2013 Best Salsa in the World Contest – LAST CALL!!!
Since it was a huge hit last year, (55 jars of salsas submitted last year), we are doing it again. The most important factor in this salsa contest is to raise money for the Snowdrop Foundation which helps with Children’s Cancer research and support. All salsa entries are $5/salsa with 2 jars of salsa per entry to be submitted, but we will gladly accept more $$$ because 100% of the proceeds are given to the Snowdrop Foundation. If you did not hear about this salsa contest last year, we are sponsoring it in conjunction with the Houston Hot Sauce Festival. The salsa entered can be from anywhere, but must be manufactured in a legal kitchen and have nutritional and ingredient declarations on the label. No fresh salsa will be allowed, only sealed jars to be as fair as possible. We had 2 categories last year – traditional and fruit-based. We have now added in a black bean/black bean & corn salsa category. You can enter as many salsa categories as you desire. Who knows you might win them all.
All categories will be judged separately, but with the same grade scale:
1- Flavor/Taste- (scoring) 1 – 10 pts
2- Appearance- 1 – 5 pts
3- Addictability- 1 – 5 pts (See the definition at Urban Dictionary HERE)
4- Aroma- +1/-1 (most salsas have a neutral scent, so only points will be given or subtracted if the salsa either is exceptional in smell or makes your nostrils close).
ALL submissions whether they are shipped or received at the start of the Houston Hot Sauce Festival must first be acknowledged by me via email at al******@ya***.com by August 31st if shipping or Sept 7th if giving to us at show. So if you sent an email to me, and have not received a response in return, you better try again. If you have posted on Facebook, ILoveItSpicy or the Show page your intentions, that is not good enough. You need to contact me your intent via email. Late submissions will not be accepted. We announced this over 5 months ago, so if you knew then you wanted in, then you should’ve followed up by now. The deadline for receipt is Saturday September 7th, 2 weeks before the show.
- If you are vending at the show you can hand it to us, but you still need to inform me exactly what your entries will be by SEPT 7th via email.
We will begin sampling the salsa before the show even opens on September 21st, and during the award ceremony we will announce our winning salsas. If you think you have the salsa of champions and want to pit yourself against the very best of salsa out there, then this is your chance to put your salsa where our mouths is/are. No fresh salsa is allowed in the contest, only jarred, professionally labeled products are permitted.
If you wish to help out even if you are not a part of the salsa contest then please do.
Send your all your salsa entries & donations (checks and money orders made out to the Snowdrop Foundation) to:
ILoveItSpicy Salsa Contest
Houston Hot Sauce Festival
12327 Piping Rock
Houston, TX 77077
Remember, simply shipping and bringing your salsa to the show is not going to get your salsa into the contest. Here again are the deadlines to meet:
1- If shipping, you must inform me via email what you will be entering by August 31st
2- If submitting at show, you must inform me via email what you will be entering by Sept 7th
3- Mailing salsa must be received by Sept 7th
4- Salsa submitted at show must be turned into festival staff before 9am. Salsa judging will begin at 9:15am once all salsa is prepared for blind tasting. Late entries will not be able to participate.
Details on attending the Houston Hot Sauce Show can be found by clicking the web banner to the left of the page. I look forward to seeing everyone there, but especially trying all those great salsa entries.
Houston Hot Sauce Show
Website: www.HoustonHotSauce.com
Location:
Stafford Centre
10505 Cash Road
Stafford, TX 77477
Festival Hours:
Sept 21, 2012 11 a.m. to 6 pm
Sept. 22, 2012 noon to 5 pm
Admission to be announced and parking is free.
Chile-dren under 12 will receive free admission.
Vendor Information: CLICK ME
Why is nutritional information required on the label when it is not required by the FDA if the manufacturer has a nutritional labeling exemption on file with the FDA? I’ve seen other contests have the same requirement listed in the rules. Thanks-
Got turned on to this the other day. It could be of assistance in concern with the Nutritional labeling: http://www.livingcookbook.com/product/movies/nutritional-calculator.aspx
Just a thought,
Vincent
If the salsa is sold within your own state, you follow the state’s guidelines, but once it is sold out of state, you have to follow the FDA guidelines. I do not planning on reading every state’s guidelines as it pertains to what they allow. I have to protect my judges against illegal kitchens, and the only way I can is to make sure these rules are followed. Otherwise any Tom, Dick & Harry can make their own fabricated label and stick it on a jar of their homemade product.