Orangeburg County’s sweetest season is near about over. But if you’ve been crunching into some of our juicy watermelon, or spooning cut-up local peaches over ice cream, or savoring fresh little peas over mashed potatoes, and still want more -- drive down to the Orangeburg Farmers Market on Hwy. 301 near the back of the Thompson Funeral Home.

This is the same one started at the corner of the fairgrounds five years ago. With so many demands for use of the parking lot behind the stands, the farmers decided to move sales to this new site where there are ten tables for display and lots of parking.

Some of the farmers will be there on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Nearly all show up on Saturday mornings until midday. Come early enough and you might find some tiny butter beans until midday.

This is one of two official Orangeburg County Farmer’s Markets. The second is in Elloree.

Did you know that 78 of them are scattered across the State, some extremely successful? Fred Broughton, marketing specialist for the S.C. Department of Agriculture, says that a few sellers at some of the largest take home $15,000 to $20,000 in sales during the May-October season.

For poor children “Most people don’t know these markets started 15 years ago to help undernourished children,” Fred says. “The U.S. Congress learned that many 1-5 aged Americans no longer ate sufficient fresh produce. After careful planning, they set up special funds for which over half of the States applied.

“These paid for coupons to be issued in South Carolina by the Department of Health and Environmental Control and Agriculture. They are good for $25 worth of fresh fruit or vegetables for each child.”

Still going strong, the program is presently helping 25,000 S.C. families. In 2001 Congress increased the funds to include undernourished senior citizens. They apply for coupons at the Orangeburg County Council on Aging.

The local market In 2004, a group of Orangeburg farmers including Harry Roberts, Richard McDaniel and the late Timothy Prezzy organized a committee and opened the one at the fairgrounds.

“Cox Lumber donated the supplies to build a dozen tables,” says Molly (Harry) Smith, who serves as market manager. Thias McDaniel built them. Smith contacted The T&D and radio stations about publicity. Six to eight garden crop planters agreed to rent tables for $3 each market day.

Sales thrived for two seasons until the committee, realizing that the fairgrounds site had to be used by many groups, looked for another site. Robert Wactor, a local merchant, offered the present lot without charge. This year Smith and her mother-in-law, Marjorie Stroman, bought the lot and leased it to the market.

“It keeps growing and promoting itself,” Smith says. “Our major effort is to draw in more customers by urging the farmers to bring in better and better produce. Word of mouth has circulated that we have excellent produce, and at fair prices. I try to keep track of what each farmer is growing, talking with each of them every week. Also we call up many people to learn what fresh foods they want most.

“The market committee’s latest plan is to build a modern, weather-proofed building to hold sales in. We’ve applied to several state agencies for funds.

“So more and more prime cucumbers, squash and tomatoes (the public’s favorites) should be in our and Orangeburg’s future. Oh yes, late peaches, pears and apples will be on the tables soon.”

Retired editor and public relations executive Thomas Langford’s column is titled “Some Edisto stories.” Let him know if you have stories to share: 803-534-2097.

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