Florida Department of Citrus Culinary Contests Seek Innovative Uses of Florida Citrus

BARTOW, Fla., March 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooking enthusiasts turn to Florida citrus to add a burst of sunshine to recipes during winter months and now, they can put their culinary creativity to the test and win prizes in the Just Add OJ Culinary Contest and the Juicy Scoop Recipe Photo Contest sponsored by The Florida Department of Citrus. To enter, participants simply need to create a recipe that calls for 100 percent orange juice (for the Just Add OJ Culinary Contest), or 100 percent grapefruit juice or fresh grapefruit (for the Juicy Scoop Recipe Photo Contest), take a picture of their creation and submit it via the dedicated tab on the respective Facebook page for a chance to win culinary- and wellness-inspired prizes.

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Florida citrus is a versatile ingredient to perk up beverages, appetizers, main dishes, desserts and more with zesty flavor. Registered Dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner is a fan of cooking with citrus as a healthful way to pack a powerful punch of mouthwatering flavor. "One-hundred percent orange juice or grapefruit juice can add unique, tangy sweetness to your recipes," Blatner says. "I regularly use Florida citrus segments and 100 percent citrus juices in marinades, vinaigrettes, smoothies, low-fat yogurt parfaits, on salads and as dessert. There are limitless possibilities!" 

The Florida Orange Juice and Juicy Scoop Facebook pages feature a broad range of innovative citrus recipes, such as Orange Tarragon Ginger Shrimp with Rice Noodles and Fish Tacos with Grapefruit Cabbage Slaw, to serve as inspiration for the contests. Entrants can choose to recreate an existing recipe or submit their own unique, citrus-infused dish in the culinary contests. Incorporating Florida citrus always guarantees a winning flavor profile for any recipe.

Just Add OJ Culinary Contest
To enter, "like" Florida Orange Juice on Facebook, create a dish using at least one cup (8 ounces) of Florida orange juice, snap a picture and upload it to the contest tab for the chance to win a $100 culinary gift card. The contest takes place in two phases: February 21 – March 7 and March 8 – March 22. Following each contest entry period, culinary experts will select the grand prize winner based on overall appeal, creativity and culinary presentation. Entry photos may be displayed on the Facebook page. For contest updates, rules and more information, please visit the Florida Orange Juice Facebook page and follow @OJfromFlorida on Twitter.

Juicy Scoop Recipe Photo Contest
To enter, "like" Juicy Scoop on Facebook, create a dish with Florida grapefruit or its juice, take a picture and submit on the contest tab. One grand prize winner will be chosen during each entry period and awarded a $100 gift card to a culinary supply retailer, grocer or fitness apparel merchandiser. The contest takes place in three phases: February 25 – March 17; March 18 – April 7; and April 8 – April 28. The grand prize winners will be selected by culinary experts based on overall appeal, creativity and culinary presentation. Entry photos may be featured on the Facebook page. For contest updates, rules and more information, please visit the Florida Grapefruit Juicy Scoop Facebook page and follow @JuicyScoop on Twitter.

About the Florida Department of Citrus
The Florida Department of Citrus is an executive agency of Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida citrus industry. Its activities are funded by a tax paid by growers on each box of citrus that moves through commercial channels. The industry employs nearly 76,000 people, provides an annual economic impact close to $9 billion to the state, and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues that help support Florida's schools, roads and health care services. For more information about the Florida Department of Citrus, please visit www.floridajuice.com. 

The Florida Department of Citrus is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Agency. The Florida Department of Citrus prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities based on race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 

For more information contact:
Jen Davis
GolinHarris
(312) 729-4248
[email protected]

SOURCE Florida Department of Citrus