11/10/2011
For many of the more than 150,000 visitors from the Mid-Atlantic that flock to the Southern Christmas Show at Charlotte, N.C., the event is a family shopping extravaganza. Held this year from November 10-20, the more than 40 West Virginia agribusinesses represented at the show have an opportunity to sell their products in a regional marketplace. The event, housed at “The Park” (formerly the Charlotte Merchandise Mart) features 224,000 sq. ft. of Christmas gifts, decorations and assorted holiday paraphernalia.
The first stop for many shoppers? The West Virginia Country Store, sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) and West Virginia Division of Tourism.
Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass said the event is a great opportunity to market West Virginia and its food products in a regional marketplace.
“Shoppers make the West Virginia Country Store their first stop,” said Commissioner Douglass. “They know from past experiences that they’ll find great products for holiday gift-giving and that there will be a new West Virginia producer giving out samples for the public to try.”
New West Virginia producers at the 2011 show include Spangler’s Popcorn, Bowers Maple Syrup, Thelma Mae’s Specialty Food Processing of Hurricane and A La Carte Fine Chocolates. The focus is on specialty crops in the West Virginia-themed, “Cool Country Christmas.”
Commissioner Douglass notes that the holidays are a great time to enjoy the harvest by cooking with West Virginia fruits, vegetables, syrup and honey. “Funding from the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program allows us to feature the fresh and value-added products that our farmers are growing. What better time to celebrate the abundant West Virginia harvest than at the holidays,” he said.
Visitors will receive a complimentary special edition specialty crops cookbook featuring more than 30 recipes.
In addition to holiday cooking ideas inspired by specialty crops, several West Virginia companies will sample their products to the visiting public: Lewisburg’s Three Little Pigs, Hambleton’s Mountain State Honey, Woodbine Jams & Jellies of Richwood, Sistersville-based Uncle Bunk’s, Proctor’s ThistleDew Farm, Tasty Blend Foods from Fraziers Bottom, Fayetteville’s Red Roof Farm and Ravenswood’s Miss Mona’s Sauces.
Contact Information
Buddy Davidson, Communications Officer
304-558-3708; 304-541-5932 (cell)
bdavidson@ag.state.wv.us