The sweet history of Bradford watermelons ..................................... 72 Local farmers markets and farms welcome visitors

Sumter farmers farmers Markets Markets

In Sumter, we love to support our local businesses, and one of the best places to shop local is at a farmers market.

There are four markets open at various times in Sumter throughout the year, so you can explore them all to fi nd your favorite produce farm, crafter or ready-to-eat food vendor.

BY ALAYSHA MAPLE

200 Miller Road

Founded in 2017, the Sumter Farmers Market offers local farmers, artisans, bakers, food trucks and other vendors without a storefront a venue to sell their products directly to the consumer. Produce farmers grow at least 75-80% of what they sell, and livestock farmers humanely raise their animals on pasture with no antibiotics or added growth hormones. The market is governed by its own board and held The market is governed by its own board and held weekly on Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. from April 1 weekly on Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. from April 1 through Nov. 18.

Follow them on Facebook for vendor updates at facebook.com/sumterfarmersmarket.

American Legion Farmers Market

2 S. Artillery Drive

Open on Fridays from noon to 5 p.m., this market offers fresh produce, locally raised meat products, crafts and gift items and read-to-eat food. The best part? It’s inside a building on the American Legion and county fairgrounds, so they can stay open year-round.

Follow them on Facebook for vendor updates at facebook. com/Americanlegionfarmersmarket or learn more at americanlegionfarmersmarket.com.

South Sumter Farmers Market

312 Manning Ave.

This market offers fresh produce and other craft and community items seasonally in an area of Sumter that does not have nearby access to fresh produce. There’s usually someone cooking hot meals at the market. SFMNP senior and WIC vouchers are accepted. The market is open June-October on Fridays between 2 and 6 p.m.

Downtown Sumter Farmers Market

Corner of Main and Liberty streets

Open May through September on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 Open May through September on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., this small market offers local made produce and food.

Go straight to the source

Along with Sumter Farmers Market, there are local farms open to the public that sell different produce and products. public that sell different produce and products.

About 40 miles outside of downtown Sumter sits a big, bright red barn nestled along a tree-lined, lush green pasture. Richard Harrington Farms, nestled along a tree-lined, lush green pasture. located at 380 Myrtle Beach Hwy., is a small rural farm, home to Willie the rooster, Badonkadonk the donkey, chickens and a herd of Nigerian Dwarfs rooster, Badonkadonk the donkey, chickens and a herd of Nigerian Dwarfs goats. Every animal is cared for on the farm, and fresh eggs, bales of hay goats. Every animal is cared for on the farm, and fresh eggs, bales of hay and goats are sold. Its hours of operations are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 and goats are sold. Its hours of operations are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

On the outskirts of Sumter, Dorr Farms offers produce fi t for each On the outskirts of Sumter, season. In the spring, strawberries are ripe and bright, blueberries and season. In the spring, strawberries are ripe and bright, blueberries and blackberries shine in the summer, and pumpkins are perfect for picking blackberries shine in the summer, and pumpkins are perfect for picking in the fall. The farm hosts fun days that include picking what is in season, in the fall. The farm hosts fun days that include picking what is in season, games, hay-less hayrides, a petting zoo and learning about honeybees. games, hay-less hayrides, a petting zoo and learning about honeybees. Dorr Farms is located at 5225 Dorr Acres Road, Gable, SC, Monday-Friday Dorr Farms is located at 5225 Dorr Acres Road, Gable, SC, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Make your Christmas memories merrier with Coleman Family Farms. Make your Christmas memories merrier with Starting in October, bring a piece of the farm home with one of their Starting in October, bring a piece of the farm home with one of their Leyland Cypress or Carolina Sapphire Christmas trees for $50 or a Leyland Cypress or Carolina Sapphire Christmas trees for $50 or a precut Fraser Fir Christmas trees for $60. Custom ornaments, fresh eggs, precut Fraser Fir Christmas trees for $60. Custom ornaments, fresh eggs, homemade cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookie dough can be prehomemade cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookie dough can be preordered through the farm’s Facebook page. If you can’t get enough of the ordered through the farm’s Facebook page. If you can’t get enough of the baked goods, the rows of Christmas trees serve as a beautiful backdrop are baked goods, the rows of Christmas trees serve as a beautiful backdrop are sure to make holiday pictures festive and bright. Coleman Family Farms is sure to make holiday pictures festive and bright. Coleman Family Farms is open from 11 a.m.m-5:30 p.m., located at 2165 Lloyd Drive. open from 11 a.m.m-5:30 p.m., located at 2165 Lloyd Drive.