FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, JULY 28, 2008

Go to Be NC Agriculture program wins national award

RALEIGH—The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Got to Be NC Agriculture market development program was recently awarded the 2008 NAAMO Award of Agricultural Marketing Excellence.

North American Agricultural Marketing Officials is an international organization of state and provincial government workers who provide both domestic and international marketing services to agricultural and food industries in their areas.

The Got to Be NC Program was selected for the top honor based on its multi-faceted approach to raise consumer awareness of North Carolina’s agricultural products in grocery stores, restaurants, farmers markets and more.

“We are very proud to win this prestigious award because it shows the commitment to excellence by our Division of Marketing to promote the quality and variety of agriculture in our state,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Best of all, the promotional efforts are paying off for our food companies. Sales increases of 10 to 40 percent were reported by companies participating in the promotions, while restaurants reported 10 to 30 percent increases in sales.”

The NAAMO award recognized the addition of the “Got to Be NC Big Cart,” a giant shopping cart powered by a Chevrolet racing engine; point of sale promotions in numerous grocery chains and military commissaries; media and community promotions; and restaurant competitions that were highlights of the innovative marketing efforts.

Participation in the department’s market development programs rose 28 percent since the inception of the Got to Be NC programs, said Jeff Thomas, NCDA&CS marketing specialist.

More information about Got to Be NC is available online at www.GotToBeNC.com, where shoppers can research products from North Carolina and even order directly from participating companies.

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