Saturday mornings in Trailblazer Park are filled with summer’s crop of food and fun as the Travelers Rest Farmers Market celebrates its 15th season. Fresh produce, meat and eggs, tempting baked goods and prepared meals, and artisanal crafts are just a few of the items offered by 75 local vendors. Residents and visitors can enjoy free yoga, live music, children’s activities, and lively talks and demonstrations with cooking, health and environmental themes.
The market, which is held weekly from May–September and monthly the rest of the year, began in 2008 with just six vendors and has grown to become the largest independently run, nonprofit farmers market in the state. Now held just off the Swamp Rabbit Trail, it’s accessible by car, bike or on foot.
Jessica Mullen, director of marketing and development, says the farmer’s market is more than just a fun weekend diversion. It’s had a real impact in the community, and plans are underway for it to have more. In addition to making Travelers Rest a destination for visitors, it benefits farmers and small business owners by providing a venue to connect with customers. The nonprofit estimates that its vendors made over $500,000 in 2022, and five of its regular vendors were able to open storefront locations this year.
“We get really excited when our farmers and vendors are able to graduate from side hustle to dream job,” Mullen says.
Alex and Laura Sawyer of Sawyer Naturals started out making skin-care products as a hobby for friends and family. Now in their fourth summer at TRFM, they see regular buyers and get new word-of-mouth referrals every week.
“Once we started selling at the market, everything changed for us. The whole community comes out to support local farmers and makers,” Alex Sawyer says. “Partnering with them enabled us to impact people’s lives.”
All of the products sold at TRFM are made or grown within 50 miles of the park. The market supports 30 farms representing 1,331 acres of Upstate farmland. Nearly half of its farmers are beginning producers who have been farming for 10 years or less, and more than a third farm on an acre or less. The nonprofit has created a Farmer Fund to help these local farmers improve profitability and mitigate the effects of adverse events.
“We’ll use 75% of the funds to make microgrants directly to our farmers. They can use it toward the purchase of tractors or other equipment, season-extension projects like adding a greenhouse, or to promote agritourism,” Mullen says. “The remaining 25% will go into an emergency fund to help farmers get back on their feet after a flood, fire or unexpected loss.”
Mullen says the community’s response has been generous.
“It shows how excited people are about supporting their local farmers,” she says. “People in the Upstate are interested in knowing where their food comes from.”
TRFM recently partnered with Bank of Travelers Rest to send out 22,000 flyers in the bank’s monthly statements. These include information about signing up for food benefits and a South Carolina Department of Agriculture program that provides $15 in “Healthy Bucks” for $5 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits spent at farmers markets.
“Our goal is to have 40 households using SNAP weekly at the market,” Mullen says.
TRFM is supported by corporate and Main Street sponsors and presenting sponsor Prisma Health. Last year, the Community Foundation of Greenville awarded a $3,900 capacity-building grant which was used to replace outdated technology.
“The grant was really helpful,” Mullen says. “We were able to purchase new laptops and software that helps our director with vendor invoicing and two iPads that can be used to process SNAP EBT payments.”
To donate to the TRFM Farmer Fund, visit travelersrestfarmersmarket.com/donate.
See upcoming events on Facebook, Instagram or at https://www.travelersrestfarmersmarket.com/events.
