Calling all professional and commercial bakers — the American Pie Council (APC), Chicago, is accepting registrations for the 15th annual APC/Crisco® National Pie Championships to be held April 24-26, 2009, in conjunction with the Great American Pie Festival in Celebration, Fla.

Professional bakers may enter pies in eight categories: apple, citrus, chocolate, cherry, fruit/berry, cream, nut and open. Best of Show will win $5,000. The entry fee is $20 per pie for professional APC members and $35 for non-members. Commercial bakers may enter in the following flavor categories: apple, blueberry, fruit/berry, open cream, citrus, open, nut and chocolate, and raisin. Competitors must assign their pie entries based on wholesale cost and size of the pie. Bakeries with $1 million or less in annual pie sales will be placed in their category within the commercial bakers' competition. Entry fees for commercial APC members is $125 per pie and $250 for non-members.