ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 12, 2009

N.D. COMPANIES AT TWIN CITIES GIFT SHOW

BISMARCK – Three Pride of Dakota companies – Mable’s Taste of Home, Fargo; North Prairie Signature, Leeds, and Special Essentials, Fargo – will be showing their products at one of the region’s largest gift shows, the Minneapolis Gift and Accessory Show, this weekend, in the Twin Cities.

"This is a major opportunity for these companies to find new markets in surrounding states and to make contacts with dealers in a major metropolitan area," said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson. "The Minneapolis Gift Show attracts retailers from across the country who are looking for new, unique and high quality products, like those from Pride of Dakota companies."

Johnson said the show also offers educational activities, as well as the opportunity to network with other companies from around the region.

The show is held at the Minneapolis Mart in Minnetonka. In addition to the more than 1,500 lines of merchandise at the show, more than 5,000 lines of merchandise are displayed in the 140 showrooms of the Gift Mart’s permanent facility.

Authorized by the Legislature and administered by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the Pride of Dakota program fosters the development and growth of small businesses and especially businesses that are farm-based or rely on agricultural commodities. Pride of Dakota member companies can participate in cooperative promotion and marketing events; receive representation at local, state, regional, national, and international trade shows and take part in educational opportunities. More than 420 companies are Pride of Dakota members.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.