Press Releases

The North Carolina State Fair returns to the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh Oct. 13 - 23 , and fairgoers can save money on admission and rides by purchasing tickets online in advance now.“Buying in advance can save you up to 45 percent off prices compared to buying when you arrive at the fair,” said Kent Yelverton, state fair manager. “It is the most economical way to visit – especially if you’re bringing the whole family, plus you can bypass the ticket lines when you arrive at the fair and head straight to the gates.”

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has announced the following 2022-23 Got to Be NC team of Culinary Ambassadors, representing restaurants across the state.

North Carolina has been designated High Path Avian Influenza-free by the World Organization for Animal Health. This designation means that the state can resume exports and international trade for poultry products.Under WOAH guidelines, HPAI-free status can be declared after the disease has been eliminated on all affected farms and no new infections are detected during a 28-day waiting period.

Blue ribbon seekers get ready because the 2022 N.C. State Fair competitions are now open. If you think your artwork, honey, livestock, cooking, canned food, flowers or decorating skills are prize-winning, then don’t miss this year’s deadlines to enter. New competitions this year include ink pen decorated seashells and artwork inspired floral arrangements.

The deadline to enter items into the N.C. Mountain State Fair is fast approaching. To help as many fairgoers as possible in the area be able to enter, the Fair is again offering the Pony Express Run with free delivery for entry items from outlying Cooperative Extension offices to the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher.

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from 61 stores in Alamance, Brunswick, Carteret, Catawba, Columbus, Forsyth, Franklin, Granville, Guilford, Harnett, Iredell, Johnston, Jones, Mecklenburg, Moore, Nash, Orange, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Scotland, Stanly, Union, Vance, Wake, Watauga, Wayne and Yadkin counties because of excessive price-scanner errors.

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced that farmers in 11 additional counties are eligible for the Western N.C. Agricultural Crop Loss Program for damages and losses due to flooding and excessive rain from Tropical Storm Fred and an April 2021 freeze and frost. The deadline to apply is Aug. 31. A total of $10 million is available. Counties include:

The following are winners in the State Farmers Market Watermelon Contest held July 28:

The N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund recently awarded more than $10 million to help communities across the state protect farmland and promote agricultural enterprises. More than $9.5 million went towards obtaining conservation easements on 4,377 acres of land across the state. This includes over $600,000 in funding for 316 acres of easements in priority areas in the Upper Cape Fear River Basin for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

The State Farmers Market will host its popular Taste of Summer Event  Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with guest vendors, live music, face painting and plenty of fresh farm and seafood products for purchase.