South Carolina: Richland County
The State newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, opposes a proposal before the Richland County Council to purchase a $6.9 million site and establish a new produce market. In an editorial published Sunday, October 25, the newspaper’s editorial board writes:
“RICHLAND COUNTY Council should resist any urge to fund a regional market that might rival the State Farmers Market being built in Lexington County…
“Richland County initially won the right to play host to a new state market that would have replaced the current Bluff Road facility when it pledged millions of dollars to support the effort. But the county ended up with egg on its face when the state backed out of the deal, which never should have been struck, considering neither the state nor the county could afford it. By then, of course, Richland had purchased a $4.55 million site on Pineview Road and deeded much of it to the state.
“… it would be an act of bad faith to finance a duplicative market that could undercut the taxpayer-supported facility that will replace the State Farmers Market. As much as some people act as if the river divides two distinct communities, Lexington and Richland counties make up one economic community. It doesn’t matter which side of the river the market is on; it would be foolish to do anything that would hinder the success of the market, expected to open in April.”
