Limehouse, Clemson partnership leads to small farms being certified
Limehouse Produce in Charleston, SC, and Clemson University created a partnership about three years ago that has resulted in nine small farms located in Charleston County becoming certified as Good Agricultural Practices firms at little or no expense to the farms. The partnership was formed to address obstacles facing local farms seeking GAP certification in view of increasingly stringent food safety requirements.
Chinese peach bag idea given a whirl in South Carolina orchards
It was invented hundreds of years ago by the Chinese, but American researchers are trying to copy the idea in hopes it will work here. The idea is that putting paper bags over young peaches as they develop protects them from insects, disease, abrasion, etc. The test began this spring, when researchers at Clemson University in Clemson, SC, placed bags on immature, thumb-size peaches about four weeks after the trees bloomed.
Clayton Rawl Farms’ story is in the greens it grows and sells
WEST COLUMBIA, SC — Greens tell the story of the Clayton Rawl Farms. The Rawl family began growing leafy greens and green onions on Calks Ferry Road in Lexington County, SC, in 1948. They sold almost all of their produce at the nearby South Carolina Farmers Market here. Clayton Rawl grew up working with his family on the farm. His sons, Spanky and Chris, did the same. In 1982, the trio formed Clayton Rawl Farms, today one of the larger leafy green growers in the Southeast.
W.P. Rawl to host Katie’s Krops Camp July 8-11 for young produce growers
W.P. Rawl & Sons Inc. in Pelion, SC, will host Katie’s Krops Camp, a total-immersion growing experience July 8-11 for young Katie’s Krops growers from across the country. Once a year, over the summer, about 15 young growers with a parent or chaperone are invited to travel to South Carolina and the farm of W.P. Rawl, camp sponsor. W.P. Rawl is a family-owned and operated farm that specializes in leafy greens and other seasonal vegetables.
W.P. Rawl & Sons promotes greens in filmed event with Monique Coleman
W.P. Rawl & Sons in Pelion, SC, a grower, processor and shipper of leafy greens, announced its recent satellite media film garnered 6 million viewers. Released as the firm celebrated its 90th year, the filmed event featured W.P. Rawl’s “Nature’s Greens” brand and actress Monique Coleman.
J.W. Yonce & Sons packs a million boxes of ‘Big Smile’ peaches
Josh Yonce at J.W. Yonce & Sons Inc. in Johnston, SC, predicted his farms will produce more than their usual 1 million boxes of peaches this season. “We survived a spring freeze with less than 10 percent damage to the crop,” he said in an April 24 phone interview. “In fact, we were still pruning the orchards when the freeze hit. Now all we have to worry about are wind damage and hail. We’re on track and on schedule for a good year.”
South Carolina Watermelon Queen has a full dance card for 2015 reign
Well, for starters there’s the Darlington 500 parade and race, with an audience of 75,000, the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston, SC, with almost 35,000 runners and the Marine Corps Marathon in the Washington, DC, with 30,000 runners. “Living out of suitcase for a year,” as her predecessor described it, is one fringe benefit to being the 2015 South Carolina Watermelon Queen. Sydney Ford of Gaffney, SC, a junior at the University of South Carolina, already has her dance card almost full, and the bookings are still coming in.
Certified SC Grown program gains recognition, boosts produce sales
South Carolina Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture Martin Eubanks credits South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Hugh E. Weathers with starting the Certified SC Grown program, which makes it easy for consumers to identify, locate and buy South Carolina produce. Growers use the “SC Grown” logo only with the department’s approval, on first-quality products grown in South Carolina that meet U.S. No. 1 Quality Grade Standard or higher U.S. Grade Standards, whichever is the accepted U.S. Department of Agriculture standard for that commodity.
South Carolina ag veteran sees banner year ahead for produce
WEST COLUMBIA, SC — You won’t catch Martin Eubanks making blanket predictions, not until the day he controls the weather. But with a nod to Mother Nature and her ability to wreak havoc on predictions, the 29-year veteran with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture foresees a banner year in produce for the state. Eubanks, the South Carolina Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture, was interviewed April 28 at the South Carolina Farmers Market here, between a hurricane seminar and a meeting with federal and state food inspectors.
Investigation launched into improprieties at Bill Gates’ Vidalia onion operation
Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black has launched an investigation into allegations of improprieties at Stanley Farms, the Vidalia, GA, onion facility acquired last year by interests connected to billionaire Bill Gates.