CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 01/24/13

Flavor of Georgia deadline for entries fast approaching

By Merritt Melancon

The February 8 deadline to submit entries is closing in quickly, but there is still time for Georgian food artisans to submit products for the 2013 competition.

The contest, sponsored by the University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, helps food entrepreneurs showcase their food products.

Georgia-based food businesses are encouraged to enter their confections, jams, barbecue sauces, meats, cheeses, popsicles, granolas, soups and any other exceptionally edible products.

Many former contest winners now have their products sold in specialty food stores and supermarkets across the Southeast. The 2012 Flavor of Georgia contest winner, Atlanta's High Road Craft Ice Cream & Sorbet, has been featured in magazines such as Southern Living, Cooking Light and Everyday with Rachel Ray and is sold in the freezer section of Whole Foods.

"Flavor of Georgia is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to gain publicity and exposure for their products," said Sharon P. Kane, food business development specialist with the UGA CAED. "It's also a chance for them to network with other food entrepreneurs and industry experts."

Georgia-based entrepreneurs can submit as many products as they like. Registration and product submission ends on Feb. 8, 2013. Finalists will be invited to take part in a final judging and public tasting in March in Atlanta.

Contestants can submit products that are already commercially available or foods that are in the market-ready prototype stage. There is not a limit on the number of products that an individual can submit. Product categories include: barbecue and hot sauces; jams, jellies and sauces; confections; meat products; dairy products; and snack foods.

A panel of judges, made up of food marketing experts, grocery buyers, chefs and industry specialists will judge each product based on flavor, use of Georgia ingredients, Georgia theme, unique or innovative qualities, commercial appeal and originality.

More information about the contest and registration is available online at www.flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.edu or by calling (706) 583-0347. The cost to enter is $75 per product if the contestant registers online. Registration costs $85 per product registered by mail.

Merritt Melancon, a public relations manager for the UGA Terry College of Business, previously served as a public relations coordinator for the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Extension.

Authors:
Merritt Melancon
Experts/Sources:
Sharon P Kane
Flavor of Georgia logo Nicki Schroeder, of High Road Craft Ice Cream in Atlanta, scoops a serving of ice cream for the judges at the 2012 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest. Barbara Petit, Georgia Organics, tallies up her scores during the 2011 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest. Caroline Harless poses with her Flat Creek Lodge Aztec Cheddar at the third Flavor of Georgia food product contest. The cheddar won grand prize at the competition.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
Conner Hall CAES News
CAES welcomes 2024 cohort of Rural Scholars 11/20/24 Maria M. Lameiras
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences welcomed its fourth cohort of students chosen for the CAES Rural Scholars Program this fall just weeks after celebrating the program's first graduation. Georgia Orman, one of four inaugural Rural Scholars in CAES, graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education. The new scholars for 2024, all from Georgia, are Ela Ash of Ocilla, Lauren E. Coley of Cochran, Amelia Housley of Canon, and London O’Steen of Ambrose.
TiftonCampusSunset2 CAES News
CAES Transfer Pathways Program expands enrollment access for rural students 11/12/24 Emily Cabrera
The Transfer Pathways Program is opening new doors for rural students who dream of attending the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). In partnership with Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and Southern Regional Technical College, students who complete required coursework at these institutions can transfer to CAES to complete bachelor’s degrees in one of three majors — agribusiness, agricultural education, and agriscience and environmental systems. 
Thermal imaging technology could improve the production of fruits and vegetables. CAES News
Thermal imaging may help fruits, veggies stay fresher longer 10/28/24 Savannah Peat
Before your favorite produce arrives at the grocery store, it must be carefully harvested and maintained across long stretches of time. A recent University of Georgia review suggests new temperature measuring technologies could make that process much simpler, amid growing agricultural challenges fueled by fluctuating climates. Maintaining temperature, humidity and light is critical to ensuring fruits and vegetables don’t spoil or deteriorate rapidly. Temperature spikes are the root of adverse outcomes, so monitoring these changes quickly and accurately is key.
Georgia is consistently one of the top five states to use the H-2A visa program and depends on H-2A workers for 60% of agricultural jobs. CAES News
Journey to work 10/14/24 Emily Cabrera
On a farm in southwest Georgia, the rising sun is just beginning to shine upon acres of lush fall crops growing in neat rows. Migrant workers are hunched over, quickly picking the dew-covered leafy greens destined for grocery stores throughout the country. At the end of a hard day, they head home to a shared house that has been provided to them for the duration of their employment. The next morning, they will wake and return to the fields for another day of work in the elements and finish with a shared evening in the communal housing.
Helenedamage web CAES News
Hurricane Helene: Preliminary damage assessment on Georgia agriculture and forestry industry 10/10/24 Claire Sanders Kinnard, Matthew Agvent
Today, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, in coordination with Governor Brian P. Kemp, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), and the Georgia Forestry Commission, announced the preliminary estimate of Hurricane Helene’s economic impact on Georgia agriculture is $6.46 billion.
Most of Georgia’s vegetable crops are grown in the southern part of the state, which, similar to California, faces drought risks. However, as the climate warms, the area is expected to receive slightly more rainfall than usual, according to CAES economist Jeff Mullen. If vegetable production in California decreases and prices rise elsewhere, Southeast producers may consider shifting from row crop to vegetable production. CAES News
Georgia vegetable production may expand as a result of climate change 09/17/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Changing weather patterns are influencing cropping systems and where certain crops can be successfully grown. Researchers in the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences recently published a study in the journal Sustainability examining the feasibility of expanding fresh vegetable production in Georgia as increased temperatures and more frequent and extreme droughts threaten producers in the Western United States.