FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – If you’ve ever wondered where your food comes from and how it’s made, you’re in luck because the Ag + Art Tour is back.

Every weekend in June, South Carolinians are encouraged to stop by farms in their area to learn about the cropping process and also support local businesses. The Ag + Art Tour is the biggest tour of its kind in the nation. It takes place in 12 counties, including Florence, Horry and Darlington, and attracts more than 30,000 visitors. It also gives local artists a chance to showcase their skills and products as people tour farms and shops. 

“So, it’s a great opportunity for kids to be able to see the artists or craftsmen if they’re doing blacksmithing or weaving or doing the painting and those kind of things. See how it’s made and also to get kind of closer to where our produce comes from,” said Holly Beaumier with the Florence Convention of Visitors Bureau.

One of the participating businesses is Green Acres Country Market. The owner, Janice Davis, said more than twice the amount of people that typically visit the store stopped by today for the tour. Some were locals and some were tourists. They got the chance to browse the store’s wide selection of jellies, jams and produce.

“We’re picking blackberries right now. Sweet corn is coming along. We’ll be picking that shortly. We’re getting peaches, local peaches, from South Carolina. That’s our big thing right now,” said Davis.
 
Visitors also stopped by to check out the works of local artist Karen Medley, a weaver from Florence. She demonstrated the different techniques of weaving for customers and talked about the benefits of the Ag + Art tour in Florence.
 
“I think this is a wonderful opportunity for the people of Florence County to find out what a diverse group of artisans are actually here in the county. It also gives people a chance to get closer to the farms and to see where their food is actually coming from,” she said.
 
For the full 2018 Ag + Art Tour schedule, click here.