ORLANDO, FLA. — Top commercial, professional, amateur and junior bakers will gather April 23-25 in Orlando to compete at the 16th Annual APC/Crisco National Pie Championships. Presented by the American Pie Council with event sponsor Crisco, the competition will be held in conjunction with the 2010 Great American Pie Festival, set for April 24-25.

In 2009, commercial bakers competed in categories such as apple, blueberry, fruit/berry, open cream, citrus, open, nut and chocolate, and raisin.

For the first time, professional bakers will be able to compete in the raisin category, which is being sponsored by the California Raisin Marketing Board.

In 2009, more than 170 judges graded pies created by 138 bakers who entered 465 commercial, 130 professional and 266 amateur pies. For 2010, Best of Show winners in the amateur and professional divisions each will win $5,000, a new Sears Kenmore range and a Crisco gift basket, while the top winner in the Junior Chef division receives a $2,000 Crisco college scholarship and a Crisco gift basket. First-place ribbons and bragging rights will be awarded to winners in the commercial division.

For more information, visit www.piecouncil.org.