Greenville balances its vibrant city culture with its rich agricultural history and community. The upstate of South Carolina is home to dozens of independent farms, many of which are within easy driving distance of Greenville County. While these farms don’t often have the opportunity to send their products to the big-box stores where most of us buy our groceries, almost every community within our city limits has a farmers market to its name.
Farmers markets are great places to discover local makers and connect with your neighbors while supporting the agricultural backbone of your community. If you’re interested in shopping local and eating delicious fresh fruits, veggies, meat, dairy and more, your local farmers market is the place to go.
In this list, we’re including farmers markets from every Greenville County city, both big and small.
TD Saturday Market
Website: saturdaymarketlive.com
Greenville’s most highly publicized market is the TD Saturday Market in downtown Greenville. Every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. until noon, vendors fill the block at Main Street and McBee Avenue, selling local vegetables, fruit, pastries and other locally sourced and manufactured deliciousness. This farmers market includes live music, activities for children and even cooking demonstrations from local professionals. One of Greenville’s most prized community events, the Saturday Market features over 75 local vendors, including some that have appeared on our other lists, including Bake Room, Bossy Bakers and the Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery.
Travelers Rest Farmers Market
Website: travelersrestfarmersmarket.com
The Travelers Rest Farmers Market sets up from 8:30 a.m. to noon every Saturday in Trailblazer Park, Travelers Rest. Since its first opening in 2009, this farmers market has become a staple of community involvement and commerce in the heart of Greenville’s northern, rural neighbor. This market hosts an extensive list of farms and makers, including local artists and artisans. You can pick up a pair of handcrafted earrings, browse the artwork of local painters, and stock up on locally produced candles and soap while shopping for the week’s fresh produce. The Travelers Rest farmers market features many vendors that Greenville’s Saturday Market misses, and they’re close enough geographically that you could probably hit both in the same Saturday morning.
Communications faculty Jessica Mullen serves as the social media coordinator for the TR market. “It was really fun after I graduated from (BJU’s communications) program to get to go and jump into community,” she said of her involvement with the venture. “The farmers market has ended up being the perfect opportunity for that.”
“What we’re focused on is serving the community, but also the small business vendors that come there. What we’re really excited about is getting to be a place for small businesses to kinda take their first step.” Mullen has seen several vendors build full-time businesses from the success they’ve found selling products at the market.
“The TR farmers market is also unique because it’s a makers market,” she added. “Everybody at the market makes what they bring.” The TR market prioritizes making sure its makers are as local as possible. “Everything that is there is produced within 150 miles of the market,” Mullen specified, with the exception of a seafood seller and a maple syrup vendor. The TR market is also proud to accept SNAP-EBT.
Greenville State Farmers Market
Website: agriculture.sc.gov/agritourism-farms/greenville-state-farmers-market
Facebook: facebook.com/GVLMarket
If you’re looking for a market that’s open more frequently than once a week, look no further than the Greenville State Farmers Market on Rutherford Road (just a six-minute drive from campus). Greenville State Farmers Market is open year-round, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closing only for Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and state holidays.
This farmers market exists in a permanent structure, with produce and other foodstuffs inside its spacious warehouse and locally grown flowers and shrubs for sale outside. You’ll find locally grown apples, peanuts, tomatoes and other fruits and veggies for sale in every season of the year, as well as locally crafted bread and dairy from local creameries.
Greer Farmers Market
Website: greerfarmersmarket.com
The Greer Farmers Market is a newer venture. This market has only been running for six years, but it’s one of the many popular community events in the burgeoning cultural scene in Greer. With a shorter run, the Greer market is open from May until September on Tuesday evenings only. Their selection includes vendors from the immediate area, including some vendors that appear at other markets on this list, but several others (like Abbott’s Frozen Custard) are Greer exclusives.
Mauldin Farmers Market
Website: mauldinculturalcenter.org/mauldin-market
Mauldin’s market is another with a shorter, summer-centric run, open only during the months of June and July on Tuesday evenings. But the Mauldin Farmers Market has a hefty list of vendors, including more bakers, clothiers, soapmakers, candlemakers, stationers and other artists than any other market on this list. They also boast a robust list of activities every week, including planting demonstrations, donation drives, special kids’ events and more.
Fountain Inn Farmers Market
Website: fountaininn.org/343/Fountain-Inn-Farmers-Market
Another limited-time market, the Fountain Inn Farmers Market runs from May until August and is open on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. until noon. Featuring over 40 local vendors, this market is rapidly growing in popularity, drawing visitors from all over the Upstate. The market takes place in the pavilion near the Fountain Inn Museum. In addition to their long list of local vendors, this market hosts many special events, including Sample Saturdays (where you can try a little bit of everything from participating vendors), free kids activities and even a pet adoption day supported by local animal shelters.
Check out the rest of our Around Greenville series to see more of what our city and the area around it has to offer.
