Pomegranate Festival to include recipe contest

Jarrod Lyman
Director of Media
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
(559) 683-4636 

Recipe contest unveiled for Madera Pomegranate Celebration and Festival

Madera, CA. – The presenting sponsor of the Madera Pomegranate Celebration and Festival is holding a national recipe contest, looking for dishes and drinks inspired by the heart-healthy fruit.

The contest is separated in to three categories, Best Recipe by a Food Professional, Best Recipe by a Home Cook and Pomegranate Beverage/Cocktail. The recipes can use pomegranate arils (seeds), pomegranate juice or pomegranate concentrate. 

The best entry in each category will win $500.

“There are a lot of possible applications to use pomegranates in recipes,” said K.C. Pomering with Stiebs and a member of the Pomegranate Celebration committee. “Many chefs are rediscovering uses for this fruit and incorporating them in new and exciting ways. We’re looking forward to seeing what both professionals and the home cooks come up with for this contest.”

Original recipes must be submitted by Tuesday, Oct. 25 using the submission form available at http://www.stiebs.com/contest.html. Images of the finished dish are also welcome, as are videos of the preparation process.

Winners will be announced at the first ever Pomegranate Festival to be held on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Appellation California. Winners do not need to be present when the announcements are made.  

About the Pomegranate Celebration and Festival

Madera is known as the Heart of Pomegranate Country. More and more of the fruit is being grown in and around Madera. Plus, almost all of the fruit grown in California comes to Madera for processing in the name brand products seen on store shelves at grocery stores throughout the country.

The inaugural Madera Pomegranate Celebration and Festival is being put on by the Madera Chamber of Commerce’s Tourism Alliance committee. The week-long series of events will highlight Madera’s central role in the production of the fruit, its health benefits, culinary versatility and history at events throughout Madera and Madera County Oct. 29 – Nov. 5. The Festival will wrap up the celebration, taking place Nov. 5 at Appellation California. There will be live music, cooking demonstrations, vendors, and games for kids and more. To learn more, visit www.PomegranateFestival.com.