The S.C. Department of Agriculture has published guidance directing prospective fruit and vegetable farmers to licensing rules, safety regulations, and funding resources.
Based on a release from S.C. Dept. of Agriculture.
There are currently no regulations requiring a fruit or vegetable grower to obtain licensing from the S.C. Department of Agriculture to start a produce farm or to sell produce, according to the department.
The department said new growers should contact their local Farm Service Agency, which can connect farmers to other agricultural resources and programs in their area.
Growers may also need to comply with the Produce Safety Rule, part of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act signed Jan. 4, 2011, which set the first federal standards for the production, harvest and handling of fruits and vegetables to reduce foodborne illness, according to the department. Not all growers are required to comply, depending on annual farm income, and the department recommends growers determine their status by visiting scproducesafety.com or contacting Kelly Johnson at [email protected].
The department also pointed growers to Clemson Extension horticulture agents for technical assistance and pest management help, as well as two Clemson programs: the self-paced Farming Foundations course and the SC New and Beginning Farmer Program, both aimed at helping new farmers build business and production skills.
For funding, the department cited grants from the SC Specialty Crop Growers Association for needs such as cold storage and water testing, as well as its own cost-share programs for organic and Good Agricultural Practices certification.
The department also highlighted the SC Food Hub Network, which it said includes seven operating food hubs that help connect growers with local markets and provide technical assistance such as crop planning.
Growers not ready for retail markets can consider direct-to-consumer models such as Community Supported Agriculture, in which consumers purchase a share of a farm’s products in advance and receive portions of the harvest over a set number of weeks, according to the department.
Additional resources cited by the department include the Certified South Carolina program, a free branding effort for South Carolina products; the SC Specialty Crop Growers Association, which charges a $25 annual membership fee; and the South Carolina Food Policy Council, which the department said supports the production and consumption of locally grown food statewide.
