Jul 14, 2015
CIFT, OFBF announce Ohio Signature Food Contest winners

The Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT) and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF)sponsored the Ohio Signature Food Contest which showcases many new products ready to take that next step – actual product development.

CIFT vice president and director of agricultural programs, Rebecca Singer, and Pat Petzel, vice president, communications; Ohio Farm Bureau, announced the two winners selected in recognition of their product concepts:

Hot Mama’s Pepper Jam by Cheryl Holsapfel (Garrettsville, Ohio) – A delicious, hot pepper jam made with Ohio-grown jalapenos and green peppers. With a blend of sweet and heat, it can be used as a marinade, salad dressing, and even added to a dish for a little added spice.

Raspberry Habanero Jam by Victoria Miller (Convoy, Ohio) – This savory jam is an amazing blend of fresh raspberries, pure cane sugar, and blended habaneros. Cooked slow, and on low heat to ensure the perfect consistency, it pairs well with cheddar cheese, cream cheese and crackers.

Following a review of written applications and presentations by food entrepreneurs and chefs to a panel of judges, the highest scoring concepts were selected based on the viability of the product, commercialization potential, business strategy, and overall appeal to the marketplace.

As a result of the award, technical assistance from CIFT will be provided to the start up businesses ranging from business planning, product/process development, shelf stability testing, labeling review, regulatory assistance, and batch product preparations for sampling. Later, production will take place at the Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen (NOCK) in Bowling Green, Ohio. The NOCK is a commercially-licensed kitchen




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