From the curehouse to the modern kitchen, 11 North Carolina restaurants celebrate a time-honored Southern tradition with a delicious new twist. Some flavors have a way of taking you home. The smell of country ham sizzling in a cast-iron skillet. The first bite of a warm biscuit filled with salty, smoky goodness. The memories of … Read more
Each fall, the N.C. State Fair brings its traditional blend of rides, music, livestock and of course, fried food. But if you’re looking for a taste of home, a spotlight on small businesses and a chance to connect with the agricultural roots of North Carolina, there’s no better place than the Got to Be NC … Read more
From the archives is a series that dives into the archives of the Agricultural Review, the free newspaper published by the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, and explores interesting recipes, agriculture news and features from the past century. Potatoes are one of North Carolina’s most versatile crops. Whether you’re craving crispy roasted potatoes, … Read more
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler recently recognized Jimmy Gentry of Statesville with the Friends of Farmland award for his longtime support and tireless dedication towards preserving farmland in North Carolina. Gentry retired as president of the N.C. Grange in 2025 and has served on the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund Advisory Committee and … Read more
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler inducted two longtime N.C. Mountain State Fair employees into the N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame. Mark Mills of Peachland and Cameron Greene of Fletcher were inducted for their decades of support to the fair and the livestock industry in Western North Carolina. “The N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock … Read more
Discovering NC Agriculture is a social media series focusing on N.C. grown, raised, caught, and made commodities. Originally started in 2025, this series has been renewed to run for another year! Tune in each month to see how an N.C. commodity is grown, harvested, packed for consumer use and more. Learn nutritional value, find fun … Read more
The synchronized sounds from the shoes of cloggers, the aroma of sweet treats in the air, and the incredible view of the Blue Ridge from atop a Ferris wheel are sure signs the North Carolina Mountain State Fair is underway. The event kicked off Sept. 11 at the WNC Agriculture Center outside of Asheville and … Read more
A new biochar program in the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services traces its roots to a trifecta of problems affecting Western North Carolina, but it ultimately aims to improve soil and water on farms across the state. Biochar is a carbon-rich soil amendment made by heating organic material in a very low-oxygen … Read more
‘From the tractor’ is published in the monthly Agricultural Review. This column appears in the September 2026 edition of the paper. Back in August I attended the 137th opening of the Wilson Tobacco Market and it was a great event that reminded me so much of the days when Sharon and I would haul bales of … Read more
Twenty-one years ago, a change to a North Carolina law would not only transform the state’s beer industry, it would also create new opportunities for some of the state’s farmers. To celebrate the anniversary of that change, a crowd gathered in Durham on Aug. 13, exactly 21 years after Gov. Mike Easley signed House Bill … Read more
