Paul Jones
Paul covers the Got to Be NC, Goodness Grows in North Carolina and other marketing programs of the department. He has been with the department since 2010. He graduated from N.C. State University with a degree in communication and minor in nonprofit studies. In 2009, he interned with the Public Affairs Division as part of the North Carolina Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office's State Government Internship Program.
Winners named in N.C. Specialty Foods Association’s 2018 Product Competition
The N.C. Specialty Foods Association announced winners in its 2018 Product Competition, held Sept. 7 in Bermuda Run. This year’s competition was one of the largest yet, with 82 entries submitted across seven categories. Mike D’s BBQ was named Grand
Recipe: Hyde County woman wins Thrill the Grill Challenge
The N.C. Vegetable Growers Association recently wrapped up its “Thrill the Grill Challenge”, which asked grill masters to submit their favorite grilled-vegetable recipes ahead of the summer cookout season. Lisa Chestnutt of Hyde County earned first place with her recipe
NCDA&CS offers grants for farmers markets
If your farmers market is thinking about promotions this year, consider applying for cooperative advertising funding from the department. The funds, which are made possible through a grant from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, will pay half of the
Grant funding available for agritourism farms
North Carolina farms that welcome visitors can take advantage of the 2018 Agritourism Marketing Cost-Share Grant available through the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Deadline for application has been extended to March 16, 2018. The $100,000 grant, which
Cultured Seafood Festival planned for March 9 in New Bern
Organizers have something special planned for this year’s N.C. Aquaculture Development Conference in New Bern March 7-10. On Friday, March 9, seafood lovers can take part in the Cultured Seafood Festival, an all-you-care-to-eat feast. Chef James “Smoke” Boyd, owner of
Five N.C. sparkling wines to try this Valentine’s Day
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, now is the time to plan a romantic evening for your special someone. If you’re looking for a way to make the night extra special, try uncorking a bottle of N.C. sparkling wine. We’ve
Grower/Buyer Exchange set for Feb. 20
On Feb. 20, the department will host produce buyers from Lowes Foods and US Foods at the Grower/Buyer Exchange. The event, organized by the department’s Marketing Division, is geared to N.C. fruit and vegetable growers interested in selling their products
Five reasons to attend the 2018 NC Agritourism Farm Tour and Conference
The number of North Carolina farms welcoming visitors has skyrocketed in the last 10 years, increasing by 89 percent. Moreover, the diversity of agritourism-related activities has increased. There are still plenty of pick-your-own strawberry fields and corn mazes, but today’s
November is N.C. Pecan Month
As families prepare for the holiday season, N.C. pecan farmers are harvesting their crop. The Tar Heel state produces 3 to 5 million pounds of pecans annually, and 2017 is shaping up to be a great year. That’s welcome news
International Sweet Potato Week kicks off April 1
In North Carolina, we often take for granted the humble sweet potato. It’s a Southern staple and a part of many family dinners here. In other parts of the world, however, the sweet potato is a relatively new product. That’s why