HISTORY

South Carolina’s agricultural industry has a long history and has been a vital component of the Palmetto State’s economy for hundreds of years. According to the South Carolina Encyclopedia, for most of its history, agriculture virtually defined South Carolina, and no other single force has so profoundly influenced the state’s economy, history, demographics, and politics.

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture was established in 1879 to oversee and promote agriculture in the Palmetto State. With services as diverse as food safety inspections, entrepreneurship development, and the Certified South Carolina branding program, the department helps the state’s farmers and agribusinesses grow and prosper.

In 2015, the state of South Carolina established the Office of Agribusiness Development to serve as an economic development arm of the Department of Agriculture to expand farming and agribusiness opportunities in South Carolina.