Professional bakers can show off their skills at the fourth annual America's Best Raisin Bread Contest. Sponsored by the California Raisin Marketing Board, the contest aims to discover the best California Raisin Breads in North America and to recognize outstanding bakers and formulas that are relevant in today’s real-world baking industry. Applications are due Aug. 1.

Bakers can enter in one or all of the three contest categories — Artisan, Commercial and Breakfast — and the Top 9 professional finalists from each will be chosen to compete in the final bake-off.


Of those 27 professional finalists, prizes will be awarded to three winners from each professional category. Those nine winners along with three winners from the student categories will receive a trip to sunny California including tours of the San Joaquin Valley, Yosemite Valley and the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, as well as industry-wide publicity.

For more information, contest rules and the application, go towww.loveyourraisins.com. You can also go to Facebook and likeCalifornia Raisins, where you will find regular updates, event photos and posts.