From our friends at the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition:
Ever dreamed of seeing your favorite original recipe on the grocery store shelf? Food entrepreneurs from across the state will converge at the State Fair of West Virginia on Sunday, August 14, for the sixth annual West Virginia Recipe Challenge to make that dream come true. New food entrepreneurs will compete for over $10,000 in goods and services and a chance to have their product launched in the marketplace. There is also a category for existing businesses with a prize package valued at over $2000 in goods and services.
The Recipe Challenge is for people who have an original recipe and product and would like to begin producing and selling that product commercially. The competition began in 2006 as a chance for emerging food entrepreneurs who have dreamed of taking their home-cooked product to the grocery store shelf. The event has won national recognition and led to the launching of two new specialty foods businesses in the state.
“Being able to purchase food items from our own state has a certain appeal for consumers,” says Mary Legg-Moses, Program Coordinator for WVSU Extension Service’s Rural Business Services program. “So we are thrilled to be able to support specialty foods businesses here in West Virginia through the Recipe Challenge.”
“The contest provides opportunity for the state’s entrepreneurs to receive hands-on assistance in getting their product into the marketplace,” adds Legg-Moses.
The challenge itself will consist of two categories: new entrepreneur and existing business. Prizes include recipe refinement, packaging design, label development, nutritional panel creation, technical assistance, production time in a commercial kitchen, product marketing, and more.
The West Virginia Recipe Challenge is a collaboration of West Virginia State University Extension Service, the State Fair of West Virginia, Tamarack and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.
Registration forms, category definitions and more information about the contest are available online at www.wvstateu.edu (click on the Recipe Challenge link under News & Events section) or by calling (304) 645-1090.
