Have you been told that you make food so good you should go into business? But do you find the process of becoming an entrepreneur to be overwhelming?
Then you should enter the annual Ohio Signature Food Contest, which is co-sponsored by the Center for Innovative Food Technology (CFT) and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF).
To enter, contestants simply need to fill out an application at ciftinnovation.org by May 31. If you win, you will be given assistance in getting your product to market no matter where in the process you may already be.
A panel of food industry experts will review the applications and watch presentations, then judge the entries based upon product viability, business strategy, marketability, and overall appeal. The winner will be announced in July at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus.
The prize package includes business development assistance, market testing, nutritional and shelf life analysis, review of trademarks and copyrights, label and packaging design, training seminars, and access to the Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen (a licensed kitchen in Bowling Green) to produce your food item.
• Spring Baking Championship winner
Congratulations to Oak Harbor native Cory Barrett, who beat nine other competitors to win the Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship and a prize of $25,000.
Mr. Barrett now teaches at Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Michigan, but had previously worked for Cleveland chef Michael Symon and competed with him on episodes of Iron Chef.
• Ax-throwing tournament
Join in the latest craze while helping to combat child abuse at the Inaugural Earnest Open Axe Throwing Tournament starting at 9 a.m. on May 18. This event, sponsored by AXE 419 and Earnest Brew Works, will be held at the former’s site: 9851 Meridian Ct., Rossford.
There will be qualifying rounds for throwers, followed by a double elimination tournament. There will also be pizza and other great food, and — of course — Earnest Brew Works’ beer.
Registration costs $40 to participate, $50 including a t-shirt; a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center of Toledo, which strives to break the cycle of violence. There will be trophies for the winners, and non-throwers are also welcome to join in the fun.
For more information and to sign up, go to guestlist.co/events/605208?utm=rpi79mz8ov3z6v9h. You could also call AXE 419’s Nathan Smith at 419-509-0785/419-351-2102 or Scot Yarnell of the brewery at 419-340-2589.
• Meals on a Mission
Fresh Market, 3315 West Central Ave., is participating in a company-wide Meals on a Mission fund-raiser to benefit Feeding America, a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 meal programs and pantries.
Until May 31, you can round up the total on your purchases to the nearest dollar.
And from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and on May 19, the store will host the Meals on a Mission Food Fair with a variety of items to sample, including Klement’s hot dogs ($2 each), Uglies Chips ($1), giant gourmet cookies ($1), Hubert’s lemonade ($2), Sunshine energy drinks ($2), and Fresh Market water ($1).
All proceeds will benefit Feeding America’s efforts to combat hunger. For more information, call 419-531-5218.
First Published May 11, 2019, 12:30 p.m.
