Fresh on the Menu Announces 2025 Award Winners
South Carolina Department of Agriculture
Hugh E. Weathers, Commissioner
Media Contact: Eva Moore, SCDA Communications Director, 803-734-2196, emoore@scda.sc.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 26, 2025
Fresh on the Menu Announces 2025 Award Winners
South Carolina Restaurants Champion Local Ingredients
COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Agriculture is proud to announce the winners of the inaugural Fresh on the Menu People’s Choice Awards, recognizing standout restaurants across South Carolina for their commitment to using local ingredients.
Fresh on the Menu, a sister program of Certified South Carolina, highlights restaurants that source at least 25 percent of their ingredients from within the state. From February 3 to February 21, diners cast votes for their favorite restaurants across the four regions of South Carolina. The 2025 People’s Choice winners are:
Upstate: Southside Smokehouse and Grille
Midlands: The Mediterranean Café
Pee Dee: Rivertown Bistro
Lowcountry: Stono Market and Tomato Shed Cafe and Fleet Landing (tie)
In addition to the regional awards, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture is presenting the first-ever Martin L. Eubanks Award to Juniper in recognition of its exceptional commitment to supporting South Carolina farmers. Since opening Juniper in 2005 in the farming community of Ridge Spring, Chef Brandon Velie and his wife Jeanne have consistently celebrated South Carolina farms and seasonal local ingredients.
“I congratulate each of these winners and thank them for their support of South Carolina farmers,” said Grace Heins, Fresh on the Menu program manager. “These restaurants’ dedication to Certified South Carolina products strengthens our industry and brings delicious dishes to diners across the state.”
For more information on the Fresh on the Menu People’s Choice Awards and this year’s winners, visit FreshOnTheMenu.com/Peoples-Choice-Awards.
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