IRMO – The Special Education Department at Dutch Fork High School has launched a new fruit and vegetable cooperative called Foxy Farmers, providing students with hands-on learning experiences that extend well beyond the classroom.
Once a month, students enrolled in Jane Miller’s Foods 2 and Gardening classes collect $20 from participating staff members and travel to the South Carolina State Farmers Market to purchase fresh, seasonal produce.
Working within a set budget, students carefully select fruits and vegetables, learning to evaluate ripeness, quality and price. After returning to campus, they sort, weigh and package the produce into bags for delivery to teachers and families participating in the cooperative.
The initiative integrates practical life skills with real-world application.
“The Farmer’s Market is very beneficial for our students,” said Karan Bundrick, School District Five Lead Job Coach. “It provides an opportunity for our amazing students to learn when fruits and vegetables are in season and the importance of buying ripe produce. It even teaches about customer supply and demand, cost points and marketing. The students are given a chance to use their soft skills while working with the customers. I have always enjoyed participating in the Farmer’s Market program!”
Through Foxy Farmers, students gain experience in:
- Budgeting and financial literacy
- Communication and customer service
- Marketing and supply-demand principles
- Teamwork and organization
In addition to building workforce-readiness skills, the cooperative supports local agriculture and supplies fresh, healthy produce to the school community.
School leaders say the program reflects a broader commitment to equipping students with meaningful, transferable skills that will benefit them long after graduation.
