In addition to the plethora of food options available at the N.C. State Fair, fairgoers can also sample and discover food products from across North Carolina at the Got to Be NC Agriculture exhibit.
Located outside the Kerr Scott Building, the tent will offer a variety of products representing the state’s diverse agricultural diversity. There will also be a NC Soybean Producers Association coloring wall that fairgoers can color in and use to learn more about products they can buy locally. Food will be available to taste and purchase from 25 North Carolina vendors throughout the fair, with some showing Oct. 13-18, and the others exhibiting Oct. 19-23.
Among the participating vendors is Carolina Kettle, a snack food business started by N.C. State University senior Josh Monahan. Carolina Kettle’s kettle-cooked potato chips are available in an array of flavors meant to reflect traditional southern recipes including Bee Sting Honey Sriracha, Outer Banks Sea Salt and Down East Carolina BBQ.
An agribusiness major, Monahan grew up in a family involved in the food industry. He said Carolina Kettle was a way for him to enter into the snack food industry while also helping the community.
“Using NC products is important because it supports our local farmers,” Monahan said. “I grew up on a farm, so this aspect is very important to me.”
The opportunity to expose Carolina Kettle chips to a wide audience at the State Fair will also allow Monahan to support another important cause – hunger relief. For every 2-ounce bag of Carolina Kettle chips sold, Monahan donates $0.05 to local food banks which distribute food to homeless shelters, food pantries, soup kitchens and schools.
Monahan said he hopes that being at the State Fair will bring positive attention to Carolina Kettle snacks.
“Fairgoers should try these chips not only because of how great they taste, and the unique flavors that are offered,” Monahan said. “But also because of the cause behind the product.”
Fairgoers can stop by the Got to Be NC tent Oct. 13-18 to check out Carolina Kettle. Other vendors in the exhibit through Oct. 18 include:
- Two Roosters Ice Cream
- Carolina Bee Co.
- Heavenly Beezzz Honey
- 4 Fosters Candle Co.
- Luther’s Legacy BBQ Sauce
- Pass The Gravy
- Harvest Time Foods
- Berry Brothers
- Fords Gourmet Foods
- Mackey’s Ferry Peanuts
- Bevs & Bites
- Black Dog Gourmet
For the second half of the Fair, Oct. 19-23, these vendors will be in the exhibit:
- Roland’s Rub
- NC Fudge
- Bob’s Smokin’ Southern BBQ Sauce
- Sweet Treats Of NC
- Kerr Lake Candles
- Lumpy’s Ice Cream
- GAMMS
- Nature’s Pearl
- Baldies BBQ Sauce
- Heritage Farms-Cheshire Pork
- Nature’s Twist
- Cloister Honey
- Mindful Supply
Just was wondering what happened to the Pork Counsel food tent. It was located where Big ALS is this year.
Sorry for the delayed response. The Pork Council ended their booth at the fair a few years ago.