FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, OCT. 23, 2007

Contact:

Jim Knight, marketing media manager
NCDA&CS Marketing Division
(919) 733-7887 x265

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle benefits from leftover Fair food

RALEIGH—The gates have closed on the record-setting 2007 N.C. State Fair, but fresh produce from the Got to Be NC and Our Land Our Legacy exhibits was picked up by the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Monday for use in its outreach programs.

Inter-Faith representatives picked up fresh sweet potatoes, apples, green beans, cabbage, onions and other produce from the exhibits, and began using and distributing the items that day.
This is the second batch of produce that went to the Inter-Faith group from the State Fair exhibits this year

“The day before the Fair opened, we sent about 10 partial cases of mixed produce that we didn’t need after building our displays,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We work with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle on a daily basis through the State Farmers Market, and saw this as an opportunity to expand that program.”

“We donate it to the organizations in the areas that feed the needy – the soup kitchens, pantries, outreach missions, and shelters – and with fresh produce we can raise the nutritional value of their meals,” said Inter-Faith President Jill Staton Bullard.

Produce for the Got to Be NC exhibit was provided by Fresh Point Produce of Raleigh. The produce was used in a static display and also by professional chefs working in the Got to Be NC demonstration kitchen at the Fair, showcasing N.C. food products.

Sweet potatoes from NCDA&CS research stations were part of the educational Our Land Our Legacy exhibit.

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