CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — The Charleston Farmers Market opened for the season Saturday morning, bringing fresh produce, handmade goods, and a sense of community to Marion Square. Residents and visitors alike can shop for local fruits and vegetables, hand-cut flowers, artisan crafts and enjoy li ve entertainment through late fall. It also offers vendors a public space to share their products and connect with the community.  Rebecca Bills, owner of R and R Acres, said the market is a vital part of her family’s business. “It’s perfect for us — myself, my kids, my husband — we do the farm. We don’t try to travel, we stay home-based,” Bills said. “It’s how we enjoy our life and be together as a family as well as offering what we eat and feed ourselves off to the local community.” Since its founding in 1989, multiple city departments have worked together to bring the farmers market each year with a goal to strengthen community bonds while supporting local economic growth. “There’s something for everybody,” said Harrison Chapman, Charleston Farmers Market manager. “We always try to encourage everybody to foster relationships with the vendors and business owners so they can really understand how important, how valuable these things are that they’re making — and how beneficial something like the Charleston Farmers Market is for the local economy.” For businesses like R and R Acres, the market is an opportunity to share products with those who stop by. Bills said they mainly offer honey from bee hives across Charleston County, as well as honey-based soaps and beeswax candles. Their poultry products are also certified soy-free organic. “We don’t sell in the big stores — we’re very local,” she said. “And you get local people, you get visiting people from all over the world, and you always get to try something new each day to see who’s going to come by.” The Charleston Farmers Market will be open Saturdays at Marion Square and Wednesdays at Ackerman Park in West Ashley through late fall. ...read more read less