Members of the Yellow Jessamine Garden Club traveled to Florence, SC, on October 7th, visiting the City Center Farmer’s Market. The market can be found at 200 Sanborn Street in Florence and features a market which is open each Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Mr. Rick Englehorn, who manages the market, toured us around the facility and explained the wonderful happenings at the City Center.
The City Center Market opened its current location in 2020; however, the market has been in operation since 2012. The facility has a shared-use kitchen that is certified and inspected by the SC Department of Agriculture. The facility is rented to approved users who need a commercial kitchen to begin a small business or food truck. They provide many amenities such as a dry storage area or commissary, a refrigerator, and freezer. A user must meet all the necessary criteria for permits, licenses, registrations, and insurance coverages in order to lease the kitchen.
The outdoor portion of the City Center Market features raised bed gardens and a variety of fruit trees such as blueberry and peach. The garden beds provide delicious herbs and various produce throughout the year. Just recently in September, the center had a cultural garden celebration featuring foods grown and consumed in Asia.
The City Center Market uses rainwater from their 50-gallon rain barrel to provide water for their cultural garden. Alongside the innovative rainwater collection method, they boast of a 65-gallon compost bin made completely from recycled materials that provide the garden beds with nutrients and organic material to improve plant quality and growth.
Each Saturday, vendors gather from around the area to rent spaces to sell fresh produce, delicious treats, crafts or handmade goods. Vendor spaces rent for $10 and provide a 10 x 10 canopy, an 8-foot table, and electricity if needed. This is a year-round market held every Saturday, rain or shine, and is free to the public.
After our field trip, garden club members enjoyed a meal at the Western Sizzler Steakhouse and completed the business portion of our meeting.
The Yellow Jessamine Garden Club of Dillon is a member of the National Garden Clubs, Inc., South Atlantic Region of National Garden Clubs, Inc., The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc., and Coastal District of the Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc.
Yellow Jessamine Garden Club Visits City Center Farmer’s Market In Florence
