US (CA): Innovation awards announced at nation’s largest regional food show

The 2013 Fresno Food Expo presented by Union Bank is excited to announce a new opportunity for California’s San Joaquin Valley based food producers to increase product exposure and gain recognition as industry trendsetters with the introduction of the inaugural San Joaquin Valley New Product Awards presented by Baker, Peterson & Franklin CPA, LLP. Exhibiting companies are eligible to enter their new food product, varietal or packaging concept for an opportunity to compete for the “Fresno Food Expo Industry Award” and the “Fresno Food Expo People’s Choice Award.” New Product Award applications are available to registered 2013 Fresno Food Expo exhibitors at www.FresnoFoodExpo.com/content/expo/new-product-awards and will be accepted now through February 15. The public voting process will begin on February 20, 2013 on the Fresno Food Expo Website and Facebook page at facebook.com/fresnofoodexpo.

The “Fresno Food Expo Industry Award” will be reviewed and ranked by the Fresno Food Expo advisory committee made up of marketing and food industry leaders based categories that may include, but are not limited to: innovation, marketability, creativity and presentation before final selections are sent to a panel of celebrity judges that will judge and announce the winner live during the business-to-business portion of the 2013 Fresno Food Expo on March 14, 2013.

The “Fresno Food Expo People’s Choice Award” gives the public the opportunity to vote for their favorite new food product or package and show support for their region’s most innovative food producers. The public can start voting for their favorite product beginning February 20 on the Fresno Food Expo website or Facebook page. Votes will be counted by the number of “Likes” each product receives, which will boost product awareness online and give added promotional value and marketplace energy to participating companies. The winner will be announced at 7:30 p.m. during the public portion of the 2013 Fresno Food Expo.

“The San Joaquin Valley is the largest food production region in the world and is home to a wide variety of innovative products... said Amy Huerta, Local Business Initiatives Manager, City of Fresno. “Beyond those products, there is a large breadth of value add, specialty and fresh food products that we are proud to showcase and honor as part of the inaugural San Joaquin Valley New Product Awards at the 2013 Fresno Food Expo.”

The San Joaquin Valley, with its vast agricultural base and variety of food producers, plays an integral role in the global food supply chain. The San Joaquin Valley New Product Awards offer an exciting new platform for the region’s food trendsetters to showcase their new products to a buyer and consumer marketplace.

“This regional food show offers the unique opportunity to connect on a personal level with producers and manufacturers right in their own backyard while also having the opportunity to see the facility or field where products are grown all in one short visit,” said Faye Greenberg, Executive Director of Team Sales for Save Mart Supermarkets. “It’s time that the creative innovation of this region’s food producers is professionally recognized on its own turf. I look forward to closely following The People’s Choice Award as it is a reflection of potential consumer demand for new products hitting the marketplace.”

For more information please visit www.fresnofoodexpo.com