The key agricultural players of the Lexington County farming community have decades of expertise in planting, cultivating, and providing the favorite fruits and vegetables of the Midlands region. These products are fresh, flavorful, and foundational to healthy eating habits, so whether seeking an ingredient for a go-to recipe or just stocking up on nourishing snacks, WP Rawl, Senn Brothers Produce, and the South Carolina State Farmers Market are a trifecta of resources for these garden-fresh grocery staples.
WP Rawl
Walter P. Rawl and Sons, Inc. (known locally and in the industry by the “WP Rawl”), is a Lexington County agricultural industry established almost a century ago. “Starting the farm on their wedding day in 1925, co-founders Walter and Ernestine Rawl set into motion a family farm that is still owned and operated by second- and third-generation family members,” says Ashley Rawl, vice president of sales, marketing, and product development within the company.
Today, the company employs as many as 700 team members at a time, depending on the demands of the season, and offers a variety of more than 10 fresh vegetables that are enjoyed by millions of consumers every year. “The farm is dedicated to growing products beneficial to life, providing growth opportunities for team members, and supporting local communities,” says Rawl.
“To diversify our product supply, the company has grown and expanded into multiple geographies within the United States. Our goal is to provide WP Rawl-grown products 52 weeks out of the year.”
Ashley Rawl, vice president of sales, marketing, and product development
According to Rawl, the company offers bulk products (both organic and conventional), and their portfolio primarily consists of vegetables such as kale; collard, turnip, and mustard greens; Italian and curly parsley; cilantro; green onions; beets; and leeks. They also wash, chop, and bag greens for the convenience of their consumers.
Their products can be found in your local grocery store. Their flagship brand in most retailers is Nature’s Greens for bagged and bunched products. They also process greens under another name, Palmetto Gardens, a brand exclusively packed by WP Rawl for Publix.
Because supporting the local community is a key component of WP Rawl’s mission, vision, and values, the company is involved in giving back in many ways. They give to local food banks and schools, participate in local community events, and more.
This year, “Sustainability is one of our focuses,” says Rawl. “As a company, we have always focused on becoming more sustainable as we understand the actions, we take today affect our children and the world tomorrow.” To that end, they recently launched a recyclable film solution for their bagged leafy greens making them the first to market with recyclable packaging in the leafy greens category. They are also working on other sustainable packaging solutions and projects in and around their facilities to help them achieve sustainability as a whole. This year they also began a project that collects, measures, and calculates data that helps them make decisions around their farm and facilities to help reduce their carbon footprint.
For those interested in their products or finding out more about the behind-the-scenes activities at WP Rawl, Rawl suggests following the company on Facebook or Instagram. “We also have a website,” he adds, “with hundreds of recipes using our products. We invite you to check them out at!”
Senn Brothers Produce
Nearly 80 years ago, a band of 6 brothers set up their produce booth at the local farmers’ market, which was then situated on Assembly Street in downtown Columbia. From the beginning, “Senn Brothers was a wholesaler, where people could come and pick produce up,” says Zach Senn, the current general manager of the company.
While working for Senn Brothers Produce during the 1980s, Gregg Senn innovatively began making produce deliveries from his pick-up truck throughout the greater Columbia area. Since then, the company’s staff has grown to 80 employees, with 40 to 50 delivery trucks operating every day.
Family members continue to oversee this agricultural enterprise with Gregg Senn and Gary Prince manning the helm, while Gregg’s two sons, Jake and Zach Senn, work alongside them. Their delivery region has since expanded to all of South Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; and the Augusta/Savannah area of Georgia. They carry their commodities, which include fresh fruit and juices, vegetables, peanuts, herbs and spices, dairy products, and eggs, to hundreds of clients such as “schools, retirement communities, military bases, restaurants, grocery stores, and other wholesalers,” says general manager Senn.
To support local farmers, they believe it is very important to source as much South Carolina grown produce as possible. However, the company also imports goods from other states, and even internationally, to ensure their customers are offered a comprehensive array of quality food products.
Occasionally, Senn Brothers’ representatives have been invited to showcase their operations at schools across the state so they can educate children about the importance of developing healthy eating habits. Their contact information and additional details about the company can be found on their website or on their Facebook page.
“There is no customer too small for Senn Brothers to sell to and there is no farmer too small for Senn Brothers to buy from.”
Zach Senn, general manager
Even the general public can glean from the Senn Brothers’ harvest by visiting their warehouse at the South Carolina State Farmers Market.
South Carolina State Farmers Market
“The State Farmers Market provides opportunities for South Carolina farmers to market their products and for the public to buy from them,” says Eva Moore, the communications director of the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. Located at 3483 Charleston Highway in West Columbia, the market is open to the public every day (except state holidays) throughout the year. Their Facebook page provides daily hours and up-to-date information about special events and produce that is currently in season.
The South Carolina Department of Agriculture has operated the State Farmers Market in the Midlands since 1974, though the market existed in various forms much earlier. There are two other state farmers markets: one in Florence and one in Greenville.
At the West Columbia location, consumers can shop year-round for fresh produce, specialty products, and artisan items, and seasonally for items such as Christmas trees and pumpkins. In addition, the market hosts a Plant and Flower Festival each spring and fall, as well as various other events throughout the year.
“The number of vendors at the South Carolina State Farmers Market varies dramatically by season,” explains Moore. “The peak season for locally grown produce runs from April through early October, during which time many local vendors can be found selling produce. During the off-season, shoppers can expect fewer options, but still an assortment of seasonal produce. Wholesalers located at the market operate year-round.”
As mentioned earlier, Senn Brothers is one of many vendors housed at the Farmers Market, and a comprehensive list of all vendors can be found on the Department of Agriculture’s website.
Although primarily known for selling edible commodities, the market has even more to offer. The State Farmers Market campus in Columbia houses the Phillips Market Center (an event venue), the South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Consumer Protection Division (including the Metrology Lab and programs like Feed Safety and Food Safety), privately owned wholesale businesses, a plant nursery, farmers’ sheds, The Market Restaurant, and additional state-managed wholesale facilities and sheds.
Inside the Market Pavilion building, the family-friendly Market Restaurant features affordable, made-from-scratch, “casual fare” on Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Only the freshest ingredients available are served with preference given to local South Carolina products. Also, this same building houses a branch of the Department of Natural Resources where fishing and hunting licenses can be purchased, and watercraft can be registered.
The South Carolina Department of Agriculture provides many services to the public. For example, the agency is responsible for certifying scales, inspecting food and feed manufacturers, and promoting South Carolina farmers and farm products through the Certified South Carolina branding program.
This season, “South Carolina is shaping up to have a strong year for farm-fresh produce,” Moore says. “The strawberry harvest is underway, and blueberries are up next. The state’s famous peach crop saw some frost damage in March, particularly to early-season varieties, but we are still expecting a good crop as we get into summer. As the year develops, we’ll see the muscadines, okra, watermelons, sweet corn, and other produce the state is famous for.”
With professional agricultural resources such as these, local foodies have almost limitless options to stock up on South Carolina’s natural bounty and build a nutritional menu that features a variety of favorite, flavorful, and fresh foods.