Buy Haywood - Value-Added Product Search

Call for Entries

 

Deadline: 5:00 p.m., Monday, June 16, 2008

 

The Basics:

What: The Buy Haywood Market Development Project is seeking submissions for a new or existing value-added product that utilizes large, tasty, vine-ripe Haywood County tomatoes.

Why: To promote value-added products that will be available year round, and to support local farmers participating in the Buy Haywood project.

Who can enter: Anyone who is seriously interested in developing, marketing, and selling a value-added product using Haywood County tomatoes.

When: Submission deadline is 5:00 p.m., Monday, June 16, 2008. Product sample, recipe and overall business plan must be dropped off at: Haywood County Economic Development Commission, 144 Industrial Park Drive, Waynesville NC 28786; phone 828-456-3737.

Submissions must include:

1. Application form

2. Recipe for value-added product using Haywood County tomatoes. (Actual Haywood County tomatoes will not be available before the deadline, so another source is acceptable for the prototype.) The recipe developer will be the owner of both the recipe and the product.

3. Actual sample of value-added product for 6 judges to taste. (Limit to approximately 12 ounces.)

4. Business plan outline to include: marketing plan; production plan (incl. projected annual volume); packaging plan; and label and overall design. Please limit each section to one page or less.

Judging Criteria:

Entrants will be judged on marketability within local, regional, and national markets; mass appeal and competition; and taste. Categories are broken down as follows:
• Product: taste, appearance, and appeal (50%)

• Business Plan Outline (50%)

Important Dates:

• Monday, June 16: All contest materials and product samples must be submitted to the Haywood County EDC before 5:00 p.m. EDT.

• Monday, June 30: A panel of judges from the Buy Haywood project will determine the winner and two runner-ups.

• Monday, July 7 (and beyond): Buy Haywood will send out a press release to publicize the top three winners and their products.

The winners will also receive marketing support worth thousands of dollars from the Buy Haywood marketing team (see more information below).

Support for the Winners:

In addition to the press release announcing the winners, the Buy Haywood Team will assist with product development and promotion through the following:

• promotion through other Buy Haywood activities, such as listings on our website (www.buyhaywood.com); promotion at our festival booths (e.g., Canton Mater Fest); and delivery of product samples to grocers and restaurants and other potential product buyers;

• thousands of dollars of print and radio advertisements to announce the contest winners, thanks to financial support from the Golden LEAF Foundation

• value-added product development guidance and assistance from North Carolina Cooperative Extension and Blue Ridge Food Ventures

• business development support from the Haywood County Economic Development Commission

• small business development counseling, training, and resource library access through Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center

• promotional support through the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce

• marketing and promotional assistance from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.

Please note that some of the support from our partners may require completion of separate forms, as well as fees for certain support activities.

For more information:

For more information, please call Bryan Sullivan, 828-273-2275; Liisa Sullivan, 828-645-6447; or George Ivey, 828-648-2710.