SC Commissioner Weathers: STEP UPP Tour Review

Posted on Posted in Daily Ag Summary, Featured Stories, SC Ag Commissioner Hugh Weathers, Top Ag Headlines

This past Friday, SC Ag Commissioner Hugh Weathers participated in the STEP UPP produce tour of SC farms and agriculture. Commissioner, please tell us more about this event.

  • The STEP UPP Tour that took place last week was a training education program for upcoming produce professionals hosted by SCDA and SEPC, to show the diversity of produce in South Carolina.
  • Participants are SEPC members that are primarily based in the Southeast
  • Participants toured Titan Farms, WP Rawl, Coosaw Farms, McEntire Produce, and City Roots Farm over the course of four days, focusing on processing, packing and growing capabilities..
  • The Certified South Carolina program is an exciting cooperative effort with farmers, processors, wholesalers, retailers and the SCDA to brand and promote South Carolina products.
  • SC is ready for changing markets through innovation and crop variety.
  • Produce growers are continuing to diversify and experiment through the use of new technology, crops and ways of growing, like using greenhouses and shipping containers.
  • South Carolina has a great foundation in place to meet the changing needs of buyers and consumers through established infrastructure, available labor, low taxes, and processing facilities.
  • We are a state blessed with great natural diversity and centralized locations. There are 5 interstate highways that crisscross SC and we are home to a world class port designed to effectively and efficiently handle trade.
  • I would like to thank those who participated in the STEP UPP Tour and hope that they were able to learn more about South Carolina produce.