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Farmers Market Revitalization Project
| Name | Marilyn Peters | | Situation | South Carolina is a state with significant socio-economic problems that precipitate some of the lowest rankings in the nation in a host of arenas, including poverty, educational attainment and health. Within South Carolina, Colleton County frequently ranks at or near the bottom in these and other arenas. For example, according to the 2000 Census: 30.4% did not earn a high school diploma, 21.1% live in poverty (compared to 14.1% of South Carolinians and 12.4% of the U.S. population), 12% of families have an income of less than $10,000.
Additionally, health statistics in South Carolina—particularly for
diseases with a direct correlation to dietary choices—are abysmal for all of the state. South Carolina is 4th in the nation for diabetes, 2nd in the nation for diabetes among African-Americans, 3rd in the nation for rates of prostate cancer and 2nd in the nation for rates of stroke death. The situation is worse yet in Colleton County. According to South Carolina’s Office of Research & Statistics, residents of “very rural” areas of South Carolina are: 44% more likely than urban residents to die from a heart attack, 37% more likely than urban residents to die from a stroke, 54% more likely than urban residents to be hospitalized for
atherosclerosis, 52% more likely than urban residents to be hospitalized for hypertension, 57% more likely than urban residents to die from diabetes. Obesity rates have nearly doubled in South Carolina since 1990 and over 60% of all adults are now either overweight or obese. This issue also affects South Carolina’s younger citizens, as 25% of high school students and 25% of low-income children aged 2-5 are overweight or at risk of overweight.
Overweight and obesity and the associated risk factors of unhealthy
eating and inadequate amount of physical activity increase the risk for developing other chronic conditions and diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, arthritis, sleep apnea, and depression. These chronic conditions result in a significant economic toll to the health care system. Obesity-attributable medical costs for South Carolina alone reached over one billion dollars in 2003, and over half of these costs were through Medicaid/Medicare. Healthy lifestyles that include regular physical activity and good eating habits are the most effective way to prevent obesity, and paramount among good eating habits is adequate consumption of high-quality fruits and vegetables such as those available at local farmer’s markets. Currently, over 75% of South
Carolinians (and 82% of youth) do not consume the recommended number of fruits and vegetables per day. Farmer’s markets play a vital role in providing access to fresh produce and opportunities for healthier eating at reasonable costs. A Farmer’s Market has existed sporadically and at varying levels of success in Walterboro, SC for more than 60 years. In Colleton County, a thriving farmer’s market will have a positive impact on the local economy, on the health of our citizens, and on the farmers’ ability to keep their small farms in production. | | Response | Planning for the Walterboro Farmer’s Market Revitalization Project began in June, 2005, with the launch of the state’s obesity-prevention plan by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). DHEC organized the South Carolina Coalition for Obesity Prevention Efforts and developed its plan, Moving South Carolina Toward a Healthy Weight: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and Healthy Communities. The coalition’s community nutrition workgroup chose “Creating and Enhancing Farmer’s Markets” as one of its two priorities for its inaugural year and established relevant objectives and strategies.
In October, 2006, the project was embraced in Colleton County by The
Coalition Organized to Address Children’s Health (COACH), a coalition
organized in 2003 by Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service
and Colleton Medical Center. A coalition task force was organized and
fact-finding meetings were held with the mayor, the county administrator, the city manager, city council, the USDA, and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. A public forum was held (which attracted extensive media coverage), and in January, 2006, the Farmer’s Market Revitalization Committee (FMRC) met for the first time. It is composed of farmers, potential vendors and interested community leaders and is provided leadership by two agents (horticulture and nutrition) from Clemson Extension.
The FMRC has a firm commitment from eight farmers/vendors to participate in the market, with more anticipated. New rules and regulations are being written and the Walterboro City Council has granted permission for a new location for the farmer’s market.
DHEC’s WIC program has agreed to implement the Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program in Colleton County, providing each of its 1600 participants with $25 worth of vouchers that may be redeemed only at the local farmers market and will encouraging WIC participants to add more fresh fruits and vegetables to their diets while promoting and increasing business for local farmers. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s (SCDA)
Small Farms Program is another valuable collaborator in this project.
Colleton has been chosen as one of only ten counties in the state to
pilot accepting Food Stamp EBTs. Small Farms Program Manager Fred
Broughton, along with representatives from DHEC and DSS, conducted
training for farmers regarding the WIC voucher program and the EBT
program. Mr. Broughton also trained potential market managers and one
will be selected to serve as the Walterboro Farmer’s Market Manager.
The SC Department of Agriculture has offered to fund the salary
for a market manager, through a grant from the Kellogg Foundation. The new venue for the new Walterboro Farmer’s Market will be the town’s Memorial Waterfall courtyard. The official Grand Opening of the market will be July 1 and will operate three days each week, and staying open later on Thursday evenings. In addition to the partners already mentioned, other collaborators and project partners are Clemson Extension’s Master Gardeners who will provide educational exhibits and demonstrations; 4-H members, who will organize a recycling fair/exhibit to be held at the farmer’s market; the City of Walterboro who will provide a venue for the farmer’s market, storage for the tables, canopies and umbrella; the Walterboro Downtown Development Corporation who will provide electricity and a phone line as needed for the use of EBTs, and the Colleton County Family & Community Leaders (community service organization) who will develop and present programs on “Making the Most of Your Local Farmer’s Market” at each of their clubs, and will invite the Market Manager and Assistant Manager to be the special guest speakers at its Spring Council Meeting. | | Impact | During Phase I of the Farmers Market Revitalization Project, the number of vendors selling at the market averaged six, and during the most productive months, it was frequently 10 or more. Consumer participation ranged from approximately 50 to 200. Community enthusiasm was high. Downtown merchants were very supportive. WIC vouchers and Senior Citizens
vouchers were, for the first time, accepted at the market. More than
$9,000 in voucher dollars was spent at the market. This market was one of only 10 markets in the state where Food Stamp EBTs were accepted. Health fairs and educational exhibits were conducted. A logo was developed and signs, aprons and cloth bags were obtained. The project was awarded a USDA Farmers Market Promotion Grant for $20,264 which will be used during the 2007 season to promote and enhance the market. It will include advertising, banners, a float and exhibit at the local community festival, canopies, tables, aprons, cloth bags, fans, and training for the farmers. We have been notified that we will receive a total of $265,000 in grants and gifts to purchase the permanent location for the
farmers market and are still hoping to raise an additional $40,000. |
Last update5/9/2008
This website is maintained by Amy West.
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