Press Releases

RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler today announced $12.4 million in awards that will focus on the expansion of current food manufacturers and processors with the goal of increasing value-added goods and products manufactured in the state. A total of eight projects that include produce, meat and dairy products received initial awards through the N.C. Agricultural Manufacturing and Processing Initiative (NCAMPI). 
WHAT:               The Whole Hog Barbecue Series is coming to the 2024 N.C. Mountain State Fair, with MANNA FoodBank receiving all meat from the competition as well as on-site monetary donations. The Whole Hog Cookoff is sanctioned by the N.C. Pork Council, sponsored by Mariner Finance and Heritage Finance Co., Inc., and will feature cooking teams from across the Carolinas.
WHO/WHAT: The North Carolina Sentinel Landscape Committee will hold a meeting to hear committee updates, a program review and other Sentinel Landscape business.   WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 1:30 p.m. WHERE: Hall of Fame Room, Agriculture Building, 2 W. Edenton St., Raleigh.
WHAT:              Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will officially open the 2024 N.C. Mountain State Fair with a short ribbon cutting ceremony. WHEN:               Friday, Sept. 6, noon 
FLETCHER – The Whole Hog Cookoff is coming to the 2024 N.C. Mountain State Fair on Saturday, Sept. 7, with meat from the competition and on-site monetary donations going to MANNA FoodBank to help feed the hungry. Pitmasters will be throwing down their best low-and-slow techniques to showcase their culinary skills and create great tasting barbecue. Cooking begins around 5 a.m. and contestants present their entries to the judges at 5 p.m. Awards will be announced immediately following the judging at 6 p.m. on the Leon Jacobs Piano Stage. 
WHAT:              Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson, N.C. Mountain State Fair officials and others will discuss grounds safety, traffic control, midway operations and animal exhibits.WHEN:               Thursday, Sept. 5, 11 a.m.  
The N.C. State Fair is known for its tasty treats and promotion of local commodities and other national products. One of its featured events highlights those specialties in the form of fun, family-friendly cooking challenges.
WHO/WHAT:           Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler hosting top Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture leaders, plus other national and state leaders to discuss the emergence of H5N1 in dairy cattle and federal and state response efforts. Discussion participants include:
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced today that nine research projects that focus on helping specialty crop growers manage disease and adverse weather conditions, and that look at new plant varieties that could grow better in the state were awarded over $1.16 million in specialty crop block grant funding.