Myrtle Beach is a tourist destination. People come from all around to enjoy the beach, sun and fun.

In a tourist town, it is sometimes hard to find a restaurant doing something different or a place where you can get items actually grown/made with love and care instead of for the masses.

When we first moved here in 2008, there were only a few places that really took pride in locally-sourced foods and homemade recipes.

Since then, and thanks to help of many who want to transform Myrtle Beach into a farm-and-local-business supported destination, many new restaurants, farmers markets, meat markets, chefs and brewers have come to town to change Myrtle Beach for the better.

On any given day throughout the summer, someone looking for only local businesses, restaurants, produce and meats can easily find them if you know where to look.

For example, last Saturday, I got local produce at the Conway Farmers Market from some of my favorite farmers, local goat cheese from Worley Lane Farms, a cup of locally roasted coffee from Rivertown Roasters on Main and then some steaks for dinner at the Conway Meat Market.

Then, on Wednesday night, Slow Food Waccamaw held a Farm to Fork Brewery Potluck at New South Brewing with Pastured pork, rutabagas, tomatoes, strawberries, potatoes, and delicious local greens all in the hands of Chef Joseph Bonaparte from Horry Georgetown Technical College. The food items were from Sugarfoot Organic Farms, Millgrove Farms, Home Sweet Farm, Worley Lane Farms, LLC, Carolina Heritage Farms, Fowler Farms Fresh Produce, Natural Grown Meats, and more.

Delicious dinner by Chef Bonaparte

Table setup at New South Brewing

The dinner was delicious, the company was amazing, the beer was delightful and I can’t wait for the next event!

Even if you weren’t able to make it to the Conway Farmers Market on Saturday or to dinner on Wednesday, there are still PLENTY of places where you can get local produce on your schedule. In fact, during the summer, there is a farmers market almost every day somewhere in the county.

Another place you can find local meats and produce is the Market on 8th in Myrtle Beach on Wednesdays. Ovis Hill Farms comes every week from Darlington County with milk, eggs, butter, meats, cheeses, produce, granola and wine. This is one of my favorite markets and I try to get down there at least once a month to stock up. Last week, I bought a gallon of the fresh milk and made ricotta cheese. It was delicious.

If you aren’t looking to cook, there are plenty of restaurants that are buying directly from these same farmers and whipping up great meals including Rivertown Bistro, Vintage Twelve and Crady’s, to name just three. There are also a ton of locally-owned restaurants serving up something different and delicious. You just have to know who to look or who to ask to find the best.

These are just a few of my favorite places, farmers and markets. If you have a favorite farm or restaurant that I didn’t mention, please leave it in the comments below.