COLUMBIA, S.C. — The 2025 South Carolina State Fair is officially underway, kicking off Wednesday afternoon, and as always, the food remains a big crowd favorite.

But this year, some vendors say rising costs are making it harder to keep things cooking.

At the fairgrounds, there’s no shortage of sweet treats, but some vendors say those treats are costing more to make than in years past.

“Strawberries this year have gone up about 25% for us,” said Tommy Vance, who works with the Strawberry Shortcake stand. “Strawberries are one of those things that are affected by weather. There’s been a lot of rain, and that deteriorates the quality, creating short demand. We’ve dealt with a significant price increase.”

Vance and his team travel to fairs across the country, and he says South Carolina

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