Press Releases

Residents and visitors looking for farms that offer outdoor experiences and local food will have plenty of options this spring as farms across the state open their gates to welcome guests.There are a variety of activities to choose from including workshops, Easter egg hunts, strawberry and flower picking, Mother’s Day events, farm stands and farmers markets. Following is a selection of experiences offered at North Carolina farms through Memorial Day. 

WHO/WHAT:    The North Carolina Sentinel Landscape Committee will hold a meeting to hear committee member reports pertaining to Sentinel Landscape activities and reports on other Sentinel Landscape programs.      WHEN:    Thursday, March 10, 2022  2:30 p.m.      WHERE:  Hall of Fame Room, Agriculture Building

Visitors can shop to their heart’s delight as the annual Spring Craft Fair returns to the State Farmers Market Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This popular and free event features 90 vendors offering local products and handmade items for sale.

Spring is a busy time on the farm with growers preparing equipment, working on lime and fertilizer applications, and making cropping decisions even as commodity prices are fluctuating daily. Fertilizer prices, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are through the roof this year, unprecedented since around 2008. Lime costs have also increased. Transportation and global supply chain concerns are all factors. How can farmers best manage high-cost nutrient inputs and maximize profitability this year?

With spring fire season upon us, the N.C. Forest Service is asking residents to prioritize safety and practice caution when burning debris. Escaped fires from burning debris continue to be the leading cause of wildfires in North Carolina. Peak months for the spring fire season run from March through May and fires left unattended can get out of hand quickly and become wildfires.

WHO/WHAT:The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will host its annual Flavors of Carolina food show, featuring more than 130 N.C. food and beverage companies. The private event is a chance for food businesses to sample their products and network with buyers from grocery stores, foodservice distributors, and independent restaurants. Media are welcome to attend the event. Please contact Caitlyn Randall to RSVP to attend.

Below is a summary of local interest stories that have recently been highlighted on the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ In the Field Blog. Please feel free to use any of this content in your publications or contact us if you have any additional questions.

WHO/WHAT:  WHEN:    WHERE:  BACKGROUND INFORMATION: 

The State Farmers Market in Raleigh is hosting a free performance by Got to Be NC Ag Star finalist and country singer Hunter Grant on Thursday from noon until 2 p.m. in the farmer’s shed.Grant, of Mount Olive, is one of 15 finalists who will compete March 4 in the Ag Star Finale at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The talent search competition is a collaboration between the Got to Be NC program and Got to Be NC’s first musical ambassador Paige King Johnson.

The North Carolina Spiritous Liquor Advisory Council will hold its first meeting Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Room of the Agriculture Building, 2 W. Edenton St., Raleigh.The meeting will include a brief introduction of council members and a review of the legislation creating the council.Other items for discussion include: