Slow Food Upstate’s farmers market in Greenville has been named the first Earth Market in the United States.
The market was first held in May and will continue on the third Thursday of each month through October. Holiday markets will be held in November and December.
About 20 markets in the world have been designated Earth Markets, and most of them are in Italy, where the Slow Food movement began.
“It’s kind of funny for little Greenville,” Earth Market committee member Linda Lee said of the designation. “No one would expect it.”
She credited Janette Wesley, leader of the Slow Food Upstate chapter, with being “the whole spirit and push behind this.”
Slow Food officials from Italy came to Greenville to present the award on July 21.
The guidelines a market must follow to be named an Earth Market are strict, Lee said.
No chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, steroids or hormones or genetically modified seeds can be used on any products sold at the market.
Also, the vendors must sell their own products.
Among the regular vendors are Bio-Way Farm of Ware Shoals; Carolina Honeybees Farm in Pickens; Garden Delights of Moore; Limestone Farms of Greer; Little Creek Plantation of Brunson; Parisi Farms of Abbeville; Parson Produce of Clinton; Red Fern Farm of Gray Court; and Welch and Son Farms of Honea Path.
Greenville’s Earth Market is on the front lawn of the McDunn Gallery, and a guest artist is featured at each market.
Slow Food International is a grassroots organization with the goal of preserving local food traditions and a commitment to the environment.
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