Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
Market manager Dawn Snead speaks with customers at the Barnwell Farmer's Market. This year's market has a new manager, new vendors, and new customers.
Beth Spires of Windmill Farms is one of the many vendors at the market.
Fresh flowers and veggies are sold at the Barnwell Farmer's Market.
The Barnwell Farmer's Market kicked off their season earlier this year with new opportunities for the community.
Jessica Bradshaw and market manager Dawn Snead try out the salsa samples at one of the markets.
Crafts such as jewelry and more are sold by local vendors at the market.
Artisan goods are available at the market. Jane Youmans brings baked goods and crafty creations each week.
Some of the homemade goods.
Fresh veggies are among the products sold at the Barnwell Farmer's Market.
Life Support Apothecary is one of the vendors at the Barnwell Farmer's Market.
The Barnwell Farmer’s Market located at Fuller Park is bringing local farmers and artisanal vendors to the community for the second year in a row.
Held on Tuesday mornings from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on the fourth Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the market serves as a one-stop shop for local goods.
“I am so proud of the growth and positive energy the farmer’s market has brought to our community. By adding the special activities like the food prep and cooking workshops and allowing people to use their SNAP benefits for healthy foods for their families. The farmer’s market has truly become one of the gems of Barnwell,” said City of Barnwell recreation director Kevin Roberts.
Dawn Snead was hired as the market manager in February and has brought many new initiatives to the market such as educational and community-based programs.
“I really like working in an area that is part of community activity and getting to know the people in the community,” said Snead. “We live in an area that is surrounded by largely agricultural farms but a lot of times, inside the city or where most people are, our agricultural industry is overlooked.”
With Snead’s involvement, the market is now able to accept credit cards in a centralized location and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits partnered with the Healthy Bucks incentive program – a statewide program allowing SNAP recipients to purchase fresh produce at participating farmers markets.
“Whenever an individual swipes their EBT card for at least $5 of their SNAP benefits, the farmer’s market will give them an additional $15 to spend on produce at the market,” said Snead. “For $5 of their money they have a total of $20 they can spend on fresh produce and food items.”
The market has also partnered with a Department of Social Services (DSS) to bring the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program to the community. This program provides $50 worth of vouchers for senior citizens who meet the eligibility criteria to spend at the market with certified vendors. Certified vendors have to go through a training process with DSS to be able to accept these vouchers which Snead helps facilitate.
Another national program Snead has brought to the market is the Power of Produce (POP) Program originated in Oregon aimed at empowering kids to make healthy food choices and learn where their food comes from.
“We combined that with a program we started which is our Junior Chef kids program,” said Snead.
The Junior Chef program educates kids on making better food choices, eating healthy, making their own healthy snacks, shopping for healthier items in the grocery store. This is done through handouts, activities, and scavenger hunts held at the market.
Snead has also started the two-bite challenge– if a participating child takes two bites of the sample produce item of that day, they are rewarded with a prize for trying something new.
Children are not the only ones gaining access to a healthy lifestyle. Snead and Jessica Bradshaw brought the Nutrition Kitchen Wellness Workshop through HEALing Partners aimed at adults.
Bradshaw currently serves as a lead on the HEALing Partners advisory committee for the market and organizes the Nutrition Kitchen Wellness Workshop held on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Topics such as healthy meal planning, smoothies for your health, ways to stay active, and meal planning for busy families are all brought by Bradshaw, Snead, and their partners from Clemson SNAP Ed and Clemson Rural Health.
At an upcoming workshop, they have a representative from the Barnwell Family YMCA coming to discuss methods of easy physical activity and take a walk around the park.
Participants who attend two workshops are rewarded with a $10 voucher to spend at the market. Participants who attend all of the workshops will be in an additional giveaway at the end of the workshop series.
Aside from all the programs the farmer’s market offers, a slew of local vendors are constantly attending. According to Snead, there are roughly 20 active vendors who participate on varying days of the market. About half of which are women owned businesses.
“We’ve definitely seen an increase from last year moving into this year,” said Snead.
The Barnwell Farmer’s Market came to be when a small group of volunteers from the HEALing Partner’s coalition wanted to reinvigorate a farmer’s market in Barnwell. After speaking with the City of Barnwell for approval and collaborative support only months before the market season began, they got it up and running.
“I am so proud of the growth and positive energy the Farmer’s Market has brought to our community. By adding the special activities like the food prep and cooking workshops and allowing people to use their SNAP benefits for healthy foods for their families. The Farmer’s Market has truly become one of the gems of Barnwell
“Last year’s market season, Jessica Bradshaw and I worked together as volunteers to schedule times, recruit vendors, and do some marketing and promotion,” said Snead.
HEALing Partners was awarded a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant of $147,000 over a three-year span to hire a market manager, marketing and promotion, build educational opportunities, and fund general operations.
Due to the work Snead and Bradshaw had already done, they had compiled vendors and set a schedule.
Last year, the market was held in the morning on Tuesday and Thursday. After listening to community feedback, they shifted these hours to cater to more individuals.
“We have definitely noticed that we have different people that come on Thursday than that come on Tuesday morning,” said Snead.
This shift in time has also encouraged more people to come out.
“In our first month of May, we had a total of 802 people come through. In June we were up to a little over 1,100,” said Snead. “Even just moving through this year, we have seen an increase.”
One of the market’s inaugural events is coming up is The Great Zucchini Race on Saturday, August 26. Kids are invited to come and build a racecar out of zucchinis to fight for the title of fastest vegetable. See the ad on page A10 for more info.
Anyone under 18 can participate for free with all materials provided. Building time starts at 9 a.m. and cars hit the racetrack at 11:45 a.m. Prizes will be awarded to the winners.
Follow their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/barnwellfarmersmarket.
