Within an hour of the sun rising, as many as 25 vendors are setting up booths to sell their fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and baked goods.

The Charleston Farmer’s Market has been set around the Courthouse Square for more than 30 years, Mike Knoop said.

Knoop, the owner of Roc’s Blackfront Restaurant and Lounge and the market’s manager, said he first got involved with the market because his business is near the Square.

The market was started by a group of merchants, and it has become an institution in Charleston, Knoop said.

“The market’s very special. It’s a gathering place for many in the community who come up here on Wednesday mornings to have a cup of coffee, do their shopping, sit down and tell some stories,” he said.

The Charleston Farmer’s Market will start at 7 a.m. every Wednesday until October, weather permitting.

Dano Reible, the owner of Jackson Avenue Coffee, also participates in the market by supplying free coffee.

“The farmer’s market has a real strong community presence so we like to be there,” he said. “I’ll hang out there and talk to people a little bit and then try our coffee. They find out we have other things and come over to the JAC.”

Mike Beck, the owner of Eddie Beck Farms and vendor at the market, said while 90 percent of their business comes to them at their greenhouses located at 24126 East County Road 1570 North, Oakland.

“That 10 percent is what brings the 90 percent here,” he said. “It’s like free advertising going to the farmer’s market because we’re out of the normal path of people but once they see our product up town at the farmer’s market.”

Reible said the market offers what the large supermarkets cannot.

“The supermarket does a fine job but the quality of the product that you get from the farmer’s market is just top-notch fresh,” Reible said.

Produce at a supermarket may spend two days on a semi-truck to get to the store, he said.

“It has to be done but there’s nothing like a fresh tomato right off the vine. The flavor’s completely different,” Reible said.

Knoop said at the market, people know where their food is coming from.

“You can talk to the vendors and they can tell you exactly how it was grown and where it was grown,” he said.

Sometimes, large-scale farms try to force when produce will ripen, Reible said.

“They, sometimes, force things and have a lot more control over it,” he said. “Where most people (at the market) are letting mother nature take hold and when something’s ready, it’s ready.”

Reible said although people go to the market for fresh produce, flowers and goods, they also are going to a social event.

“There’s a camaraderie between people just going and hanging out, getting fresh vegetables, fruit, which is kind of rare now,” he said.

Even though a lot of people do not know each other by name, it does not deter them from sharing stories, Reible said.

“We recognize each other and say hi,” he said. “Of course, Charleston’s that way anyway – very open and friendly – and we have that there.” 

Beck said his favorite part of the market is seeing people’s face light up when they see a beautiful flower arrangement.

“It’s so rewarding,” he said. “You start with something that small and end up with something that large and pretty. Just the look on people’s faces when they (see the plants). I think plants make people happier. It soothes the soul.”

Amanda Wilkinson can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].