Farmers Market Survey Says Customers want Fresh Seafood & More
October 23, 2009
SURVEY RESULTS SHOW CUSTOMERS WANT FRESH SEAFOOD, MEAT AND BAKED GOODS AT NEW STATE FARMERS MARKET
COLUMBIA, SC – October 23, 2009 – Fresh, South Carolina seafood, a meat market featuring local products and an on-site bakery are what most people feel would have the greatest impact on customer visitation at the new farmer’s market, according to a recent survey released by the South Carolina Farmers Market today.
In respect to amenities having a large impact on attendance, respondents rated a seafood market (59%), a meat market (50%) and a bakery (43%).
That’s great news for the new market, said George Lee, of 321 Lexington Associates, LLC, the developer for the project. Our plans are to not only feature these three amenities, but also to have a huge children’s play area, a 150-seat exhibition kitchen, a 400-seat outdoor amphitheater, a specialty foods shop, school bus drop-off area, an RV park, and several restaurants.
Survey results also showed that respondents gave high ratings to an organic foods section (43%), a family friendly retail area with heat and air conditioning (41%). The new market will include these amenities as well.
When it opens on April 17, 2010, the new South Carolina State Farmers Market will set a new standard for a cherished American tradition. The state-of-the-art marketplace will provide South Carolina’s agricultural community a one-of-a-kind showcase, while offering area residents an attractive combination of shopping, dining and entertainment.
Fifty-four percent of respondents indicated it was very important to have truck traffic diverted away from pedestrian traffic. At the new market, wholesalers will be fully accommodated in an entirely separate area from where families will shop. Visitors can not only enjoy the convenience of drive-through sheds for fresh produce, they can also experience the market by walking through an area with separate shops that are heated in winter and cooled in summer, Lee said.
Survey results also showed that more than 50 percent of people were eager to find out about upcoming festivals and events planned for the new market. About 47 percent said they were most interested in finding out what will be in season at the market. All of this will be shared on the Market’s website at http://www.scstatefarmersmarket.com/ as well as through social media applications, including Facebook and Twitter.
Located on Highway 321 (Charleston Highway) in Lexington County near Dixiana within 1.5 miles of both I-26 and I-77, the new market features separate areas for major wholesale vendors and the retail sale of South Carolina agricultural products. The new market will feature a children’s play area, a 150-seat exhibition kitchen, a 400-seat outdoor amphitheater, a specialty foods shop, school bus drop-off area, an RV park, a fish market, a meat market, bakery and several restaurants.
The site will also be home to South Carolina Department of Agriculture laboratories, a 200-seat conference center and offices. The agriculture department will occupy 40 acres, which includes a separate farmers sheds section, with the rest of the 173 acres filled with the market’s wholesale facilities, retail space and public amenities. The new market will be three times larger than the old one, spread over an area the size of seven Super Wal-Marts.
To learn more, visit www.scstatefarmersmarket.com or visit the market using social media applications, including Facebook, http://facebook.com/SCFarmersMarket and Twitter http://twitter.com/SCFarmersMarket.
