USC prelaw student Dave Shupert readies peached for sale at the Columbia's State Farmers Market Wednesday.

Plants, produce and pottery
Columbia's Farmers Market has it all

Seven days a week, truckers, restaurant owners, wholesalers and just plain folks head down the roads, stalls and aisles of Columbia's half-century-old farmers' market -- 10th largest in the nation.
Market Day

Slideshow on Flowers and Wholesale Produce

Weather worries

All in a day's work

Wholesalers, retailers and shoppers visit the market. Some come daily to buy plants and flowers for their homes. Others come in semitrailer rigs to haul the freshest fruits and produce to hungry consumers in the northeast.

Sue and Emory Deutsh of Columbia visit the Market almost daily. Read what they and others say.

South Carolina farmers aren't the only ones paying high prices at the pump. They and produce sellers like Pat Vella of Columbia, fear rising gas costs will raise prices and may eventually slow sales at the Market. Get an insider's view of how this could affect the market.

Drive time gas costs