Agriculture has long been an important part of South Carolina’s economy and these roadside stands provide an excellent opportunity for local growers to offer fresh produce to the residents in and around Greenwood. Offering an additional venue for growers also helps ensure the future viability of small, local agricultural endeavors in our state. We are pleased to partner with Greenwood on this meaningful initiative,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.
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The stand features a wooden floor and roof, as well as wooden awnings and rows of shelves.
“We are very excited to begin in 2011 a pilot farmers’ market program in Uptown,” said Mayor Welborn Adams. “This will be an excellent opportunity to test the viability of a market in the Uptown for years to come,” Adams concluded.
Greenwood City Council will consider authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement for the ownership of the produce stands with the Department of Commerce at their January 24 meeting. Specific details regarding the operation of the market will be developed in the coming months.
“We are hopeful that we can develop a partnership with the Greenwood Farmers Market Board and many Greenwood County farmers to operate the new produce stands,” said City Manager Charlie Barrineau. “The produce stands will not have the same hours of operations as the Greenwood Farmers Market presently located adjacent to the Civic Center. We still have a lot of details to work out; however, this is a very exciting opportunity for our community,” Barrineau said.
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SC Department of Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers
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Only South Carolina agriculture products and/or locally made or produced items can be sold in the stand. The program is to encourage the development of the Department of Agriculture’s Certified South Carolina brand. The Certified South Carolina program is a cooperative effort among producers, processors, wholesalers, retailers and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture to brand and promote South Carolina products. The goal is for consumers to be able to easily identify, find and buy South Carolina products.
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In November of last year, City Council voted to hire Seamon Whiteside and Associates of Greenville to conduct a study and develop a master plan for a potential permanent farmers market and railroad historical center experience in Uptown Greenwood.
Seamon Whiteside is set to begin their work this month. A final report is expected in June of this year.
The Greenwood County Farmers Market is currently located behind the old civic center, next to Legion Stadium. The market will continue to be in that location for the 2011 season. Greenwood City Council has expressed an interest in relocating the market into the Uptown area.
For additional information on the produce stands or the farmers market study, visit www.uptowngreenwood.com or call (864) 942-8411.
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