Got to Be NC members represent the farmers and agribusinesses that produce our state’s agricultural products. Membership in the program not only allows us to bring our members’ goods to market and into the hands of consumers, it benefits North Carolina’s agriculture industry as a whole.
Through members-only events, trade shows, marketing initiatives and more, we support members of all sizes, from wholesale producers and processors to individual specialty food entrepreneurs. The Got to Be NC program is a business development program. It is designed to assist companies that are in business to grow and expand market share. The program is not for the hobbyist.
Got to Be NC membership is made by application to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, and may only be claimed by qualified and approved producers or processors of North Carolina agricultural and food products.
Apply online for membership today! You can view our membership criteria by downloading it here. Prospective members looking to download a paper application form can do so here. Please note, paper applications take longer to process.
Current members should verify and update their member profile today – it’s as easy as following steps 1, 2, 3! Search the name of your business to confirm whether or not your company has been imported to our Find Local directory. If you are listed, simply follow step 2 to the form to update your existing profile.
For current members not listed: You are still a member! Because of the age and volume of the old member database, we launched the new site with a sampling of the total membership data that had been researched and vetted. The fastest and most efficient way for us to capture updated information on our members for the new Find Local directory is to have you fill out the new online application. This application feeds our new member profile center. The application is more in depth, but takes just 10 minutes to fill out. This will provide NCDA staff with the robust details and information needed to serve you better.
For information about membership, contact April Keeton, Got to Be Program Administrator. Please note, in order to maintain the integrity of the data on the site, prospective applicants should fully complete all sections since each application is vetted and researched before being uploaded. An application with all the pertinent information provided, will speed the process.
Member Opportunities
Explore grant initiatives and opportunities available from Got to Be NC and our partners.
SAVE THE DATE FOR GOT TO BE NC EVENTS
2025 GOT TO BE NC EVENTS
- March 25-April 5, 2025 – NC Agriculture Trade Mission (Japan)
- May 8, 2025 – NC Ag Export Readiness Workshop (Greensboro)
- May 16-18, 2025 – Got to Be NC Festival (Raleigh)
Exhibitor Registration Opens 2/10/25
Registration Deadline 3/14/25 - September 5-14, 2025 – Mountain State Fair (Fletcher)
Exhibitor Registration Opens 5/1/25
Registration Deadline 5/30/25 - October 16-26, 2025 – NC State Fair (Raleigh)
Exhibitor Registration Opens 6/2/25
Registration Deadline 7/1/25
When additional information becomes available it will be posted on the events page.
OTHER EVENTS
- April 8-10, 2025 – Canadian Product Marketing Association Show (Montreal, Canada)
- May 21-24, 2025 – NC Winegrower’s Association International Wine Symposium (Winston-Salem)
2026 GOT TO BE NC EVENTS
- February 10, Flavors of Carolina (Greensboro)
Exhibitor Registration Opens 10/1/25
Registration Deadline 11/14/25 - February 11, 2026, Got to Be NC Buyer Exchange (Greensboro)
Exhibitor Registration Opens 1/5/26
Registration Deadline 1/30/26 - April 15-16, 2026, Got to Be NC Golf Classic (Wallace)
- May 15-17, 2026 Got to Be NC Festival (Raleigh)
- September 11-20, 2026 Mountain State Fair (Fletcher)
- October 15-25, 2026 NC State Fair (Raleigh)