There is no better time to celebrate the bounty of Lowcountry food than during National Farmers Market Week, which lasts through Aug. 9.

Peaches, butter beans and okra are just a few of the foods that are at their best this time of year. In addition to fresh food, local markets offer everything from baked goods to coffee and from soap to ceramics.

“American farmers receive about 15.9 cents of every dollar Americans spend on food, with the rest going to off-farm costs like marketing and distribution,” according to the S.C. Department of Agriculture. “Selling at farmers markets cuts out some costs, allowing farmers to earn more money from what they grow.

“Farmers markets also act as small-business incubators, allowing beginning farmers to sell at a smaller scale.”

Visiting your local f

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