Calling Florida’s Top Student Chefs

Randall Weiseman Florida, General, Industry News Release

From the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

fdacs-sealTALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam encourages innovative chefs in 9th through 12th grades to enter the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ “Fresh From Florida” Student Chef Cook-Off. Students can submit original recipes featuring locally grown products for the chance to have their meal served in school cafeterias. The deadline to enter is Thurs., Feb. 2, 2017. For rules and to submit an entry, visit FreshFromFlorida.com/StudentCookOff.

“A healthy diet is the foundation for academic success, and our goal is to get students excited about incorporating Florida’s fresh produce into everyday meals,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.

Entry requirements include:
• Applicants must be a Florida student in 9th through 12th grade.
• The recipe must be original and submitted with a photo.
• The recipe must contain one fresh fruit or fresh vegetable grown in Florida.
• The recipe must have clear directions and be prepared in 75 minutes or less.
• The recipe must promote good nutrition and healthy eating habits.

Students first submit their recipes and pictures to be judged on nutrition, presentation/ appeal and originality. Finalists will be chosen to compete in five regional cook-offs, which will be held in March and April 2017 in the following counties: Dade, Duval, Escambia, Hillsborough and Indian River.

The first place winners of each region will continue to the statewide cook-off at the Florida School Nutrition Association annual conference in Orlando on Sat., Apr. 22, 2017. The “Fresh From Florida” Student Chef Cook-Off champion will be invited to serve with a professional chef at one of the department’s future events.

For more information on the “Fresh From Florida” Student Chef Cook-Off and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.