: It’s starting to feel a lot like spring outside, and that means spring produce will soon be in season across the state.
This is the time of year everyone gets excited about Certified South Carolina produce. But we have a long way to go until we’re safe from frost.
Strawberries:
- A few producers are already picking strawberries.
- Many U-pick farms are planning to open to the public in late March, early April.
- Extension agents are reporting that rainy weather has many fields very soggy. Wet weather also can cause concerns about disease and pests.
- Strawberry growers usually protect their rows from frost by pulling row covers over them.
Asparagus:
- We are seeing more interest in South Carolina asparagus recently.
- Between 2017 and 2022, asparagus acreage more than quadrupled from 119 acres to 482 acres.
- Of course, SC was once the asparagus capital of the world.
Other produce:
- Farmers are picking onions, leafy greens, herbs and root vegetables.
Pressures:
- As we’re beginning to enjoy these early fruits and vegetables, we’re also on the alert for freezing temperatures that could harm spring and summer harvests.
- Blueberries are susceptible to frost damage. If the temperature dips, you’ll see farmers frost-protecting them with spray irrigation to encase them in ice.
- And of course peaches are on our minds as we watch the weather. Peach trees are blooming across the state. And they’re a lot harder to frost protect, though some growers do manage it.
- Input costs remain high, and affordable labor is a priority.
Visit a farmers market or roadside stand, or look for the Certified SC label at the grocery store, and support our farmers while enjoying some spring produce.