2015 Hawaii Food Products Recipe Contest winners announced

Two Chicks in a Hammock’s Katherine Crosby and Michelle Jones captured 2nd place in for their Hawaiian Chili Pepper Salt.

Maui Food Technology Center (MFTC) announces the winners of their 2015 Hawaii Food Products Recipe Contest, which was held this past Saturday, April 4th during the Maui County Ag Festival at the Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapu. 

Aimee Singer of Lahaina took 1st place for her Maui Ketchup, Michelle Jones and Katherine Crosby of Two Chicks in a Hammock captured 2nd place with their Hawaiian Chili Pepper Salt, and John Drager of Pukalani took 3rd place with his Hawaiian Pumpkin Soup.

Winners will receive assistance from MFTC consultants with nutritional label or food science services to help them take their product from idea to the store shelves. The 1st place winner will receive consultation services valued at $1,500, 2nd place services valued at $500, and 3rd place services valued at $250.

Recipes were judged on taste, appearance, commercial viability of recipe, and the best use of Hawaii grown and/or made ingredients. 

This year’s contest judges were Kuulei Teshima, a retired chef; Sharon Hurd, Acting Administrator Agricultural Development Division for the State Department of Agriculture; Paul Gober of Island Trays; and Jeanne Skog, CEO & President of Maui Economic Development Board.

“We were very impressed with this year’s entries and their creative use of locally made and/or grown products,” said Luana Mahi, President of the Maui Food Technology Center. “We look forward to working with the winners in helping them bring their products to store shelves for consumers to enjoy.”               

Maui Food Technology Center is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to growing Hawaii’s food industry, connecting students, food producers and farmers through the practice of food science. For more information, visit www.MauiFoodTechnology.org.