The brown and orange marbling of the cheddar hinted at the cocoa and guajilla peppers used to flavor the cheese. This unique creamy-spicy flavor combination won Flat Creek Aztec Cheddar and Caroline Harless of Swainsboro the grand prize at the 2009 Flavor of Georgia food competition.
On March 16, the University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development will reveal the winners of the 2010 Flavor of Georgia contest. As part of Georgia Ag Day, Gov. Sonny Perdue will present awards for top products and a grand prize for the overall winner.
Winners earn the right to have their products stamped with the 2010 Flavor of Georgia logo.
The judges are looking for market-ready foods – either commercially available or prototypes – from across the state. Categories include barbecue and hot sauces, confections, dairy products, meat products, snack foods, and jams, jellies and sauces. Entries will be judged on flavor, best use of Georgia ingredients, Georgia theme, unique or innovative qualities, commercial appeal and originality.
Flavor of Georgia is only a starting point for many of the category winners, said Sharon Kane, contest director.
“Nearly two-thirds of last year’s contestants saw an increase in their sales and business contacts following the contest,” she said.
Competition entries will be accepted through Jan. 22. Semifinalists will be announced in February. Final judging will be March 15 at the Freight Depot in Atlanta. Register online at http://www.flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.edu/. For more information, call Kane at (706) 542-9809 or e-mail spkane@uga.edu.
The annual food contest is sponsored by the CAED in partnership with the Governor’s Agricultural Advisory Commission, Georgia Agribusiness Council and UGA Department of Food Science and Technology.
