From pickled vegetables with roots in Haiti to wood pellets made from pecan shells and coffee grounds, South Carolina’s diverse agricultural culture includes innovations in traditional vegetable growing and roadside stands. (Photo/DepositPhotos)
Listen to this articleThe South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Agribusiness Research and Entrepreneurship Center (ACRE) has awarded $200,000 in grants to 12 businesses as part of its Advanced Entrepreneurship Program.
Finalists for the grant presented to a panel of judges on May 15 and were scored based on their business plans, five-minute video presentations and demonstrated track records of business success.
In addition to financial assistance, winners will receive access to a network of business advisors and expert help with applying for additional state and federal grant funding, according to an ACRE news release.
Recipients include livestock producers, specialty food producers, produce farms, and new and established farm families.
- Dragonfly Creek in Colleton County is a diversified market farm in Walterboro that grows seasonal vegetables, herbs, fruits, cut flowers and eggs. As it continues to grow, it plans to develop a weekly Community Supported Agriculture program for Walterboro area residents. With ACRE funds, it plans to invest in wildlife fencing to protect crops and dig another well to expand irrigation.
- Blue Ridge Rabbit Meat Co. is a family-owned rabbit farm in Wellford, Spartanburg County. The farm raises and processes rabbits and ships the meat to customers across the country. The company plans to use the ACRE funding to add a heating and cooling system throughout its barn.
- Crossroads Processing was founded in Reidsville in 2022 with a focus on venison processing, but quickly expanded to process various types of meat, including livestock, to fill a gap in the local market. The company’s goal is to increase direct-to-consumer processing, increase local meat processing infrastructure and narrow the gap between farmers and consumers, the release stated.
- Lowcountry Fungi supplies culinary and medicinal mushrooms to restaurants and wholesale customers from its indoor farm on Johns Island. The company recently launched “Mushroom Coffee,” a blend of local coffee and farm-grown mushrooms. With the ACRE grant, it plans to expand into another warehouse unit, scale production and add a certified kitchen.
- Farm in the Wildwood in Greenville County uses environmentally friendly, no-till, regenerative farming techniques to grow baby greens, herbs and a variety of vegetables for Greenville-area restaurants, CSA members, seasonal farm stands, agritourism customers and more. With the ACRE funding, they will improve their facilities, improve their marketing and expand their product offerings.
- Oswego Flowers in Sumter County is focused on growing unusual cut flower varieties, and the 2024 grant will help them purchase a larger greenhouse to extend the growing season for cut flowers year-round and begin the transition to wholesale cut flower production.
- Pickled Pepper People in Greenville County uses a traditional Haitian family recipe to make spicy coleslaw from fresh, local and sustainably sourced vegetables. The minority-owned business will use the ACRE grant money for equipment, marketing, social media and a community kitchen.
- Bradford Farm in Sumter County grows, processes and sells its own heirloom crops, including collards, watermelon, okra and sweet potatoes. It also acts as a small distributor of South Carolina grown produce to restaurants throughout the Carolinas and Georgia. Bradford Farm will use the grant funds for a mechanical washing station, a mechanical chopper and a forklift accessible refrigerated storage facility.
- Growing Green Family Farms in Greenville County uses regenerative farming practices, including compost and intercropping, to supply fresh produce to the Upstate. The company is expanding its Good Agriculture Practices-certified packing shed and walk-in cooler to increase its own production and help other farmers in need of food-safety-certified space.
- Since taking over the pecan orchard from their parents, the younger generation of Yong Family Farm has rapidly increased yields through irrigation and improved equipment. They operate a retail store in Ridge Spring (Saluda County) that sells pecans and pecan products as well as supporting other local farms by selling local goods from growers throughout South Carolina. The Yongs plan to build new permanent freezer space to improve access and inventory management.
- Heartworks Farms of Lexington County is a specialty produce farm producing tomatoes, microgreens and cut flowers. The company plans to build a multi-purpose packing and processing facility with dedicated processing areas, refrigerated storage and flexible space for educational workshops and farm events.
- Hull and Husk in Beaufort County uses locally sourced peanut shells, pecan shells, white oak and coffee grounds to make pellets for wood-fired grills and animal feed. With the help of an ACRE grant, the company will purchase packaging equipment, an air purification system and drum dryers for the materials it uses to make pellets.
“Each year we are so impressed with the creativity, drive and diversity of the entrepreneurs who participate in the ACRE Advanced Entrepreneurship Program,” ACRE Executive Director Kyle Player said in the release.
According to a press release, ACRE was founded in 2018 to identify and nurture new ideas and businesses in the Palmetto State’s agribusiness sector. ACRE has also partnered with Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service to offer a fall curriculum program that develops and mentors agricultural entrepreneurs and prepares them for advanced grant-winning.
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