Richland County, South Carolina

Richland County Logo

Navigation

  • Online Services

    Online Services

    Save time with our convenient online services.

    Find out more
    • Online Payments
    • Family Court Calendar
    • Business Service Center
    • GIS & Mapping
    • Online Data Services
    • Locate a Lost Pet
    • Inmate Inquiry
    • Voters and Districts
    • Vehicle, Real Estate, Business & Personal Tax
    • Property Value & Tax Estimate
    • Assessor Mailing Address Change
    • Assessor Legal Residence Application
    • Estate Inquiry
    • Homestead Exemption Application
    • Marriage License Inquiry
    • Marriage License Application
    • Watch County Council Live
    • Agricultural Real Property Application
    • Business Personal Property Return
    • General Session Motion Rosters
    • Family Court Payment Inquiry
    • Public Court Records Search
    • Common Pleas Court Roster
    • Master In Equity Court Rosters
    • Summary Court Dockets
    • Hazardous Material Registration
  • Residents

    Residents

    Find services, schools, and safety information.

    Find out more
    • Engage Richland
    • Education
    • Health & Social Services
    • Libraries
    • Public Safety
    • Vector Control
      • Mosquitoes
      • Diseases Spread By Mosquitoes
      • Beekeeper Information
    • Housing
      • Home Ownership Assistance
      • Homeowner Rehabilitation
    • Information for Residents
      • Local Hospitals
      • Schools
      • Getting Around Richland County
      • Automobile Registration & Driver's License
      • Pet Licenses
      • Voter Registration
      • Jury Duty
      • Solid Waste & Recycling
      • Local Utility Providers
    • Emergency Preparedness
  • Businesses

    Businesses

    Competitive tax incentives make Richland County a great place to do business.

    Find out more
    • Doing Business with Richland County
      • Accounts Payable Information
    • Running a Business
      • Hospitality Tax Information
        • Taxable Items
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Forms
    • Starting a Business
    • Procurement & Contracting
      • About Us
      • Solicitations
      • Announcements
      • Vendors
    • Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO)
  • Government

    Government

    Access a complete listing of Richland County departments, committees, and courts.

    Find out more
    • Advisory Councils
      • Central Midlands Council of Governments
      • Lexington Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Control
      • Richland County Neighborhood Council
      • Solid Waste Advisory Council
      • Community Relations Council
    • Boards
      • Board of Assessment Appeals
      • Building Board of Adjustment and Appeal
      • Business Service Center Appeals Board
      • Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA)
      • Historic Columbia Foundation
      • Library Board of Trustees
      • Performing Arts Center Board
      • Richland Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees
      • River Alliance Board
      • The Township Auditorium
      • Elections and Voter Registration Board
        • Agendas, Minutes and Actions - 2013
        • Agendas, Minutes and Actions - 2012
        • Agendas, Minutes and Actions - 2011
      • Board of Zoning Appeals
        • Agendas, Minutes & Actions
        • Agendas, Minutes, & Actions - Prior Years
    • County Council
      • Clerk of Council
      • News
      • County Council Districts
      • County Council Members
        • Gretchen Barron
        • Jason Branham
        • Cheryl English
        • Paul Livingston
          • Paul Livingston Bio Part II
        • Jesica Mackey
        • Yvonne McBride
          • Yvonne McBride Bio Part II
        • Chakisse Newton
        • Derrek Pugh
        • Allison Terracio
        • Overture Walker
        • Don Weaver
      • Strategic Plan
      • Motions Search
      • Agendas, Minutes & Actions
      • Agenda, Minutes & Actions - Prior Years
    • Courts and Judicial System
      • Clerk of Court
        • General Sessions
        • Jury Information
        • Clerk of Court Staff
        • Common Pleas
      • Family Court
      • Magistrates
        • Magistrates Court Forms
      • Master-in-Equity
      • Probate Court
        • Amy McCulloch, Probate Judge
        • Probate Court Divisions
          • Estate Division
          • Guardian & Conservatorship
          • Records Division
          • Marriage License
          • Commitment
        • Filing Fees
        • History
        • Workshops
        • Probate Terms
        • Probate Contacts
        • Forms
      • Public Defender
      • Solicitor
    • Departments
      • Department Directory
      • Animal Care
        • Facts
          • About
          • Info
          • Disaster
        • FAQ
        • Licensing
        • Links
        • Cat Diversion
        • View
      • Budget and Grants Management
        • Annual Budget Reports
          • Current Fiscal Year Reports
          • Prior Fiscal Years Reports
        • ARPA Grants Applications
      • Building Codes & Inspections
        • Plans Review
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Contacts
      • Business Operations
        • Central Services
        • Finance
          • Accounts Payable Check Register
          • Reporting
          • ACFR Reports
          • Financial Transparency Reporting
          • Procurement Card Register
          • Annual Budget Reports
        • GIS & Mapping
        • Human Resources
        • Information Technology
        • Procurement
        • Register of Deeds
          • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Small Local Business Enterprises
      • Community Development
        • Community Development Programs
          • Homeownership
          • Homeowner Rehabilitation
          • Neighborhood Revitalization
          • Public Improvements
          • Stimulus Projects
        • CDBG Mitigation
        • Community Development News
        • Housing & Urban Development
          • Fair Housing
      • Conservation
        • Soil & Water Conservation District
          • About
          • Natural Resources Conservation
          • Youth Education
          • Join Us
          • Conservation District News
          • Board Meetings
        • Conservation Commission
        • Pinewood Lake Park
          • Rules
          • Picnic Shelters
          • Fishing and Boating
          • Trails and Fitness
          • Demonstration Garden
          • Park History
          • Natural History
      • Executive
        • Administration
        • Clerk of Council
        • Ombudsman
      • Health & Social Services
      • Government and Community Services
        • About Us
        • Education
        • Business Community
        • Other Community Groups
        • Homeowners Associations
        • Institutes of Higher Education and SC Works
        • Elected Officials and Local Municipalities
      • Grants
        • Accommodations Tax
        • Hospitality Tax
        • Discretionary Grants
          • COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Grants
      • Legislative
        • Legislative Delegation
      • Licensing & Registration
        • Animal Care
        • Business Service Center
          • BSC Online Services
          • Proposed Bag Ordinance
            • More Info for Residents
              • Take the Resident Survey
            • More Info for Businesses
              • Take the Business Survey
            • More Resources
            • Ordinance Timeline
            • Updates from County Council
            • Plastics and Recycling Q & A
        • Marriage License Inquiry
        • Planning & Development
        • Register of Deeds
      • OSBO
        • Services
        • Resources
          • Ordinances
        • Current Contracts
        • Steps
          • Is My Business Eligible?
          • Submit an Application
          • Onsite Visit & Interview
        • Home
          • About Us
          • Workshops & Events
          • News
      • Planning & Development
        • Comprehensive Planning
        • Neighborhood Planning
          • RCNC
          • Grants
          • Master Plans
          • Events
          • Planning Month
        • Sustainability Planning
          • Accomplishments
          • News
          • Publications
          • Resources
          • Sustainability Tour
        • E-911 Addressing and Road Naming
        • Floodplain Management
          • FPBasics
          • DevReview
          • Mapping
          • Prep
          • Property
          • Drainage
          • Info
      • Public Information Office
      • Public Safety
        • Animal Care
        • Coroner
        • Detention Center
        • Emergency Services
        • Richland County Sheriff's Department
        • SC Department of Public Safety
        • SC Law Enforcement Division
        • Victim/Witness Assistance
      • Public Works
        • GIS Public Works
        • Special Services
        • Jim Hamilton-LB Owens Airport (CUB)
        • Roads & Drainage Maintenance
        • Department Projects
        • Engineering
        • Solid Waste & Recycling
          • Curbside Pick-up
            • Recycling
            • New Account Set-up and Moving
            • Handicapped Service Options
            • Roll Cart Care
            • Household Garbage
            • Yard Waste
            • Bulk and Large Items
            • Evictions and Unwanted Items
            • Household Hazardous Waste
          • Drop-off Facilities
            • Residential and Commercial
            • Accepted Items
            • Drop-off Locations
            • Transporting Loads
            • Illegal Dumping
          • Solid Waste and Recycling Service Areas
        • Stormwater Management
          • Construction
          • Education and Public Involvement
          • Inspections
          • Monitoring
          • Ordinances
          • Capital Improvement Projects
      • Taxes
        • Pay Online
        • Treasurer
          • Tax Payment Options
          • Planned Payments
          • Frequently Asked Questions
          • David A. Adams
          • Treasurer News Archive
          • Treasurer News
          • FLC Available Properties
        • Assessor
          • Legal Residence Clarification
          • Agriculture Use Value
          • Classification of Property
          • Example of Appraisal Notice
          • How to Challenge Your Value or Assessment
          • Property Appraised by the SC Department of Revenue
          • Taxes & Fair Assessment
          • School Tax Credit
          • 2014 Reassessment Program
        • Auditor
          • Property
          • Tax Exemptions
        • Hospitality Tax
      • Transportation Penny
        • Projects
        • Reports
        • Public Meetings
        • Archived Reports
      • Utilities
        • Water
          • Water Rates Schedule
          • Water System Consumer Confidence Reports
        • Sewer
          • Industrial Pretreatment Rates Schedule
          • Sanitary Rates Schedule
        • Forms
        • Procurement
        • Learn
        • News
        • About
        • Service Area Map
        • Current Alerts
        • Development
        • Other Utility Providers
        • Billing & Service
          • Establish Service
          • Cancel Service
          • Billing Adjustment
          • Delinquent Accounts
          • Special Power of Attorney
        • Contact Us
      • Voter Registration & Elections
        • About Us
        • Elections
        • Election Results
          • 2017
          • 2018
          • 2019
          • 2020
          • 2021
          • 2022
          • 2023
          • 2024
        • Voter Registration
        • Election Workers
        • Outreach
        • Board of Directors
          • Board Information
            • Board Meeting - Agendas and Minutes
            • Board Meetings - Agendas and Minutes - Prior Years
        • Early & Absentee Voting
    • Ordinances
      • Recently Approved Ordinances
    • Elected Offices
    • County ADA Compliance
    • Committees
      • Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee
      • Ad Hoc and Short Term Committees
        • Agendas, Minutes & Actions
        • Agendas, Minutes & Actions - Prior Years
      • Administration and Finance Committee
        • Agendas, Minutes & Actions
        • Agendas, Minutes & Actions - Prior Years
      • Animal Care Advisory Committee
      • Development and Services Committee
        • Agenda, Minutes & Actions - Prior Years
      • Discretionary Grant Fund Review Committee
      • Economic Development Committee
        • Agendas, Minutes & Actions
        • Agendas, Minutes & Actions - Prior Years
      • Employee Grievance Committee
      • Hospitality Tax Advisory Committee
        • Agendas, Minutes & Actions
      • Internal Audit Committee
      • Nulla Bona Committee
      • Rules and Appointments Committee
        • Agendas, Minutes & Actions - Prior Years
      • Transportation Penny Advisory Committee
        • Agendas & Minutes
        • Agendas & Minutes - Prior Years
    • Commissions
      • Airport Commission
        • Agendas & Minutes
        • Agendas & Minutes - Prior Years
      • Conservation Commission
        • Agendas & Minutes
        • Agendas & Minutes - Prior Years
        • Commission Members
        • Commission News
        • Natural Resources
          • Natural Resource Grants
          • Conservation Easements
          • Richland County Trail Map
          • Projects
        • Historic Preservation
          • Cemeteries
          • Historic Preservation Grants
          • Bailey Bill
          • Historic Site Inventory
          • Architectural Surveys
          • Projects
          • Historical Markers
        • Partners
      • Convention Center Commission
      • East Richland Public Service Commission
      • Music Festival Commission
      • Richland County Recreation Commission
      • Riverbanks Park Commission
      • Elections Commission
      • Planning Commission
        • Agendas, Minutes & Actions
        • Agendas, Minutes & Actions - Prior Years
  • Visitors

    Visitors

    Part rustic natural beauty, part vibrant city scene - Richland County offers something for everyone!

    Find out more
  • About Richland County
  • Careers
  • News
  • Events
  • Contact Us
  • FOIA
Menu Search

One-Call Response Center 24 Hours (803) 929-6000

Conservation District News

Midlands Local Food Summit Summary

Monday, June 17, 2013

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Midlands Local Food Summit Summary (pdf)

Midlands Local Food Summit Summary
Monday, June 17, 2013
Columbia, SC

Approximately 25 local farmers, chefs, distributors, resource professionals and support organization representatives gathered for the Midlands Local Food Summit on June 17, 2013. The Midlands Local Food Collaborative organized the meeting in coordination with a statewide formal assessment by the SC Departments of Agriculture and Commerce called “SC Making Small Farms into Big Business,” conducted by food systems consultant Ken Meter, President of Crossroads Resource Center. Partners for the study include the Palmetto Agribusiness Council, The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, the Coastal Conservation League, the Farm Bureau, and other organizations.

The goal of this Local Food Summit meeting, facilitated by Ken Meter, was to provide small farmers and local food stakeholders in the Midlands with an opportunity to express their regional vision and needs as the overall assessment of local food systems in South Carolina is conducted.

Jack Schuler, President of the Palmetto Agribusiness Council, introduced the project “SC Making Small Farms into Big Business” by recognizing the significant potential for small farms to contribute to South Carolina’s overall agricultural wealth. Mr. Meter then began the discussion by asking participants to envision what economic developments would help increase the amount of local food that can be grown for South Carolina markets. The ensuing dialogue included suggestions for economic developments as well as a need for increased education and advocacy dedicated to building a sustainable food system. The complex set of issues expressed by the participants is presented thematically below.

Processing and Distribution:
Processing and distribution of local food is a challenge in the Midlands. The daily operating tasks on a small farm demand long hours, and many small farmers are then responsible for processing and selling their production. Farmers markets, which are time and labor intensive, are common points of sale in the Midlands. The addition of a processing and distribution point could allow small farmers to spend more time on production.

“There just aren’t enough hours in the day.” –Sharon Helms, Carolina Bay Farms

Another suggestion for more efficient processing and distribution of produce was forming a cost-sharing cooperative of small farmers in the Midlands. If farmers could work together on boxing, packaging and refrigeration, individual expenses would decrease and resources could be redirected. The flip side of streamlining the process is a potential brand dilution. Cultivating a strong brand all the way to the consumer was expressly important to chefs and farmers alike to maintain a competitive advantage.

There is only one USDA-certified meat processor in South Carolina, located in Kingstree. Small farmers spend valuable time and resources to get to Kingstree to process their livestock. One participant suggested that the state purchase a mobile meat processor to make processing more time and labor efficient for small farmers in the Midlands.

Communication:
As acknowledged in the first Local Food Summit (November, 2012), participants cited communication as a major problem in connecting local food and markets. Buyers may not know what farmers are growing, and farmers don’t know what and/or how much buyers want, so coordination through enhanced communication is needed to foster systemic local food system change. The local food finder platform MarketMaker has the ability to help bridge that gap, although it isn’t currently being utilized to its full potential.

“You have potatoes?! I’ll take whatever you have.” –Tim Peters, Executive Chef of Motor Supply, connects with Carolina Bay Farms. A restaurant sale is made on the spot.

Furthermore, a suggestion for a statewide agricultural events calendar was proposed, to aggregate information from various organizations, as well as increased rural access to internet communications to access online information.

Food Safety:
The SC Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Coordinator urged everyone in the room interested in enhancing the local food system to consider food safety as a top priority in strategic planning processes. The FDA’s pending changes to food safety regulations will make it more and more difficult for small farmers to sell and distribute through conventional channels. Currently, many small farms are not GAP certified, which is necessary to be eligible to bid on contracts with schools and institutions. Some worry these federal safety changes could push the older generation of small farmers to retire because they are not prepared for assessments or are unaware of the current standards and regulations.

Participants also engaged in discussion about traceability—under the Food Safety Modernization Act, traceability requires food distributors to label and barcode everything that comes in and out of the distribution warehouse, and systems are expensive. Product liability poses an enormous challenge for distribution companies wanting to work with small, local farms because commercial sales require insurance premiums that are out of reach for many small farmers. Forming a cooperative could possibly help decrease this expense and build capacity of local food distribution.

“We work with small farms, and we want work with more small farmers, but upcoming changes to legislation could make it even harder.” Robert Moore, Senn Bros. Distribution Co.

Regulations:
Participants expressed that SC regulations keep SC “behind” other states that have more prosperous local food systems. There is conflicting regulatory information (sometimes from regulators themselves) that makes it difficult to learn how to do the “right” thing when processing products like meat, cheese, eggs, and milk. Growers seek a reliable and consistent source of information to questions about farming regulations, as well as increased advocacy to change prohibitive regulations that make it difficult to process.

“I asked two different people how to process eggs in the same building and got two different answers.”    --Sharon Helms, Carolina Bay Farms

Education:
Each participant, at various times during the meeting, expressed a fundamental requirement for a more robust local food system is education—for farmers, consumers, cooks, buyers, and students alike. While there are various educational programs and initiatives for farmers, consumers, and buyers across the state, there is a gap in culminating this information for the different audiences.

Farmer education: Mustafa Azeez of Asya Organics, a teaching cooperative farm in Sumter County asked, “But where are the farmers? Where are the farmers? I don’t see them.” Mustafa has seen growers and farmers disappear all across the state, and we need to foster them through education. Farming can be a viable business option for the younger generation, and we need to cultivate “agripreneur” opportunities. There is a visible disconnect between the land, food, and community. If we don’t educate the new generation, we will lose farming, which is a way of life for the Azeez family, and we will lose the connection to food. SC residents could also become food insecure if farming continues to decline.

Consumer education: From field to fork, it is crucial to increase food literacy in SC. Basic agricultural education such as where food comes from, the seasonality of produce, and nutrition should be integrated in schools and communities. On-the-farm education and building “agritourism” can help build awareness of local food and agriculture and boost the local economy. School gardens and the farm-to-school program offer excellent taste education. Cooking education was also identified as integral to building relationships and community around food and nutrition. Chefs in Columbia are championing local ingredients sourced from small farms, which creates demand and builds awareness among consumers.

Education for Industry Professionals:
Cafeteria workers, cooks, and food managers for schools and institutions need education to incorporate fresh local ingredients on the menu. Institutional food buyers may also need to be connected with resources that can communicate the availability of local food and coordinate processes.

What is a Small Farm?
Councilwoman Julie Ann Dixon asked the group a very important question, “What is a small farm?” There are different definitions based on size and income depending on whom you ask, and the participants had varying answers about acreage and profit determining “small farm” status. A representative from the farm loan service provided the definition they use, which is outlined by profits and number of employees, not acreage. Participants expressed a desire to streamline this definition across various sectors.

Keywords:
farmer, small farm, Midlands, local, sustainable, food system, distribution, processing, communication, food safety, regulations, agriculture, education, consumer, farm-to-table, food security, schools, institution, meat, produce

The Midlands Local Food Collaborative is a partnership of organizations dedicated to a robust local food system in the Midlands of SC.  The Collaborative members provide education, technical and financial assistance and community advocacy to promote sustainable agriculture, land stewardship, and equitable food access. Collaborative members include the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Organic Richland Program), Sustainable Midlands, Clemson Institute for Community and Economic Development, and the University of South Carolina.  


Message sent.
Name:
Email:
Subject:
Message:
x

Have a question or concern?

Contact the Ombudsman
One-Call Response Center

  • Call: (803) 929-6000
  • Email: ombudsman
  Search

Government

  • Advisory Councils
  • Boards
  • County Council
  • Courts and Judicial System
  • Departments
    • Department Directory
    • Animal Care
    • Budget and Grants Management
    • Building Codes & Inspections
    • Business Operations
    • Community Development
    • Conservation
      • Soil & Water Conservation District
        • About
        • Natural Resources Conservation
        • Youth Education
        • Join Us
        • Conservation District News
        • Board Meetings
      • Conservation Commission
      • Pinewood Lake Park
    • Executive
    • Health & Social Services
    • Government and Community Services
    • Grants
    • Legislative
    • Licensing & Registration
    • OSBO
    • Planning & Development
    • Public Information Office
    • Public Safety
    • Public Works
    • Taxes
    • Transportation Penny
    • Utilities
    • Voter Registration & Elections
  • Ordinances
  • Elected Offices
  • County ADA Compliance
  • Committees
  • Commissions

Find My District

Stay on top of issues affecting your area. District hearings, school closings, voting locations and more!

Get Started
Emergency Preparedness
Captcha
  • Home
    • About Richland County
    • Careers
    • News
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • FOIA
  • Residents
    • Engage Richland
    • Education
    • Health & Social Services
    • Libraries
    • Public Safety
    • Vector Control
    • Housing
    • Information for Residents
    • Emergency Preparedness
  • Businesses
    • Doing Business with Richland County
    • Running a Business
    • Starting a Business
    • Procurement & Contracting
    • Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO)
  • Government
    • Advisory Councils
    • Boards
    • County Council
    • Courts and Judicial System
    • Departments
    • Ordinances
    • Elected Offices
    • County ADA Compliance
    • Committees
    • Commissions
  • Visitors

Richland County
South Carolina

Mailing Address
2020 Hampton Street
P.O. Box 192
Columbia, SC 29201

Physical Address
2020 Hampton Street
Columbia, SC 29204

One-Call Response Center
24 Hours (803) 929-6000

ombudsman@richlandcountysc.gov

More Information

  • Richland County ADA Compliance
  • Title VI Public Participation Plan
  • Legal Disclaimer
  • Privacy Disclaimer
  • Sitemap

Follow us

Follow @RichlandSC

© Richland County, S.C. | Website by Cyberwoven