FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2000
SC Specialty Foods----check 'em out!
(CHARLESTON)---Retailers, wholesalers, and other distributors who are interested in buying everything from "soup to nuts" are invited to "check 'em out!" at the SC Specialty Food Show on August 10th from 10AM to 4PM in the Lightsey Conference Center, 160 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC.
Each year, the SC Specialty Food Producers Association (SCSFPA) in conjunction with the SC Department of Agriculture invites potential buyers to the show to taste the best of the state's specialty food and beverage products. Buyers visiting past shows have included representatives from small gift stores to large supermarket chains. Buyers will have the opportunity to "check out" the wonderful array of specialty products---some of which are indigenous to South Carolina. From the lowcountry to the foothills, specialty food producers and processors will be displaying their barbecue sauces, cane syrup, southern mixes in muslin bags, grits chips, marinades and salad dressings (like peach bourbon marinade), hot sauces, spices, and, of course, jams, jellies, and relishes. The show will also feature unique items like Burgers 'n a Bag from The Mustard Seed in Central, SC, and Carolina Plantation Rice from Darlington, SC, the only plantation-grown rice still produced for commercial sale in the state.
The South Carolina Specialty Food Producers Association is a non-profit organization of businesses and individuals established to promote specialty food products produced in South Carolina. The producer-oriented association has worked to increase awareness and develop the state's specialty foods industry through national and statewide promotions, information resources for locations and descriptions of the state's producers, member information exchanges, and sharing and subsidizing the cost for trade shows and promotional campaigns. The organization's cooperative effort also helps create a level playing field for the state's specialty products to compete in the domestic and foreign food and beverage markets.
The SC Department of Agriculture works with the SCSFPA in developing and expanding markets and in promotion of their diverse array of special and unique products. SCSFPA companies pool their resources for exhibiting at food and trade shows, appearing in media presentations, and displaying in-store products.
As part of the South Carolina Quality campaign, companies in the SCSFPA are offered the use of the South Carolina Quality logo on their products to encourage consumer awareness and to promote the advantages of buying locally produced or processed products. While the SC Quality logo enables companies to tap into consumers' sense of state pride, it also means fresher products for consumers and their families. Locally grown or processed SC products take less time to get from farm to table. Less time from farm to table means fresher products. In addition, buying SC products keeps our dollars in the state, nourishing our own economy and supports local communities, especially in those areas that have had job and revenue losses.
In addition to the association's other efforts, the SCSFPA also publishes a brochure listing the companies and products that are available in the state. A list of the companies may also be found on the SCDA web site at < http://www.scda.state.sc.us/scsfpane.htm >.
All retailers, wholesalers, and distributors interested in "tasting the best" of the state's specialty products should call Mary Ridgeway at 803-734-2210 on or before August 8th for reservations to attend the event.
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