Coastal Conservation League

Since the Fall of 2007 the Conservation League has been working with Lowcountry Local First, a local chapter of the national organization, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, to create a sustainable agriculture program in the Lowcountry. The two organizations are working together on a broad, long-term initiative which will address the need for such changes as increased ease of distribution of local and regional products, improved local meat processing, and year-round availability of regional farmers markets. In addition to the long-term program, the groups joined the South Carolina Department of Agriculture to promote its new initiative, Fresh on the Menu.

Fresh on the Menu expands on the Certified South Carolina Grown campaign launched by the state in 2007. This new campaign aims to encourage local restaurants to source at least 25% of their food locally (within South Carolina) and to facilitate the commerce between chefs and farmers. SC Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers formally announced the new program at a press conference in Charleston on February 7 and was joined by Cathy Forrester and Jamee Haley, Executive Director of Lowcountry Local First. The official debut took place on March 1 at the Charleston Food + Wine Festival with 40 restaurants already committed. The Charleston area inauguration of the program is seen as a pilot project which will then lead to the introduction of Fresh on the Menu statewide.

The broader efforts of the CCL/LLF Sustainable Agriculture initiative are being developed as well. A meeting was held in January 2009 to introduce area chefs and farmers to both Fresh on the Menu as well as the broader initiative planned by the CCL/LLF collaboration. The early response to the program from both chefs and farmers has been enthusiastic, with 115 attending the initial meeting. Johns Island farmer Thomas Legare commented, “We’ve needed something like this for a long time and it’s exciting to see someone finally taking the lead on it.”

This initiative will provide coordination and networking between farmers, producers, chefs, and consumers. These efforts will facilitate the processes of getting food from the producers to chefs and consumers and will make it easy for everyone in South Carolina to buy local, with the ultimate goal of preserving the agricultural use of the land and supporting the local economy.

Conservation BankThe Conservation Bank has protected more than 152,000+ acres of rural landscapes, unique habitats and…