Food Found Fresh

With spring in full swing, that can only mean one thing: The farmers’ markets are open for business! There’s no shortage of fresh, local food in the Upstate. Stop by one or more of these outdoor events and fill your reusable grocery bag to the brim with the freshest fare around—straight from the field to your family. And for a complete listing of outdoor festivals and events in and around the Upstate, visit www.gvillemag.com.

Carolina First Saturday Market
Opens May 1
Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon
Main Street, downtown Greenville
Established in 2003, the Saturday Market features more than 40 vendors and drew 160,000 visitors in 2009, after expanding beyond McBee Street to Washington Street. Special programs include cooking demonstrations, live music, and harvest events.
(864) 467-4494, www.saturdaymarketlive.com

Hub City Farmers’ Market
Opens May 10
Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon
Magnolia Street Train Station, 298 Magnolia St., Spartanburg
Opens June 2
Wednesdays, 3-6 p.m.
Morgan Square, downtown Spartanburg
This bi-weekly market features up to thirty vendors and all produce sold is grown by the sellers. Arts and crafts vendors are also featured on the first Saturday of each month.
(864) 585-0905, www.hubcityfm.org

Clemson University Farmers’ Market
Late-May (tentative)
Wednesdays, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Old Stadium Road, Clemson University, Clemson
The Student Organic Farm marks its third year this season with an independent farmer's market on the Clemson University campus. All produce is certified organic and the farm also offers a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) pickup.
(864) 656-6644 or (864) 656-5057, www.clemson.edu/sustainableag/farm_market.html

Pendleton Farmers’ Market
Opens June 3
Thursdays, 4-6 p.m.
Pendleton Village Green, Pendleton
Visit Pendleton’s historic Village Green for homegrown produce and linger for browsing in the local antique shops and lunch at a nearby restaurant.
(864) 933-5303, www.pendletonfarmersmarket.org

Fountain Inn Farmers’ Market
Opens June 5
Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon
102 Depot St., Fountain Inn
This summer, the Fountain Inn Farmers’ Market will be opening a new pavilion for vendors on the site of a former downtown feed store and garden center. Special events will be held twice monthly, including cooking demonstrations, a combining demonstrations, face-painting, visit from the Fountain Inn fire department, and live music.
(864) 275-8801, www.fountaininn.org

Whole Foods Tuesday Local Farmers’ Market
Opens May 4
Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Whole Foods Market parking lot, 1140 Woodruff Rd., Greenville
This market features a dozen local vendors selling everything from seasonal veggies to doggie treats. All proceeds go directly to the producers and a local non-profit is spotlighted the first Tuesday of each month at the Booth with a Cause.
(864) 335-2300, www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/greenville

Travelers Rest Farmers’ Market
Opens May 1
Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon
Behind Sunrift Adventures, 1 Center St., Travelers Rest
This market, now in its second year, focuses on exclusively offering healthy, local produce and plants, and features a variety of Northern Greenville County growers. New this year, a meat vendor from Travelers Rest will be purveying his sustainable grass-fed beef, chicken, and pork.
(864) 414-1966

Easley Farmers' Market
Opened in April
Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon
Parking lot of Easley City Hall at 205 N 1st St, Easley
(864) 855-7900, www.easleyfarmersmarket.com

Greenville State Farmers’ Market
Year round
Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
1354 Rutherford Rd., Greenville
Growers come from several surrounding counties to sell seasonal produce and during the spring and summer months, vendors offer baked goods, plants, and flowers. Saturday mornings are the busiest with up to twenty vendors selling to the public.
(864) 244-4023, www.agriculture.sc.gov