Thanksgiving Feast :: 11 Ways to Shop Local, Shop Delicious

2

As you’re planning your Thanksgiving meal, why not include some locally made foods? Buying your food locally lets you know exactly where and how it was grown or raised and helps invest in the local economy to keep our great state booming! From our roots in indigo, cotton and tobacco to modern day agriculture, South Carolina has been a farming state from the very beginning and continues to be so to this day.

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture Certified SC Grown program was created with a goal of consumers to be able to easily identify, find and buy South Carolina products. Certified SC Grown businesses are designated in this article with an asterisk (*).

This is your guide to where to go and what to buy this Thanksgiving to have the most delicious, and local, spread ever!

Retail & Markets

city rootsCity Roots*: This sustainable, organic farm has only been around for five years, but it has made a big impact on our community in that time. While City Roots is best known for its microgreens(a favorite of local chefs), the farm grows more than 100 different vegetables, fruits, herbs and microgreens in the course of a growing year. Produce is available for purchase on location six days a week, at Soda City on Saturdays, at many local stores and through community supported agriculture (CSA) programs. City Roots: 1005 Airport Boulevard, Columbia. In addition to Soda City, produce is available at Rosewood Market, Earth Fare, 14 Carrot Whole Foods, Whole Foods Market and Sandhill Farmer’s Market.

1208658_439513659500523_1599324894_nSoda City: Every Saturday morning, this all-local market brings more than 50 vendors together to help stock your Thanksgiving table. Vendors vary by week, but you’ll generally find meat, produce, dairy, seafood, and grains and baked goods. You can even grab a bite to eat or get a head start on that Christmas shopping while you’re there — craft vendors sell great gifts such as skincare, jewelry and pottery. The best way to experience them all is to just head down! Come rain or shine: The market takes place in the nearby Cannon parking garage in case of bad weather. Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 1500 block of Main Street (between Taylor and Hampton streets) in downtown Columbia.

Whole Foods Market: Though Whole Foods is a national grocery chain, each store has a focus on local products. The Columbia location offers more than 200 products from within a 150-mile radius. Local produce sold in store include Watsonia Farms (Monetta, S.C.), Rawl Farms (Lexington County) and City Roots. For your holiday turkey, be sure to check out their selection from White Oak Pastures (Bluffton, Ga.) or get some ham from Thompson Farms (Dixie, Ga.). In a rush? You can even order online and have your order waiting for you to pick up in-store. 702 Cross Hill Road, Columbia.

Meats

NarragansettTurkey - doko farm
Doko Farm is taking reservations for Naragansett heritage turkeys.

Doko Farm: This family-owned farm in Blythewood raises heritage meats on pasture. They are currently taking reservations for their heritage turkeys, which will be ready just in time for Thanksgiving. Pasture-raised turkeys surpass any industrial-raised turkey you can find. The flavor is so much better that you may wonder if the impostors you had in the past were even turkey. Try the real thing, raised locally, this Thanksgiving! In addition to turkey, Doko has Buckeye heritage chickens, Guinea hogs, and St. Croix lambs. Naragansett heritage turkeys are $8 per pound; $20 deposit required to hold reservation. Pick up November 22 at Doko Farm, 2101 Cedar Creek Road, Blythewood.

Fraylick Farm:  If you want to try the most delicious bacon, ham, pork chops, sausage, roasts and tenderloins you have ever put in your mouth, you must try Fraylick Farm. Faylick’s meats are a favorite in my home — we literally bought a second freezer so we could buy half hogs from this Irmo family farm. You can purchase directly from the farmer or find Fraylick at the Irmo Farmer’s Market on select Saturday mornings from April to September. [email protected], (803) 920-7358 

Wil-Moore Farms*: This farm in Lugoff is now taking orders for turkeys! They also sell all-natural, lean, pasture-raised beef, pork, lamb and goat. Other delicious offerings include milk, butter and cheese from pasture-raised, grass fed cows, as well as eggs and chicken. 2173 Ridgeway Road, Lugoff. Purchase meat at the farm by appointment, or at Soda City, Rosewood Market or the Kershaw County Farmers Market (April-November).

Favorite Ingredients

Adluh Flour:Almost every Columbia native is familiar with this company, which has been milling in the Vista for over a century! Even the wheat they grind is local, coming from the same family farm in Pinewood for almost five decades. Whether you use Adluh’s flour for rolls and bread or their grits for creamy shrimp and grits, you’ll be glad to have a local flavor at your table. 804 Gervais St., Columbia. Visit the mill store to purchase, or order online. Or look for Adluh products at Whole Foods, Cromer’s and the Cotton Mill Exchange at the S.C. State Museum, to name a few locations.

Bell Honey Company: Looking for a fresh, healthy way to sweeten those pies and goodies this Thanksgiving? Local honey, from beehives in Sumter County, is the perfect solution! Available at Soda City, or send email to [email protected].

carolina plantation rice
Carolina Plantation Rice continues South Carolina’s rice-growing tradition.

Carolina Plantation Rice*: This family farm offers aromatic rice that’s grown, milled, and packaged at Plumfield Plantation in Darlington. Their rice, which comes in white, brown and gold varieties, is 100% natural, all gluten-free and non-GMO. Order online or call the farm at (877) 742-3496.

Lowcountry Olive Oil*: This Charleston-based business is the only company in the Palmetto State infusing its own olive oils and balsamic vinegars instead of buying them pre-flavored from corporate distributors. Especially delicious this fall are their cranberry-apple-walnut and pumpkin pie balsamic vinegars (a great, heart-healthy alternative to brown sugar on your sweet potato or roasted squash). Their most popular olive oils are black truffle garlic, rosemary-garlic and Lowcountry herb. Purchase your Lowcountry oils at Soda City, or order online — they ship anywhere in South Carolina for free.

Rio Bertolini’s Fresh Pasta CompanyYou have never had real pasta until you have had freshly made pasta. And with around a dozen different flavors to choose from every week, you can’t go wrong! This Charleston shop’s sweet potato and walnut ravioli would make a unique and delicious side dish for any holiday table. Available at Soda City, or call (843) 588-5088.

Do you have a favorite locally produced food? Share in the comments, and be sure to mention where you buy it!

Dinner Photo credit: Nathan Y / Foter / CC BY-SA

2 COMMENTS

  1. how about including Manchester Farms Quail next time you do one of these stories. We are a 40 year old second generation family owned quail farm located just outside of Columbia. We are the oldest & most respected quail farm in the nation and very well known amoung some of the countries top chefs.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here