By Mary-Kathryn Craft

It’s that time of year when fresh fruits and vegetables are plentiful throughout the Palmetto State.

Eating fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet can reduce your risk for diseases such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Check out this map from the S.C. Department of Agriculture to find fresh S.C.-grown produce near you.

Starting this month, DHEC’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program will provide checks that can be used to purchase fresh, S.C.-grown produce at local farmers markets. Find authorized markets accepting WIC checks near you with this map.

If you’re looking for easy and creative ideas for preparing fruits and vegetables, look no further than your local farmers market. Nutrition education specialists and dietetic interns from DHEC’s Office of Professional and Community Nutrition are offering free cooking demonstrations throughout the state this summer.

The next demonstration is scheduled for June 13 at the Kershaw County Farmers Market at 222 Broad St. in Camden.

To see which fruits and vegetables are in season, find tips on choosing the right piece of produce and get recipes, check out this guide.