THE GREAT CSA SMACKDOWN

in

THE COMPETITION:

Since 1995, Just Food has trained over 110 community groups to start and run Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) projects in NYC. CSAs buy shares in a farmers’ growing season and in return receive weekly neighborhood deliveries of fresh produce. Each week, over 36,000 CSA members experience the joys and challenges of preparing and eating all of their fresh produce.

Just Food is excited to bring this challenge to life with the GREAT CSA SMACKDOWN: a city-wide cooking competition for members of Just Food Network CSAs. Putting culinary chops and local food knowledge to the test, everyday chefs will face off in this exciting cooking competition. CSA members will be pitted against each other as they prepare a delicious dish around an assortment of ingredients directly from their CSA share! With only moments to plan and 30 minutes to cook, competitors will need to rely on their speed, skill and creativity to make the cut. Winners will advance to a city wide final-round event, representing their CSA community in the quest to come out on top of the GREAT CSA SMACKDOWN.

THE CHALLENGE:

To cook a spectacular seasonal dish using local CSA ingredients.

THE TIMELINE:

  • First Round: June to September
    • Each participating CSA is responsible for holding its own first round competition event.
    • All first round events must be completed by September 30th.
    • Just Food would love to attend if possible so please keep us in the loop as to date and time of your event – thank you!
  • Final Round: October
    • The winners from each first round competition will come together for a final-round event hosted by Just Food.
    • Venue and exact date: TBD

FIRST ROUND REQUIREMENTS:

  • Each CSA Will Provide:
    • Location
      • Individual CSAs will be responsible for finding a location for their first round competition event. This can be indoors, outdoors, at the distribution site or wherever you best see fit.
      • A kitchen location is not necessary – feel free to be creative!
      • Running water would be helpful but it’s not necessary as you can always bring water to the space.
         
    • Ingredients
      • Each competitor or team should use their own CSA share from the current week. If the CSA Core Group would like to purchase additional shares for the competition (as opposed to competitors using their own), please feel free to purchase from your farmer directly. Please know we do not encourage asking your farmer for donations.
      • Each CSA is responsible for providing the following staple ingredients for the competitors to share:
             - Olive Oil
             -  Salt
             -  Pepper
             -  Vinegar
             -  Butter
             -  Eggs
      • Each individual station should include the below list of supplies. You can require your competitors to bring their own items, buy them or borrow them.
             -   1 pot
             -   1 pan
             -   1 cutting board
             -   1 knife
             -   2 mixing bowls
             -   1 heating surface (optional)*
             -   1 plug outlet (optional)

        *Butane burners (no electricity needed) can be borrowed from Just Food if available (pick-up only). Sign up and a deposit required.

    • MC
      • An MC must be chosen to host the event.
      • The MC will narrate the competition, interact with the chefs, judges and audience and bring the GREAT CSA SMACKDOWN to life.
      • The MC does not have to be a member of your CSA.
         
    • Judges
      • Three external judges must be chosen.
      • The judges can be people from your community, such as local chefs, your own CSA farmer, city council member or local principal. Think about who you want to cultivate a good relationship with!
         
    • Media
      • Competitors must submit the below form along with photos and/or video of the event to Just Food in order to proceed to the next round.
      • Please send form, photos and/or video to: paula@justfood.org
         
  • Each Competitor Can Bring:
    • Up to 3 Flavor Enhancers: spices (curry, cardamom, etc.), herbs (dill, mint, etc.) and sauces (teriyaki, soy sauce, etc.) only.
    • Up to 3 Pieces of Kitchen Equipment (i.e. knives, mandolins, food processors, whisks, etc.).

       
  • Just Food Will Provide:
    • Apron for each competitor.
    • One prize for each GREAT CSA SMACKDOWN finalist.
    • Final Round Competition Event Details ASAP.

 

FIRST ROUND RULES:

  • RULE 1: COMPETITORS
    • Competitors can compete as an individual (one person) or as a team (two people).
    • At least one person in each team needs to be a Network CSA member.
    • Each competition event must have at least 2 competitors/teams participating.
    • Total number of competitors is flexible. Please keep in mind your location capacity.
       
  • RULE 2: FOOD
    • To provide an even playing field, please confirm that all competitors have the exact same CSA share to compete with (i.e. same vegetables and quantities).
    • As stated above, each competitor can bring up to 3 flavor enhancers and 3 pieces of kitchen equipment.
    • Each competitor is free to make any type of dish they want (i.e. raw, cooked, breakfast, lunch or dinner dish)
    • Competitors should use their own CSA share from the current week unless additional shares are purchased from their CSA farmer.
    • Please try and organize your event on or close to the distribution date so that the food is as fresh as possible.
       
  • RULE 3: TIME ALLOTTED
    • Competitors will be allotted 15 minutes for washing produce and prepping their station and 30 minutes to cook a dish.
    • The MC should start and stop the official clock, and provide commentary during the 45 minutes of competition.
       
  • RULE 4: JUDGING
    • Three servings should be created for the 3 judges.
    • Judges must use the following criteria for determining the winner:
      • Taste: Up to 10 points
      • Presentation: Up to 10 points
      • Creativity: Up to 10 points
      • CSA share use: 1 point per CSA share ingredient used
    • The scores of the three judges will be added together for each competitor’s total score.
       
  • RULE 5: WINNER
    • The winner with the highest score will receive an exclusive prize and be invited to attend the finals round competitor event to compete for the ultimate title!
       

RECOMMENDED EVENT TIMING:

  • Please keep in mind that this event will be at least 2 hours (feel free to make it longer or a full day, if you want!). Just Food recommends the following timing guidelines for your competition (feel free to start your competition any time)
    • 12:00PM: Competitors arrive to set up (1 hour before competition starts).
    • 12:40PM: Competitors wash and prep ingredients (20 min).
    • 1:00PM: Competitor Starts, MC kicks off event, introduces competitors and explains the rules.
    • 1:10PM: Competitors prepare dishes (30 minutes), MC chats with competitors and audience during this time.
    • 1:40PM: Each competitor presents dish to judges and audience (1-2 minutes each).
    • 1:50PM: Judges taste, score each dish and submit winner to MC.
    • 2:00PM: MC announces winner and gives prize.

 

If you are interested in having your CSA participate, please download and fill out the sign up form (below) and send it back to us. (email: paula@justfood.org or fax: 212-645-9881)

The Great CSA Smackdown Sign Up Form: [Word]  [PDF]

The Great CSA Smackdown Toolkit: [PDF]