Source:  NCDA&CS, 5/6/10

The North Carolina Food Expo, supported by the Golden LEAF Foundation, will fill the Exposition Building on the State Fairgrounds during the 2010 Got to Be NC Festival May 21-23.

More than 100 companies representing products such as wines, peanuts, sauces, candies, fresh produce and meats are slated to be on hand to both sample and sell their goods.

“The food expo is a great opportunity for both the participating companies and consumers,” said Myrtle Earley, coordinator of the food expo. “These North Carolina companies gain much needed exposure, and the consumer gets to see, sample and buy quality products that they may or may not have heard of before.”

This year’s food expo will include more North Carolina food and wine companies than in previous years. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a new wine garden area that will feature a dozen or more local wineries.

The expo will open at 10 a.m. all three days of the festival. The expo will close at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 6 p.m. Sunday.

The Got to Be NC Festival is presented by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In addition to the food expo, attractions include a full carnival, antique farm equipment, a fiber fair, live music, horse and tractor pulls, and more. Festival hours are 9 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission and parking for the festival are free. There is a $5 fee for grandstand events.

For more information about the festival, visit www.ncagfest.com.