Issue № 4 | 2024
Field Fliers
HOW DRONES ARE HELPING
FARMERS DO THEIR WORK
Taste This Place
AT BARRIER ISLAND OYSTER CO.,
THE SEA AND THE FARMER WORK
TOGETHER
Practice What
You Peach
HOW SC'S BIGGEST PEACH FARM
REDUCED WASTE BY INVESTING
IN SUSTAINABILITY
FROM THE GROUND UP
Bio Way Farm Marks Two Decades of Growing
for Local Chefs and Markets
SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Grown in SC 2024 | 1
BACK COVER
Peaches for sale at the SC
State Farmers Market in West
Columbia, SC.
Photo by Stephanie Finnegan.
3 HEAD FARMER
MEET THE COMMISSIONER
How Hugh Weathers serves SC
6 AG FACTS
GROWING ALL THE TIME
Agriculture in South Carolina
8 EAT LOCAL
WHAT'S IN SEASON
Eating locally means eating seasonally
10 SUPPORT SC FARMERS
WHERE TO BUY LOCAL
Support farmers across the state
12 FEATURE
FROM THE GROUND UP
Bio Way Farm marks two decades of
growing for local chefs and markets
22 FEATURE
FIELD FLIERS
How drones are helping farmers do
their work
Contents
MORE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH SC AGRICULTURE
SCDAgriculture
CertifiedSouthCarolina
sc.agriculture
certifiedsc
SCDAgriculture
Certified_SC
ON THE COVER
Chris Sermons has built Bio Way Farm into
a diversified produce operation serving
farmers markets and chefs in the Upstate.
Photo by Jess Yun.
28 FEATURE
TASTE THIS PLACE
At Barrier Island Oyster Co., the sea and
the farmer work together
34 FEATURE
PEE DEE POWER
Miko Pickett serves her community
through food and farms
38 FEATURE
FRUIT AND VEGGIE SQUAD
How SC's Produce Safety team works to
protect farmers and eaters
46 RECIPES
PRACTICE WHAT YOU PEACH
How Titan Farms reduced waste by
investing in sustainability
52 FEATURE
SMALL FARM, BIG HEART
At Saxmore Farms, three generations
have found their own way to farming
57 FEATURE
FAMILY ROOTS RUN DEEP
JC Chandler rekindles a family cattle
legacy
60 SC COOKING
TRADITION AND TRANSFORMATION
In Kugels & Collards, an exploration of the
farm ingredients and cultural influences
in Jewish South Carolina cooking
66 SC AGRIBUSINESS
SEEDS FOR SUCCESS
Mixon Seed grows in SC with help from
agribusiness development grant
72 EVENTS
SOUTH CAROLINA AG CALENDAR
A sampling of agricultural and food
events taking place in our state this year
28
34
12
52
2 | agriculture.sc.gov
MAGAZINE TEAM
EDITOR
Eva Moore
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Stephanie Finnegan
WRITERS
Hannah Arndt
Cade McConnell
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
Kelly Smutylo
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.
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
South Carolina
produce began
as a child when
she decimated
her grandfather's
sweet pea crop
by secretly eating
them straight off
the plants.
Grown in SC 2024 | 3
MEET SOUTH CAROLINA’S
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
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.
BACH PHAM
is a communica-
tions professional
and freelance
writer living in
Columbia with his
partner and two
cats. He seeks to
learn and share
the stories of how
food has shaped
communities in the
American South.
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.
How long have you been a farmer?
I might as well say all my life. Born into
a dairy farm family, I can remember
working during my teenage years
between basketball practice and the
occasional summer vacation. Four
years at the University of South
Carolina and two years in corporate
banking was my only time not directly
involved in farming every day.
How did you meet your wife?
I think it was our destiny to meet the
way we did. Blanche worked for the
SC Farm Bureau. Her responsibilities
included leading the Young Farmer
programs. It’s hard to believe I was
once a young farmer myself and
participated in those leadership
programs. Because of that, our paths
crossed and the rest is history.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Blanche and I both work in the yard to
keep our house and surrounding acres
looking ready for visitors. I will slip off
when I can to play golf or fish a little in
our pond. Anytime I can get to a South
Carolina beach or mountains is always
a good way to recharge.
What’s your favorite place to travel?
I enjoy the pace of a large city like New
York or Washington for about two days
maximum. But I’ll always prefer the
beach or mountains. A favorite trip
recently was to Glacier National Park.
It’s hard to improve on the natural
beauty that God surrounds us with
everywhere.
What is your favorite book to read to your
grandchildren?
I’ve read Good Night South Carolina
to them a few times. Also plenty of
books about farm animals. I also read
and recorded an audio Christmas
book with two of them. It’s fun when
they pick the books and listen to the
recording.
What’s the best meal you’ve eaten
recently?
Probably one in my own home. Last
Thanksgiving, however, we were at our
son Julius and his wife Sara’s home. The
meal will rate as one of the best ever.
There’s always some subtle cooking
competition going on in our family.
Hugh E.
Weathers
4 | agriculture.sc.gov
Project22_Layout 1 10/4/23 1:13 PM Page 1
Grown in SC 2024 | 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
Growing All the Time
AGRICULTURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA
24,600
Farms
4.8 Million
Acres of Land Farmed
Agribusiness is SC’s
#1 Industry
Ag Facts
Peaches
Most years, South Carolina grows more
peaches than any other Eastern state, and
is second in the nation only to California.
Small, bright and juicy, South Carolina
peaches measure extremely high on the
Brix scale, a measure of sweetness.
Broilers
A broiler is any chicken raised for meat
— and it’s by far the highest value farm
product in South Carolina, with more
than $1 billion worth produced per year.
Corn
Field corn grown in South Carolina
is used in food ingredients like corn
starch and corn syrup, as well as
in fuel, plastics, and animal feed.
South Carolina farmers harvested
355,000 acres last year.
Cattle & Calves
The beef industry is a cornerstone
of South Carolina agriculture. As
of early 2023, there were 315,000
cattle and calves in the state.
Cotton
South Carolina farmers grow
Upland cotton, much of it sold
on the international market
for use in textiles. About
205,000 acres of cotton
were harvested here in 2023.
Chicken Eggs
The poultry industry, including
eggs, is integral to South Carolina
agriculture.
Floriculture
From sod farms to cut flowers to nursery
plants, the floriculture, landscaping, and
nursery industry is thriving.
Sources: Census of Agriculture (USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2017); USDA Economic Research Service; The Economic I
Grown in SC 2024 | 7
Accounts for
259,215 Jobs
$51.8 Billion
Total Economic Impact
$12.3 Billion
Annual Labor Income
South Carolina is the top producer of turnip greens
in the nation. Here are some of our other national
fresh produce rankings.
National Fruit &
Vegetable Production
Rankings
Watermelons
With hundreds of farms growing
watermelons statewide, this
tasty symbol of summer is a
beloved South Carolina crop.
Turkeys
South Carolina raises mostly large
male (tom) turkeys — too big for the
Thanksgiving table!
Soybeans
Soybeans grown in South Carolina
are used for oil, animal feed, and
much more. Palmetto State farmers
harvested 380,000 acres of
soybeans in 2023.
Tobacco
Historically among the most
important crops in the state,
tobacco is grown mostly in
the Pee Dee region.
01
Turnip Greens
05
Okra 02
Collard Greens
Kale
Mustard Greens
Peaches
06
Green Peas
Honeydew
07
Broccoli
08
Summer Squash
Sweet Potatoes
Watermelon
09
Bell Peppers
Cantaloupe
10
Tomatoes
Peanuts
South Carolina has become a leader
in peanut production, growing two
popular types: runner type and
Virginia type. Farmers in the state
harvested 73,000 acres in 2023.
onomic Impact of Agribusiness in South Carolina (Von Nessen, 2022) New census data will be available in Spring 2024—visit nass.usda.gov.
8 | 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 and H
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