The SC Grower Exchange Podcast

We have another great "Grower Spotlight" this month… Sarah is joined by coastal agent Brad Fowler to chat about Baxley Family Farms in Georgetown, SC. This multi-generational farm started out in row crops and over the years has added a cattle operation, vegetables and fruit, as well as a farm stand carrying their own goods and products from neighboring growers and makers. They have a market called Black Mingo Produce, where you can shop local and head to the field for some u-pick strawberries. Join us to hear a little more about the family, their operation and how to find this local gem.

“On today’s episode, we get a crop report from all around the midlands as well as an update from our upstate agents who fill us in on potential frost damage from the weekend. Cold weather has been a topic on several recent episodes, and we are not completely out of the woods yet in some areas of the state. Strawberries are, of course, a hot topic as we begin picking and opening stands to customers. Insect and disease pressure are relatively low at this point, but we will be keeping our eye on things. Dr. Lindsey Thiessen is riding along with upstate agent, Samantha Brown, this morning and fills us in on a few updates from the variety trials as well. Update episodes also mean Justin is with us for Agent Trivia. This week’s question has us remembering the good days of watching infomercials and QVC with our parents. Tune in!

Andy joins today’s episode to share with us about a family-run farm in the upstate of South Carolina, Strawberry Hill. Run by the Cooley family, Strawberry Hill, USA, is a diversified operation that offers peaches, strawberries, and other produce. This farm has 2 stands as well as a café to enjoy the fruits of their labor. In addition to being a retail/wholesale operation, they also offer agritourism, including farm tours and a seasonal corn maze. Tune in to hear about the family and their farm operation, including how they started in farming and some of the trials that come with having a larger operation.

Our regularly scheduled crop updates from around the state are in today's episode! Hear from the Midlands, PeeDee, and Coastal regions of the state about what’s happening in the fields right now. It may not seem like much, but behind the scenes, things are getting busy! Justin tries to stump agents with his trivia question, and it appears we have some readers (and non-readers) amongst us. For our timely topic, we discuss tissue sampling for fertility and fungicide resistance sampling in strawberries. Set yourself up with the right tools in your toolbox before heading into the season!

We’re back for another Grower Spotlight. Zack joins Sarah to tell us about Hickory Bluff Berry Farm, located in Holly Hill, SC. Working with this farm from the start of his job in Extension, Zack has seen this farm grow and adapt as they’ve seen changes and opportunities. Not only do they grow berries, but an array of other vegetables, including 5 acres of Brussels sprouts! Adding crops, trying new cultural techniques and installing a commercial kitchen to utilize produce seconds are just a few ways this family-run farm has shifted with the crops and community. Tune in to hear more about Hickory Bluff and where to find them.

In our first update of 2026, Sarah, Rob, Zack and Anna Sara share a few grower meetings coming up. Psst: You can still register and take advantage of these yourself! Although there isn’t a ton of crops growing out in the field at this time of year, there are plenty of things happening behind the scenes. We chat a little about the recent cold weather and how crops are affected, and even get into some positives about the cold, like accumulating chill hours. Many of our perennial fruit crops actually need cold to ensure healthy bloom and fruit set in the spring, and we touch on that, as well as a weather station program in South Carolina that lends to that. In addition to the cold and chilly topics, we share a few pests to keep an eye on for the 2026 growing season. Several insect and disease issues were hot topics last season, and these should be at the top of everyone’s radar moving into the new year. Tons of information today, so tune in!

Welcome back and happy 2026! We're starting the new year off with some introductions. Two new agents have joined the commercial team since we last got together, so let's get to know them a bit.  Brad Fowler and Daniel Lyon join me to tell a little about themselves and how they ended up with Clemson Extension. Tune in to meet your newest agents!

On today’s episode, we get one final regional update for the year. Join Sarah, Justin, Rob and Anna Sara to hear what’s happening in the fields around the state. Rob shares information about calculating growing degree days and the importance of using that information to make decisions in spraying/managing crops. Justin tries to stump the agents with a (somewhat seasonal) trivia question, and everyone has a little debate over Christmas décor. Thanks for tuning in for the 2025 season, and we sure hope you’ll join us again next year!

On today’s episode, we are joined by Jhessye Moore-Thomas from the (formerly) Climate Smart Program. She brings us our November “Grower Spotlight” which is Saxmore Farms in Dorchester County. Hear about the Smith Family, who have been farming in the area since the 50’s. They grow many crops and use sustainable practices on their 15-acre operation. In addition to growing crops, they are pillars of their community, helping to educate other growers and even helping to establish the Dorchester Farmer’s Market as an outlet for other farmers to sell produce. Anna Sara then joins in to share with us a little bit of Thanksgiving history. She tells us about the history and lore of the “Three Sisters Planting”. Learn what the planting method is and a little about how different indigenous tribes tell the story of the origin. We hope you enjoy!

Join Sarah, Zack, and Andy for regional crop updates from across the state. Justin joins in to chat about this week’s “Timely Topic” which focuses on moving into cooler weather. The group discusses considerations for several crops, including strawberry, peach, and brassicas. To cover or not to cover? That is the question for strawberry growers this time of year. Tune in to hear some pros and cons on the subject. Andy shares information about delaying bloom on peaches and the optimal timing for pruning. Everyone joins in to chat a little about brassicas and how to reduce stress on yourself and the crop. Zack and Sarah tie for Justin’s trivia game, and the prize for everyone is not 1 but 3 “Dad Jokes” from Zack… We obliged, but only because they were Halloween-themed.