California State
University, Fresno students impress judges with Billion
Dollar Energy, multi-layered and vegan almond brownie energy
cups.
MODESTO,
Calif., June 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Almond
Board of California (ABC) today
announced the winners of its Tastemaker Trials student competition,
which invited university students to create delicious almond-based
snacks that tap into the consumer trend of "intentional indulgence"
and appeal to younger generations' snacking needs.
Ciara Danay Hernandez and
Brianna Price, food science majors
from California State University,
Fresno, were named this year's winners by a panel of judges
with expertise in food, culinary science and product marketing.
Their product concept, "Billion Dollar Energy – Almond Brownie
Energy Cups," combines almonds with pea protein crisps, cacao
nibs, dates and other plant-based ingredients to create a
better-for-you, yet indulgent baked snack. The team demonstrated a
well-rounded understanding of product development, branding and
marketing. The judges included Rachel
Zemser (A La Carte Connections), Michael Freudenthal (A La Carte Connections),
Vicky Li (A La Carte Connections),
Henry Hill (Hill's Research
Kitchen), Guangwei Huang (Almond
Board of California), and
Charice Grace (Almond Board of
California).
The Tastemaker Trials tasked students with developing a new
almond-based snack while considering AI-informed consumer trends
from Tastewise as well as technical elements, nutrition, processing
and marketing. Tastewise is an AI-driven data platform that
analyzes food and beverage data from social media, recipes and more
to provide real-time insights. Each team submitted written
proposals, video pitches, recipes and product samples for judges to
evaluate. Students participated in a final Q&A with the judging
panel, and the public was invited to vote on their favorite
concept, which provided bonus points.
"This year's Tastemaker Trials submissions harnessed the
spectrum of almond benefits including versatility, nutrition and
consumer appeal to create delicious and exciting products," said
Charice Grace, manager of trade
marketing & stewardship at the Almond Board of California. "The students demonstrated that
almonds fulfill needs for intentional indulgence by not only
supporting great-tasting products, but also promoting health and
sustainability."
The judges also recognized four finalist teams from Fresno State:
- Almond Mousse Dippers, a portable, dippable snack pack
that combines crisp, thinly rolled almond flour crackers with a
fluffy and decadent almond mousse.
- Break-IT-Brittle, a fun, shareable almond brittle that
is vegan friendly with a jalapeno flavor that offers a balance of
sweet and spicy.
- Breakfast In-a-Nutshell, an instant porridge that roasts
and blends almonds to create an enjoyable texture and light
crunch.
- Waffley Nutty, an almond-based, gluten-free waffle
that's inspired by the Liège waffle and can be frozen and popped
into the toaster.
"It's very important for students to learn through real-world
examples and hands-on activities," said Dr. Jamie Levitt, the teams' advisor and assistant
professor in Fresno State's Department
of Food Science and Nutrition. "The Tastemaker Trials were a unique
opportunity for students to showcase their creativity and
problem-solving skills, while gaining experience that will prepare
them for future careers."
The Billion Dollar Energy team will receive a trip to IFT FIRST
from July 14-17, 2024, and ongoing
mentorship opportunities from the judges. Food industry members
attending the show can visit the Almond Board of California's kiosk in the Startup Pavilion to
meet this year's Tastemaker Trials winners and sample their
concept.
For ongoing updates on the competition and product innovation
with almonds, follow ABC's Nuts about Almond Inspiration LinkedIn
page.
About the Almond Board of California
California almonds make life
better by what we grow and how we grow. The Almond Board of
California promotes natural,
wholesome and quality almonds through leadership in strategic
market development, innovative research, and accelerated adoption
of industry best practices on behalf of the more than 7,600 almond
farmers and processors in California, most of whom are
multi-generational family operations. Established in 1950 and based
in Modesto, California, the Almond
Board of California is a
non-profit organization that administers a grower-enacted Federal
Marketing Order under the supervision of the United States
Department of Agriculture. For more information on the Almond Board
of California or almonds,
visit Almonds.com or check out California Almonds
on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and
the Almond Living Magazine.
CONTACT: Hannalea Resnik, hannalea.resnik@porternovelli.com
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SOURCE Almond Board of California