COLUMBIA – Thirteen entrepreneurs will share $200,000 in funding for their agribusiness ventures through the South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship (ACRE).
Finalists for ACRE’s Advanced Entrepreneurship Program were scored by a panel of judges based on their business plans, a five-minute video presentation and a demonstrated history of business success. They are:
- Kindlewood Farms (Colleton County), a diversified produce farm known for tomatoes, will acquire another high tunnel, helping it better serve its Lowcountry restaurant clients.
- Veteran-owned Billue Family Farm (Aiken County) will develop its hay bale business, which serves small farms.
- Relinoca Farms, a veteran-owned Sumter County farm specializing in native landscaping plants, will build a retail and education facility at the family’s farm.
- Old McCaskill’s Farm, a premier agritourism farm in Sumter County, will develop a line of freeze-dried MRE-style foods grown and processed on the farm.
- Livingston Farms, a sustainable produce farm in Orangeburg County, will build a bathroom facility and procure internet access, allowing the farm to better serve clients.
- Bushels and Bags Farm of Fairfield County, a diversified produce farm serving the Midlands, will use ACRE funds to cover supply costs, including drip irrigation, that will greatly increase organic vegetable production.
- Anderson County flower farm Harvest Moon Farm and Flower will convert an existing yurt to a farm store and add a U-pick flower field to attract visitors.
- J&E Homestead, a fiber mill and farm in Lancaster County, will procure new spinning equipment to better serve fiber clients in the region.
- Roots and Shoots Nursery will expand its Charleston County nursery specializing in native landscaping plants.
- Set In Stone Sustainability Farm (Fairfield County) is developing an agriculture education program to teach food literacy and STEM to schoolchildren.
- Merry Mixon Christmas Tree Farm, a family farm in Chesterfield County, will improve its parking area and entry infrastructure.
- Carolina Bananas, a Charleston County banana grower, will extend its production and sale of cold-hardy banana plants.
Under the leadership of Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers, SCDA founded ACRE in 2018 to help identify and nurture new ideas and businesses in the Palmetto State’s agribusiness sector.
“South Carolina’s agribusiness entrepreneurs keep finding new ways to surprise and impress me. This year’s entrepreneurs are pushing the agribusiness industry forward in so many ways, from developing new crops for the state to serving new clients, including other farms,” said ACRE Executive Director Kyle Player. “I’m so glad ACRE can shine a spotlight on these agribusinesses.”
In addition to funding research and connecting South Carolina agribusinesses with resources, ACRE also partners with Clemson Cooperative Extension to offer a curriculum program each fall to train and mentor beginning agricultural entrepreneurs and prepare them to seek advanced award funding. To learn more, visit acre-sc.com.