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<em>Where Locally Sourced Food is Bought, Stored and Distributed</em>

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<a href="http://www.beaufortislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Business-NEW-SILO-4.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2044" title="Business-NEW SILO 4" src="http://www.beaufortislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Business-NEW-SILO-4-300x198.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="198" /></a>The Habersham Marketplace has recently welcomed the Sea Islands Local Outlet (SILO) to its village of restaurants, retailers and services.  Owned and operated by farmer David Hislop, SILO’s mission is to provide locally sourced food to residents of Beaufort County while educating them about where and how the food they eat is produced.<!--more-->

An offspring of the Habersham Farmers Market, SILO was created by a group of local food enthusiasts as an opportunity for local growers and food purveyors to sell their products directly to its members. SILO is an illustration of Habersham’s goal to maintain its reputation as a model for sustainable development, providing a direct link between urbanism and agrarianism.

Products are sold directly through the SILO shop front in the Habersham Marketplace or  online at http://www.silo-beaufort.com, with the bulk being purchased online.  Like traditional farmers markets, the growers and producers pay a sellers’ fee for the ability to sell their products directly to customers through SILO.  Customers pay a minimal annual membership fee which helps cover the operating expenses of SILO and enables them to participate in events like tastings, cooking demonstrations, lectures, etc.

Additionally, the concept offers sellers the ability to set wholesale prices for any products they choose. Only wholesale buyers, like restaurants and schools, will be able to view and receive these prices online. The goal is to make the locating and buying of locally grown items even easier for those who prepare for numerous numbers of people.

“The relationship between the sellers and farmers remains an integral part of the buying process,” said Hislop. “People know what is available to them each week, can choose exactly what they want and pick up everything in one central location. It’s local, it’s fresh and people feel empowered by their ability to choose ahead of time what foods they eat and where they come from.”

SILO is located at 7A Market St. in the Habersham Marketplace. Customers may make their purchases Monday morning through Wednesday evening weekly and pick up and pay for their order each Friday after
4 p.m.  Orders are packaged in reusable, insulated SILO bags that are returned at the next pick-up.