Each week we’ll round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from newspapers across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. Click on the links to go straight to each paper’s full story.
- “N.C. State Fair breaks attendance records,” Triangle Business Journal: N.C. State Fair officials say this year’s fair broke records for total and single-day attendance. The fair drew 877,941 attendees, beating the previous record of 858,611 in 2007. Sunday’s crowd set a single-day attendance record of 104,370. Several days of good weather helped boost attendance, says Natalie Alford, fair spokeswoman. She says the recent economic slump may have helped as well. Tickets for the fair were $7 for adults at the gate and $5 in advance – an affordable price for individuals weathering the recession. “People have been just itching to get out and do something fun, and the state fair is fun,” Alford says. …
- “Garner residents take home ribbons from NC State Fair,” Garner News: Doubt, humility, and later two broken arms. Those were just some of the reasons Garner native Mary Jo Stephenson used as excuses when her friend Tammy Kennedy, also of Garner, suggested that Stephenson spend about a month of her time to create a garden for the Flower and Garden Show at this year’s N.C. State Fair. …
- “Awesome and orange: Pumpkins aren’t only for carving,” Rocky Mount Telegram: Think of pumpkins, and images of jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin pies usually come to mind. While pumpkins understandably often are associated with Halloween and Thanksgiving, they are more versatile than many people realize, said Freda Butner, nutrition marketing specialist with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. They can be used in soups, stews, jelly, breads, salads, souffles and a multitude of desserts. “Pretty much anything you would think of to do with any other orange or fall vegetable such as sweet potatoes or squash, you can substitute pumpkin for most of those recipes and vice versa,” said Butner, who also is a registered dietitian. …
- “Web site launched to answer food safety questions,” Greensboro News and Record: Did you know that one in four Americans report a foodborne illness annually? How about the fact that nearly 200 food recalls are made in the U.S. each year? These are a few of the food safety facts from the newly designed “Got to be N.C. Food Safety” Web site at www.ncfoodsafety.com, that is one of three new ways to get information on food safety, laws and news. The Food and Drug Protection Division of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services also has a toll-free number and e-mail address to provide consumers, retailers, producers and educators with answers to their food safety questions. Residents can call (877) FOOD-644, or (877) 366-3644, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or send e-mails to ncfoodsafe@ncagr.gov.