The California Raisin Marketing Board is calling on industry professionals and student bakers to enter in the fifth annual America's Best Raisin Bread Contest. The contest is open to bakery professionals and students in the following categories: best wholesale/commercial raisin bread, best artisan raisin bread and best breakfast item. Entrants can submit recipes in any or all of the three categories.
Preliminary judging will take place in August, and 36 finalists will receive a complimentary trip to the American Institute of Baking in Manhattan, Kan., on October 11-13, 2012, to bake their formulas before a panel of judges. The panel will select 12 winners in all–nine in the professional division and three in the student division–based on taste, appearance, originality and value. In addition, formulas that feature 100 percent whole grains and/or gluten-free ingredients will be awarded in each division.
The winning bakers will receive a five-day California educational vacation with visits to the Culinary Institute of America, Yosemite National Park and the San Joaquin Valley, home of California raisins.
Applications must be submitted along with color photos of the cut cross section and whole finished loaf raisin breads, at a minimum, must include 50 percent of raisin content to dry flour weight while other raisin bakery products must include a minimum of 25 percent raisins to dry flour weight.
Entries are accepted through July 15, 2012. Contest application, rules and additional details are available at www.loveyourraisins.com.