South Carolina Agritourism Passport Program is sponsored by South Carolina Agritourism Association. This program encourages visitors to explore participating farms and collect stamps to win Certified South Carolina items.

Marketing Support | South Carolina Department of Agriculture With more than 22,600 farms and 4. 6 million acres of farmland, South Carolina is driven by agriculture. Agribusiness (agriculture + forestry) is the state’s No. 1 industry, accounting for nearly 260,000 jobs and $51.

8 billion in annual economic impact. The Marketing team is always working to support South Carolina producers and develop new opportunities. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Marketing programs support producers in the state as they promote their products and agribusinesses to new and existing markets.

The Certified South Carolina program leverages state dollars and a trusted brand to help members market themselves. Fresh on the Menu supports restaurants that commit to local sourcing. The Market Development team works to increase consumer awareness and product demand for quality South Carolina agricultural products at local, national, and international levels.

The team’s goal is to help match up producers with appropriate markets—retail grocery, wholesale, food service, schools, institutions, and more—as well as to help them identify resources to build their capacity and reach new markets.

Market Development Manager Certified SC Program Manger The Certified South Carolina program is a cooperative effort among producers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture to brand and promote South Carolina grown and processed agricultural products.

Boldly displaying and identifying Certified South Carolina products in supermarkets and other retail venues is essential to increasing sales and creating a brand preference. We have a variety of point-of-sale signage available for retailers that are engaged in selling South Carolina products and who are associate members of the Certified South Carolina program .

If you are a retailer, our team would love to explore the opportunity of working with you. Networking and Promotional Events Each year, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture exhibits at various food industry trade shows, including a few that offer the opportunity for South Carolina producers and agribusinesses to market their products to a global audience.

Our team is proud to attend and exhibit at these events to promote the Certified South Carolina brand, as well as our state’s agriculture industry. We also host an annual statewide networking event called the Certified South Carolina Showcase. The Showcase provides an opportunity for buyers and producers to meet face-to-face, with an emphasis on the state’s abundant produce, specialty food products, and marketing programs.

Stay tuned for the next Certified South Carolina Showcase ! For any questions, please contact Michael Cranford at mcranford@scda. sc.

gov South Carolina Specialty Crop Growers Association The South Carolina Specialty Crop Growers Association works to support promotional, research, and educational efforts for improving the marketing and quality of production of fresh fruit, vegetable, and specialty crops grown in South Carolina. Our members are growers and others involved in the produce and specialty crop business in South Carolina.

We work with all grower groups, government agencies, public universities, elected officials, and other public and private organizations or businesses to promote the best interest of fresh fruit, vegetable and specialty crops in South Carolina from production to consumption.

South Carolina Specialty Food Association The South Carolina Specialty Food Association (SCSFA) is the only statewide organization dedicated to promoting the best specialty food products available in the Palmetto State.

For over 20 years, the South Carolina Specialty Food Association has helped farmers, producers, and retailers across the state grow their businesses through joint marketing programs, promotional campaigns, and technical assistance. A nonprofit association, SCSFA is headquartered in Columbia and works in conjunction with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and supports Certified South Carolina.

Active members of the association are required to be members of the Certified South Carolina program. Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) The Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) helps small businesses in the Southern United States promote value-added U.S. food and agricultural products to foreign markets. SUSTA works with small businesses through education, global events, and cost share opportunities.

SUSTA-eligible companies range from fresh produce to beer, wine, and spirits. Eligible products may also include meat, dairy, horticulture, forest products, and specialty foods. If you’re a producer looking to share your product with the 95 percent of consumers who are outside of the United States, this is a great opportunity to reach that potential.