Fresh produce shop blooms in spite of rotten economy

Richard McClary exemplifies a slice of life many people do not find glamorous. Despite the heat, the hard work and the long hours farming entails, he loves it.

McClary, 57, started selling produce from the back of his truck to put his six kids through college. For 18 years, he has set up shop in the same spot alongside the hustle and bustle of U.S. Highway 17 traffic in Mount Pleasant. Three to four days a week he sells fruits and vegetables from his own and from neighboring farms near Kingstree.

McClary grew up with his hands in the dirt. The fifth-generation farmer simply does what he knows and what he loves. Over the years, he became known as "the sweet potato man" to regulars who flock to his stand every fall when sweet potatoes fill his bins. What might seem like just manual labor to some is more fulfilling than any other job to McClary. Under a tarp on the side of the road, he meets people from all walks of life. From European tourists to returning locals, McClary encounters an assortment of characters. And many times they like to sit and chat, and McClary, glad to listen, hears about all their problems.

Amid the recession, McClary has seen an increasing number of people come by who are unable to pay for produce. He does not hesitate to give them the same quality produce offered to paying customers. Despite the recession, his business has remained in full bloom because of the quality.

McClary doesn't sell anything he wouldn't eat himself, and customers know they can count on him for fresh-cut, chemical-free and fairly priced produce. When it comes to knowing which produce is fresh, a farmer knows his crops best, a lesson he learned long ago from his father.

Reach Annie Ierardi at 937-5716.