US: California Giant Berry Farms selects winning recipes

California Giant Berry Farms just completed a very successful consumer berry campaign and is now sharing the very fruitful results. In partnership with Chef’n, a kitchen accessory brand, the "Sweet Taste of Spring" consumer campaign was built around a recipe contest that provided the company with over 100 delicious recipe entries from consumers and bloggers across the country. Submitted in eight winning categories, recipes featured California Giant fresh berries and were judged by a professional chef. Julia Myall, the company’s chef advisor and cookbook author, tested each of the finalist recipes and provided California Giant with her winning recommendations based on flavor, creativity and versatility.

There were winners in eight different categories, but the grand prize winner was submitted by a consumer who took the time to submit several recipes encompassing each category which were all delicious. It was agreed that her best entry was ultimately a "Blueberry Corn Fritter" recipe which was tasted and enjoyed by all at California Giant last week. Chef Myall focused on this recipe as the grand prize winner due to its color, flavor and versatility in that it can be served as a side dish, an entrée, for brunch or for dinner, and it is delicious.

The ability to utilize social media, video and other web-centric tools in publicizing the contest generated additional likes on Facebook and more followers on twitter for California Giant. However, the best news from the promotion is the ability to share some amazing recipes with consumers that utilize strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries in new and unique ways. The eight winning recipes will be featured on the company’s website along with a roll-out of several other of the finalist recipes received from the contest.

"We are really enjoying the variety of tools we have in place to keep our consumers coming back for more, and to be able to share great ideas with each other on ways to enjoy our berries," says Cindy Jewell, Marketing Director for California Giant Berry Farms. "As this promotion comes to a close, we are quickly shifting gears into a new contest that is focused on summer smoothies in partnership with Hamilton Beach who just launched a new smoothie blender," adds Jewell.

Similar to the recipe contest, this new promotion that launches April 30 will be publicized through all social media channels and the QR codes on California Giant packaging. "Every day our consumers have an opportunity to engage in conversations with us via our packaging, online or by the old fashioned phone call sharing stories, comments and even complaints. We are energized by that feedback and use it as a way to keep stepping up our game—and to ensure our marketing programs deliver," adds Jewell.

For more information:
Cindy Jewell
California Giant Berry Farms
Tel: +1 (831) 728-1773
www.calgiant.com