Cheryl Clack
palmettoreport@gmail.com

(Rock Hill S.C.) – The Old Town Farmers Market in Rock Hill concluded its fifth season last month, which brings out local vendors who sample their unique products at the market, including fresh seasonal produce, homemade baked goods and a variety of meats.

The farmers market is open every Saturday, from 8 a.m. to noon, from April through November in the Legal Remedy Brewing Company parking lot, located off of Oakland Avenue.

The last day of the season was Nov. 28 and a number of vendors say they’re already looking forward to next year, because the farmers market creates a sense of community among the small business owners who participate.

“It’s been great. I love all the vendors,” said Tracy Smith, owner of Smith Farm and Table in Clover, who participated in the farmers market for the first time this year.

“I think everyone has been so welcoming to a new vendor coming in, helping us, getting everything figured out and get everything set up. It’s been like a family, welcoming us in and all the customers have just been so great to talk to and get to know,” Smith said.

Robin Currence, the owner Lincoln Road Farms near York, said she loves the atmosphere at the farmers market.

“I love the selling. I like meeting the people. I love becoming friends with the other vendors. We’re not just out here selling against each other, we’re working together, we’re becoming friends, we’re finding out we’re neighbors,” said Currence. “I have a vendor here that I met that lives down the road from me and we would never have met if we weren’t vendors here at the market.”

She said she hopes more people learn about the farmers market in the future.

“I’d just like to see more people utilizing the market. Even here at the end of the season, I guarantee you we’ll meet somebody today that’ll say ‘I didn’t know we had a market in Rock Hill.’ So, you do have a market in Rock Hill,” Currence said. “So come out and see us and plan to be with us next year and contact us during the off season because a lot of us sell during the off season as well.”

Smith said she intends to bring her business back to the market next year.

“I hope so, I plan to,” she said. “It’s been a good, consistent source of sales every Saturday.”