Deep Roots
PECAN GROWERS PICK UP
THE PIECES AFTER STORM
Coastal Innovations
CHARTING THE FUTURE OF
SOUTH CAROLINA'S SEAFOOD INDUSTRY
What's That Crop
A ROADSIDE VISUAL
IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
COMING HOME
TO THE FARM
Retired military veterans help
other vets turn to agriculture
Issue № 5 | 2025
SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
From field to table
It doesn’t get any fresher than Certified SC. That’s because the
freshest, best tasting produce is grown locally by hard working
South Carolina farmers. So, make sure you know the roots of
your food—and see what’s in season at CertifiedSC.com.
A South Carolina Department of Agriculture Program
Grown in SC 2025 | 1
Okra in bloom at BioWay Farm in
Ware Shoals, SC. Photo by Jess Yun.
3 HEAD FARMER
MEET THE
COMMISSIONER
How Hugh Weathers serves SC
6 EAT LOCAL
WHAT'S IN SEASON
Eating locally means eating
seasonally
8 SUPPORT SC FARMERS
WHERE TO BUY LOCAL
Support farmers across the
state
10 AG FACTS
GROWING ALL THE TIME
Agriculture in South Carolina
14 AG FACTS
WHAT'S THAT CROP?
A roadside visual identification
guide
16 FEATURE
BEAN COUNTER
For Josh Johnson,
diversification makes farming
fun, more profitable
20 FEATURE
DEEP ROOTS
Pecan growers pick up the
pieces after storm
26 FEATURE
GROWING TOGETHER
At Morning Glory Homestead,
sharing and self-sufficiency go
hand in hand
Contents
MORE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH SC AGRICULTURE
@SCDAgriculture
@CertifiedSouthCarolina
@sc.agriculture
@certifiedsc
@SCDAgriculture
@Certified_SC
Farm-raised turkeys at Project Victory
Gardens in Townville, SC. Photo by Jess Yun.
32 FEATURE
COMING HOME TO THE
FARM
Kara and Matt Rutter help
veterans turn to agriculture
38 FEATURE
GROUNDED ON THE RANCH
Growing premium hay is a
calling for SC farmer
44 FEATURE
AN HEIRLOOM MARKET
Greenville's best kept secret is its
splendid State Farmers Market
51 FEATURE
FROM CURVES TO CURDS
Forx Farm makes prized Gouda
from local milk
58 CONVERSATIONS
AN ABUNDANT TABLE
South Carolina's First Lady of
Agriculture talks hospitality
64 AGENCY SPOTLIGHT
MEASURING UP
A look inside South Carolina's
Metrology Lab
68 SC AGRIBUSINESS
COASTAL INNOVATIONS
Charting the future of South
Carolina's seafood industry
72 EVENTS
SC AG CALENDAR
A sampling of agricultural and
food events taking place in our
state this year
linkedin.com/company/
scdagriculture
From the Field Newsletter
A monthly e-newsletter with SC agriculture industry updates
Scan the code or sign up at agriculture.sc.gov/newsletter
BACK COVER
ON THE COVER
44
32
2 | agriculture.sc.gov
MAGAZINE TEAM
EDITOR
Eva Moore
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Stephanie Finnegan
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
Kelly Smutylo
WRITERS
Hannah Arndt
Cade McConnell
SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE LEADERSHIP
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
Hugh E. Weathers
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
Clint Leach
CONSUMER PROTECTION
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
Derek M. Underwood
AGENCY OPERATIONS
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
Aaron Wood
This magazine is published annually by the
South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
P.O. Box 11280, Columbia, SC 29211
803-734-2210 | emoore@scda.sc.gov
This work is protected by copyright and no part
of this publication may be reproduced in whole
or in part without written consent.
CONTRIBUTORS
JARED BRAMBLETT
is an engineer and photographer
located in Charleston. His
photographic work is primarily based in
environmental and documentary work.
STEPHANIE BURT
is the founder of “The Southern Fork” and a
writer based in South Carolina whose work
has appeared in numerous publications,
including Saveur, The Washington Post,
CNN's Parts Unknown, Conde Nast Traveler,
and The Bitter Southerner.
SEAN RAYFORD
is a Columbia-based freelance
photojournalist and commercial
photographer who works with Getty
Images, The Associated Press, The New
York Times, The Wall Street Journal,
The Washington Post, and others.
JESS YUN
is a Greenville-based photographer
and writer with a passion for
storytelling, but she mostly takes
iPhone photos of her two kids.
APRIL BLAKE
is a freelance writer and marketing manager
who lives in Cayce, South Carolina with
her husband and three dogs. Her love for
SC produce began as a child when she
decimated her grandfather's sweet pea crop
by secretly eating them straight off the plants.
STEPHANIE BURNETTE
is a food and travel writer, editor, and
cooking instructor based in the Upstate.
She crisscrosses South Carolina writing
about farmers, makers, chefs and the
communities who love them.
SABRENNA BRYANT
works as State Outreach Coordinator
for the USDA’s Farm Service Agency
in South Carolina. Bryant is a 20-year
communications professional, and
resides in Columbia.
Grown in SC 2025 | 3
MEET SOUTH CAROLINA’S COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
Name: Hugh E. Weathers
Wife: Blanche Weathers
Children: 3 sons – Gill, Edward, and Julius
Grandchildren: 7
Hometown: Bowman, South Carolina
Alma mater: University of South Carolina. Commissioner
Weathers also received an honorary doctorate of Humanities
in Public Service from his alma mater in 2019.
Years in office: 20
Years in farming: All his life. Formerly a dairy farmer,
Commissioner Weathers now grows peanuts, corn, cotton,
and other crops.
What do you like to do in your free time?
A little golf, helping keep up a 110-year-old house, and time
with family.
What are your favorite tailgating foods?
Pork loin. And Blanche’s pimento cheese on our neighbor’s
yeast rolls.
What are your favorite holiday foods?
Char-grilled oysters, Blanche’s shrimp creole, and country
ham for breakfast.
What’s your favorite food you’ve eaten overseas lately?
Tagine cooking in Morocco — especially when Blanche and I
prepared it at a cooking class there. I was in Morocco as part
of a trade delegation with the National Association of State
Department of Agriculture (NASDA).
What are your goals for 2025?
1) Lay out a new strategic plan for the South Carolina
Department of Agriculture;
2) Build on some ministry work Blanche and I started with
young couples in our area;
3) Make a hole in one—and not at putt-putt;
4) Spend more time in prayer.
What do you love about being Commissioner of Agriculture?
I love helping make a difference in the lives of people who
make a difference for others.
Commissioner and Blanche Weathers on a NASDA Trade Trip to Morocco
The Weathers Family
4 | agriculture.sc.gov
Find restaurants that use local South Carolina
ingredients at FRESHONTHEMENU.COM
The Cottage Cafe, Bakery & Tea Room | Bluffton, SC | Chef Leslie Rohland
Grown in SC 2025 | 5
COMMITTED TO AG.
COMMITTED TO YOU.
“Farm Credit understands
farming more than local banks.
When we call the office, we
get a human being and not an
answering machine. That is very
important if you’re running a
business and need to talk to your
lender immediately.”
- Larry Cook with wife
Pam Cook of Cook’s Farm and
Roadside Market
AgSouthFC.com | ArborOne.com
Upstate & Lowcountry
Pee Dee Region
6 | agriculture.sc.gov
What’s In Season
Eat Local
February
June
October
September
May
January
01
05
09
YEAR-ROUND
02
06
10
Beets / Cabbage / Cilantro / Collards / Kale /
Microgreens / Mushrooms / Mustard & Turnip Greens /
Rutabagas / Turnips
Aeroponic a
Beets / Cabbage / Cilantro / Collards / Green Onions /
Kale / Leeks / Microgreens / Mushrooms / Mustard &
Turnip Greens / Parsley / Radishes / Rutabagas / Turnips
Arugula / Asparagus / Basil / Beans (Snap/Pole/Variety) /
Beets / Blueberries / Bok Choy / Broccoli / Cabbage /
Cauliflower / Cilantro / Collards / Cucumbers / Fennel /
Green Garlic / Kale / Kohlrabi / Leeks / Lettuces /
Microgreens / Mushrooms / Mustard & Turnip Greens /
Onions / Parsley / Peaches / Peas (Snap/Sugar) / Potatoes /
Radishes / Rutabagas / Strawberries / Summer Squash /
Sweet Corn / Swiss Chard / Turnips / Zucchini
Basil / Beans (Snap/Pole/Variety) / Blackberries / Blueberries /
Bok Choy / Broccoli / Cabbage / Cantaloupe / Cilantro /
Collards / Cucumbers / Edamame / Eggplant / Fennel /
Garlic / Herbs / Kale / Kohlrabi / Microgreens /
Mushrooms / Okra / Onions / Parsley / Peaches / Peas
(Snap/Sugar) / Peppers (Variety) / Plums / Radishes /
Strawberries / Summer Squash / Sweet Corn / Swiss
Chard / Tomatoes / Watermelon / Zucchini
Apples / Arugula / Basil / Beans (Snap/Pole/Variety) /
Bok Choy / Butter Beans / Cilantro / Collards /
Cucumbers / Figs / Herbs / Kale / Kohlrabi /
Microgreens / Mushrooms / Muscadine Grapes / Okra /
Onions / Parsley / Peaches / Peanuts (Green) / Pears /
Peas / Peppers (Variety) / Radishes / Squash (Variety) /
Sweet Potatoes / Swiss Chard / Tomatoes /
Watermelon / Zucchini
Apples / Arugula / Basil / Beans (Snap/Pole/Variety) /
Beets / Bok Choy / Broccoli / Butter Beans / Cilantro /
Collards / Cucumbers / Fennel / Ginger / Kale /
Kohlrabi / Leeks / Lettuces / Microgreens / Mushrooms /
Mustard & Turnip Greens / Muscadine Grapes / Okra /
Onions / Parsley / Peanuts (Green) / Peas / Pecans /
Peppers (Variety) / Radishes / Rutabagas / Squash
(Yellow/Winter) / Sweet Potatoes / Swiss Chard /
Tomatoes / Turmeric / Turnips / Watermelon / Zucchini
Always in Season
6 | agriculture.sc.gov
Grown in SC 2025 | 7
Eating locally means eating
seasonally. In South Carolina we’re
blessed with diverse geography
and seasonal variation, making for
a full year of delicious local foods.
March
August
July
December
November
April
03
07
11
04
08
12
and Hydroponically-Grown Herbs, Fruits, & Vegetables / Local Milk / Meat / Fish / Eggs / Honey / Artisan Cheeses / Mushrooms
Asparagus / Beets / Bok Choy / Cabbage / Cilantro /
Collards / Green Onions / Kale / Kohlrabi / Leeks /
Lettuces / Microgreens / Mushrooms / Mustard &
Turnip Greens / Parsley / Radishes / Rutabagas /
Strawberries / Swiss Chard / Turnips
Arugula / Asparagus / Beets / Blueberries / Bok Choy /
Broccoli / Cabbage / Cilantro / Collards / Fennel /
Kale / Kohlrabi / Leeks / Lettuces / Microgreens /
Mushrooms / Mustard & Turnip Greens / Onions /
Parsley / Peas (Snap/Sugar) / Radishes / Rutabagas /
Spinach / Strawberries / Swiss Chard / Turnips
Basil / Beans (Snap/Pole/Variety) / Blackberries /
Blueberries / Butter Beans / Cantaloupe / Cilantro /
Collards / Cucumbers / Edamame / Eggplant / Herbs /
Kale / Microgreens / Mushrooms / Okra / Onions /
Parsley / Peaches / Peanuts (Green) / Peas (Snap/Sugar) /
Peppers (Variety) / Plums / Summer Squash / Sweet
Corn / Tomatoes / Watermelon / Zucchini
Basil / Beans (Snap/Pole/Variety) / Butter Beans /
Cantaloupe / Cilantro / Collards / Edamame / Eggplant /
Figs / Herbs / Kale / Microgreens / Mushrooms /
Muscadine Grapes / Okra / Onions / Peaches / Peanuts
(Green) / Peas (Snap/Sugar) / Peppers (Variety) / Squash
(Variety) / Sweet Corn / Sweet Potatoes / Watermelon /
Zucchini
Apples / Arugula / Beets / Broccoli / Cabbage /
Cauliflower / Cilantro / Collards / Cucumbers /
Eggplant / Fennel / Ginger / Kale / Leeks / Lettuces /
Mustard & Turnip Greens / Microgreens / Muscadine
Grapes / Mushrooms / Onions / Parsley / Peas / Pecans /
Peppers (Variety) / Radishes / Rutabagas / Squash
(Variety) / Sun Chokes / Sweet Potatoes / Turmeric /
Turnips
Apples / Arugula / Beets / Broccoli / Cauliflower /
Cilantro / Collards / Fennel / Kale / Leeks / Lettuces /
Microgreens / Mushrooms / Mustard & Turnip Greens /
Napa Cabbage / Parsley / Pecans / Radishes /
Rutabagas / Sweet Potatoes / Turnips
Grown in SC 2025 | 7
8 | agriculture.sc.gov
Where to Buy Local
STATE FARMERS MARKETS
The State of South Carolina owns and manages three regional state farmers markets that sell locally grown
produce and specialty products, leasing space to farmers, retailers, and wholesalers. The markets sponsor Plant and
Flower Festivals in the spring and fall and a variety of events throughout the year. Admission and parking are free.
Support SC Farmers
FARMS
certifiedsc.com
Search by county and/or farm product
to find Certified South Carolina
members near you.
PEE DEE STATE
FARMERS MARKET
peedeestatefarmersmarket.com
2513 West Lucas Street
Florence, SC 29501
843-665-5154
Monday – Saturday | 8 am – 6 pm
GREENVILLE STATE
FARMERS MARKET
greenvillestatefarmersmarket.com
1354 Rutherford Road
Greenville, SC 29609
864-244-4023
Monday – Saturday | 8 am – 6 pm
SC STATE
FARMERS MARKET
scstatefarmersmarket.com
3483 Charleston Highway
West Columbia, SC 29172
803-737-4664
Open daily | Vendor hours vary
Jess Yun
Stephanie Finnegan / SCDA
Stephanie Finnegan / SCDA
Ruta Smith / SCDA
Grown in SC 2025 | 9
FRESH ON THE MENU
freshonthemenu.com
Restaurants participating in the
Fresh on the Menu program agree to
use at least 25% in-season Certified
South Carolina products. Look for the
window decal or search our website.
STORES
Grocery stores are key partners in
the Certified South Carolina program.
Look for the Certified South Carolina
logo where you shop to find fresh local
items and support your local farmers.
SPECIALTY FOODS
scspecialtyfood.org
Whether you’re looking for sauces,
jams, drink mixes, heirloom grains,
or another great product, find quality
Certified SC products through the SC
Specialty Food Association website.
COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED
AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS
agriculture.sc.gov/
community-supported-agriculture-csa
Buying a CSA share gets you periodic
farm-fresh products while offering
stable income to a local farm. Ask
around or visit our website to find a
farm offering CSAs near you.
COMMUNITY BASED
FARMERS MARKETS
agriculture.sc.gov/community-based-farmers-markets
There are more than 130 farmers
markets across the state, from
booming weekend events in bigger
cities (Columbia’s Soda City Market
and Greenville’s Saturday Market, for
example) to smaller markets in rural
communities.
CERTIFIED
ROADSIDE MARKETS
agriculture.sc.gov/certified-roadside-markets
The Certified Roadside Market
Program was established in 1972 and
currently includes more than 150 markets
and farm stands. Because they must
meet certain standards, we’re confident
that the roadside markets in the program
are reputable and offer a good supply of
South Carolina farm products.
Harleston Towles / The Twenty Bag
Jackie Moore / SCDA
Jess Yun
Michael Hrizuk / SCPRT
SCDA
Kip Beam / Two Creek Farm
10 | agriculture.sc.gov
Growing All the Time
AGRICULTURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA
22,633
Farms
4.6 Million
Acres of Land Farmed
Agribusiness is SC’s
#1 Industry
Ag Facts
Sources: 2022 Census of Agriculture (USDA NASS); Information from Cash Receipts by State, Commodity Ranking an
Top Ten Agricultural Products
These products are the highest in the state by value of production.
№ 1 | Broilers
$ 1 . 5 4 B I L L I O N
A broiler is any chicken raised for meat.
№ 2 | Turkeys
$ 1 B I L L I O N
South Carolina raises lots of turkeys for
the prepared food market.
№ 3 | Corn
$ 2 8 0 M I L L I O N
Field corn is used in food ingredients like
corn starch and corn syrup, as well as
fuel, plastics, and animal feed.
№ 4 | Soybeans
$ 2 1 9 M I L L I O N
We’re not talking edamame here:
Soybeans are used for oil, animal feed,
and much more.
№ 5 | Cotton
$ 1 8 6 M I L L I O N
South Carolina farmers grow
Upland cotton, much of which
is sold on the international
market for use in textiles.
№ 6 | Eggs
$ 1 8 0 M I L L I O N
Eggs, broilers, and turkeys are all in South
Carolina’s top 10, making the poultry
industry enormously important to the state.
№ 7 | Cattle and Calves
$ 1 74 M I L L I O N
Many South Carolina farmers raise
calves and then sell them out of
state for the beef market, while
others raise them all the way to
slaughter. Other farms specialize in
raising bulls and selling genetics.
Grown in SC 2025 | 11
Accounts for
259,215 Jobs
$51.8 Billion
Total Economic Impact
$12.3 Billion
Annual Labor Income
Horses
The state’s equine industry contributes nearly $2 billion and
29,000 jobs annually.
nd Share of U.S. Total, 2022 (USDA ERS); The Economic Impact of Agribusiness in South Carolina (Von Nessen 2022)
More Key Crops & Industries
Floriculture
Cut flowers and nursery plants make up an enormous industry
in the state.
Fruit
Peaches, watermelons, strawberries, and
blueberries are all key crops in the state.
Agritourism
More than 600 agribusinesses in the state welcome visitors
to their farms for activities ranging from corn mazes to berry
picking to camping.
Mariculture
Oyster and clam
farming are helping
bolster the state’s
seafood industry, which
is under threat from
imported products.
Vegetables
South Carolina vegetable acreage increased 25% in
the five years since the last Census of Agriculture.
Branching Out Flower Co., Mayesville, SC
Zheng Chia
Alex Grosse
Lowcountry Oyster Co., Green Pond, SC
№ 8 | Peaches
$ 1 4 2 M I L L I O N
Most years, South Carolina grows more peaches than any other
state besides California.
№ 10 | Peanuts
$ 6 5 M I L L I O N
South Carolina grows two
popular types of peanut: runner
type, used mostly in peanut
butter and peanut products;
and Virginia type, usually sold
in the shell for snacking.
№ 9 | Sod
$ 1 0 5 M I L L I O N
With high demand for
quality turf, sod farming
is a growing industry.
12 | agriculture.sc.gov
National Fruit & Vegetable Rankings
Collard Greens
Turnip Greens
Southern Peas
Kale
Peaches
Asparagus
Honeydew Melon
Okra
Plums
Non-Bell Peppers
Sweet Potatoes
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Nectarines
Cabbage Mustard
Cucumbers
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Figs
Strawberries
The South Carolina Corn
Board was established in
2024 to invest in the research,
promotion, and education
about corn in the state.
For more information, contact:
Mary Catherine Cromley
SC Corn Board Executive Director
corncheckoff@scda.sc.gov
803-734-1767
sccornboard.org
10987
1256
SC is now the top producer in the nation of collard greens, turnip greens, and southern peas. Here are our other top ten rankings.
Ag Facts
Grown in SC 2025 | 13
Rising culinary star Amethyst Ganaway, joins
the South Carolina State Museum for a series of
events exploring foodways in the Palmetto State.
Guests are invited to experience a culinary journey
highlighting the past and future of creativity,
innovation and artistry in Black foodways
throughout South Carolina.
Upcoming 2025 Event Dates
At The Penn Center on St. Helena Island
Feb. 8 | Lowcountry Legacy
At the South Carolina State Museum
March 22 | Pee Dee Palate
May 17 | A Midlands Reunion
Get Tickets at
SCMUSEUM.ORG
803.685.5381
5 R. W. DUBOSE RD.,
RIDGE SPRING, SC 29129
THE LARGEST
PEACH
PRODUCER ON
THE EAST
COAST
WWW.TITANFARMS.COM
Where Freshness
and Flavor Unite in
Every Bite
14 | agriculture.sc.gov
What's That Crop?
A ROADSIDE VISUAL IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
Corn
APPEARANCE Tall, with big leaves splaying out from the
stalk at intervals. Distinctive tassels stick up from ears.
HEIGHT 5 – 10 feet
PLANTING March – April
HARVEST June – August (sweet corn); September –
November (field corn)
MORE Field corn is left to dry in the field before being
harvested with a big machine called a combine. Sweet
corn is harvested by hand while the plants are still green.
Collard Greens
APPEARANCE Large, muted-blue-green plants in the
Brassica family.
HEIGHT 1 – 2 feet
PLANTING AND HARVEST Collards can be grown much
of the year in SC, but spring and fall crops are common.
MORE South Carolina leads the nation in leafy green
production. Collards are a lovely, distinctive blueish green,
while greens like mustard are more bright, classic green.
Cotton
APPEARANCE Open, bushy plant with scruffy dark
green and burgundy leaves. Flowers start out pale
yellow then turn bright pink. Pale green bolls burst
open when ripe, exposing fluffy white innards.
HEIGHT 4 – 6 feet
PLANTING Mid-April – early June
HARVEST September – early December
MORE Before harvest, the plants are sprayed with
defoliant and the leaves turn brown and drop off.
L & R: Stephanie Finnegan
L: Ruta Smith / R: Cade McConnell
L & R: Rusty Ross
Peaches
Ag Facts
Grown in SC 2025 | 15
Peanuts
APPEARANCE Bushy, bright green plants with small
round leaves and small yellow flowers.
HEIGHT 2.5 feet
PLANTING April – May
HARVEST September – November
MORE Like soybeans, peanuts are legumes, and the
plants have some similarities. Peanuts produce their
own nitrogen.
Soybeans
APPEARANCE Bushy, deep green plants growing
close together.
HEIGHT 3 – 5 feet
PLANTING May – July
HARVEST October – December
MORE Before harvest, soybeans plants turn golden,
then brown, and dry out, revealing little stalks with
pods hanging off them.
Peaches
APPEARANCE Low, gracefully branching fruit tree
with dark green leaves that have a distinctive curl.
Trees are covered with pink blossoms each spring.
HEIGHT 10 – 15 feet
HARVEST May–September. Peach trees begin
bearing fruit after 3-5 years.
MORE Fruit size and color vary across peach varieties and
throughout the season. The best indicators of a ripe peach
are a fragrant aroma and no green around the stem.
Tobacco
APPEARANCE Bushy plant with huge leaves that turn
yellow near harvest, and pink trumpet-shaped flowers.
HEIGHT 3 – 7 feet
PLANTING Tobacco plants are started in
greenhouses, then transplanted to the field.
HARVEST Tobacco leaves are harvested several times
throughout the season, often by hand.
MORE Once a staple crop in SC, tobacco cultivation is
on the decline, but some dedicated farmers still grow
this challenging and historic crop.
L & R: Stephanie Finnegan
L: Katherine Helms / R: Stephanie Finnegan
L: Mary Catherine Cromley / R: Jason Arthurs
L & R: Katherine Helms
16 | agriculture.sc.gov
FOR JOSH JOHNSON, DIVERSIFICATION MAKES FARMING FUN, MORE PROFITABLE
B Y A P R I L B L A K E
P H O T O S B Y S E A N R A Y F O R D
Bean
Counter
Grown in SC 2025 | 17
Driving around South Carolina during
the summer and fall, rows of evenly
spaced plants dominate the landscape.
Many of these plants are commodity
crops, or row crops as they are often
referred to by the farmers who grow
them: corn, soybeans, cotton, peanuts.
They’re planted and harvested at larger
scale using heavy equipment.
Commodity crops are an important
source of revenue for farmers in
the state, but they can bring in
unpredictable prices. Specialty crops,
meanwhile, often require more
hands-on management, irrigation,
harvesting, and storage, but can
fetch a higher price for the farmer.
“Specialty crop” is a broad industry
term for intensively cultivated crops
that aren’t row crops, including fruits
and vegetables, cut flowers, herbs, tree
nuts, and nursery plants.
An increasing number of farmers, like
Josh Johnson of Elloree, choose to grow
both specialty crops and row crops.
“Being in the specialty crop business
leads to more specialty crops, because
people will ask, ‘What else can you
do?’ And you don’t know until you’re
asked,” said Johnson, whose business is
called Old Tyme Bean Co. “First we got
into butter beans, then pea production,
which led to dry pea production, which
led to growing peas for seed. Then we
got involved with High Wire Distillery
to grow Jimmy Red corn for their
bourbon.”
His row crops include cotton, corn,
and peanuts. As far as specialty crops,
he grows lima beans, white acre peas,
pink eye purple hull peas, red ripper
peas, and black eyed peas. (Aside
from the limas, these are all heirloom
varieties of a bean called the cowpea or
Southern pea, traditionally grown and
eaten in the Southern US.)
Johnson grew up on a tobacco farm
in Horry County before marrying
into a Calhoun County family and
moving there to work the family
land. The farm’s various plots are
accessible within about a three-mile
Josh Johnson grows both row crops and
specialty crops on his Elloree farm.
18 | agriculture.sc.gov
TOP LEFT: Johnson grows an heirloom
corn variety called Jimmy Red for High Wire
Distilling Co. BOTTOM LEFT: Cotton is a
staple South Carolina row crop. OTHERS:
Peas and beans keep things interesting on
Johnson's farm.
18 | agriculture.sc.gov