A handful of 4-H campers left the Orangeburg Farmers Market recently with a better understanding of the importance of fresh, local produce and more of a desire to eat healthy.

On day two of the three-day 4-H Healthy Lifestyle Camp, children were taken to the market and shown how to grow, maintain, pick and prepare fresh fruits and vegetables.

“The meat of it was just the kids learning and focusing on healthy lifestyles for themselves and others,” said camp counselor Leigh Joyner. “The farmers enjoyed talking to the kids and the kids enjoyed talking to them. It was just a good experience. The kids just seemed to be really interested in the variety of things available.”

Joyner, who works with the local Clemson Extension office, was pleased with the visit to the market and said that of the three day camp, the trip to the market may have had the most impact.

“I hear a lot of kids complaining because there are no more sweet snacks and soft drinks in vending machines in schools, but by the final day of the camp they had a better grasp of that and why changes have been made. The trip to farmers market played a great role in that.”

Harry Smith of the Orangeburg Farmers Market said he too was pleased with the impact the trip to the market had on the campers.

“The most exciting part for me was just seeing young kids learning about fresh fruits and vegetables and enjoying it,” Smith said.

“They were just real excited that they got a chance to learn how to grow the plants, watch them as they develop and use them. We need more of this in the community. Kids need to know that eating fresh fruits and vegetables are a lot better for them than candy and cookies and stuff.”

Smith said that in addition to the kids learning how to utilize fresh and local foods in their diets, he learned that introducing them to children may not be as difficult as it once was.

“These kids wanted to learn. We learned that eating S.C.-grown fruits and vegetables can be something easy to introduce to children. If they start eating healthy now, they will be healthier when they get older.”

Smith said he would like to see the 4-H clubs grow and continue to come to the market along with public school teachers, students and church groups.

“We would love to be a part of the teaching and learning process involved with growing and eating fresh fruits and vegetables.”

Smith gave each of the campers a free, seedless watermelon, a gift Joyner said was well received.

“They were excited about the watermelons and other things they found at the market,” Joyner said. We found some beautiful blueberries for a good price. We took those blueberries and some peaches and we made a peach, blueberry cobbler. The kids called it bleach cobbler for short.”

“I just can’t get over how excited they were. It was just refreshing to see the kids get really excited a trip to the farmers market and about health and nutrition issues.”

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