NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER. Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia, age 18 or older who are either employed or otherwise professionally affiliated with a restaurant or pizzeria or enrolled in an accredited secondary culinary school. Entries must be received between 12:00:01 AM Pacific Time (PT) on 1/08/24 and 11:59:59 PM Pacific Time on 2/16/24. See Official Rules. Void where prohibited by law. Sponsor: California Milk Advisory Board.
THE GREAT MOZZARELLA SHOWDOWN RECIPE CONTEST 2024 OFFICIAL RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
Promotion: The Great Mozzarella Showdown Recipe Contest (the “Contest”) is sponsored by California Milk Advisory Board, 2156 W Grant Line Road, Suite 100, Tracy, CA 95377 (“Sponsor”). The California Milk Advisory Board is an Instrumentality of the California Department of Food & Agriculture. The entry period for the Contest starts at 12:00:01 AM Pacific Time (PT) on 1/08/24 and ends at 11:59:59 PM PT on 2/16/24 (“Contest Entry Period”).
Who may enter: Contest open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older as of the time of Entry and are either employed or otherwise professionally affiliated with a restaurant or pizzeria or enrolled in an accredited secondary culinary school. Employees, officers, and directors of Sponsor, The Food Connector, California Department of Food & Agriculture, and or all other companies associated with this Contest (“Contest Entities”), and members of their immediate families (spouse, parents, siblings and children) or households are not eligible to participate. In addition, corporate entities, like distributors, that receive funds from the CMAB are not eligible. Contest is subject to all applicable U.S. federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited by law.
The Purpose of The Contest: Sponsor is looking for the best dishes (“Dish”) based on a recipe using “Real California Mozzarella” which are defined as a cow’s milk cheese made from California dairy farms, a list of which is found on the CMAB Foodservice Website found at https://www.realcaliforniamilk.com/foodservice which celebrate the creative diversity of specialty ethnic cheeses made in California.
How to enter: During the Contest Entry Period go to https://www.realcaliforniamilk.com/foodservice (“CMAB Foodservice Website”), click on the Contest icon and submit your entry.
Category #1: Mozzarella
Category #2: Fresh Mozzarella
Each Entry requires the submission of (1) a completed entry form with your name, contact information, your professional or culinary school affiliation, and selected contest category for the recipe (“Entry Form”); (2) the name of your dish (“Dish Name”); (3) the primary ingredients (making sure to include ALL dairy ingredients) (“Primary and Dairy Ingredients”); (4) two photographs – one of the prepared dish and the other of the cooked, finished dish; (5) a description of the dish, with length limited to a maximum of 250 words, that describes how Mozzarella is the star of the dish.
Each person submitting an Entry is an Entrant. Entrant may enter one or multiple recipes in one or both categories in this Contest. The same recipe may not be submitted in both categories. Please fill out one entry form for each recipe submitted.
Recipes submitted in either category must include Mozzarella cheese, or Fresh Mozzarella, to be accepted into the contest. Variations of Mozzarella, such as Burrata and Stracciatella, are acceptable for use.
Dishes considered to be pizza, pasta, or traditional entrées will not be accepted into the contest. Sponsor retains sole discretion in determining whether each individual entry is considered a pizza, pasta, or traditional entrée recipe.
Use of any automated system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification. In the event of a dispute as to any Entry, the Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify the Entry.
Requirements of Entries: By submitting an Entry you agree that it conforms to the guidelines and content restrictions below and that Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may disqualify your Entry from the Contest if it believes it fails to conform. Your Entry must comply with the following and by entering you represent and warrant and agree that:
Your Entry Form, Dish Name, Primary and Dairy Ingredients, and Descriptions are created by you and are not copied from any other copyrighted work and do not infringe upon the rights of any third party;
Your Entry does not contain any third party copyrighted material or prominent use of branded products, trademarks or logos other than the brands of Real California Cheeses (a list of which is found on the CMAB Foodservice Website);
Your Entry must not disparage Sponsor, or any other person or party affiliated with the Contest;
Your Entry must not contain material that Sponsor deems to be inappropriate, indecent, obscene, hateful, tortious, defamatory, slanderous or libelous;
Your Entry must not contain material that Sponsor deems to promote bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or to promote discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; and
The Entry must not contain material that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to any applicable laws or regulations.
License: Entrants retain ownership of the Entry and Finalist Entry they submit, however, by entering you grant Sponsor and any organizations affiliated with the sponsorship, fulfillment, administration, prize support, advertisement or promotion of the Contest, the perpetual, fully-paid, irrevocable, non-exclusive license to reproduce, prepare derivate works of, distribute, display, exhibit, transmit, broadcast, televise, digitize, otherwise use, and permit others to use and perform throughout the world the Entry and Finalist Entry (and any elements thereof), in whole or in part, in any manner, form, or format now or hereinafter created, including on the internet, and for any purpose, including, but not limited to, advertising or promotion of Sponsor, Real California Cheeses, and the Contest, and a recipe book, all without further consent from or payment to you or any persons. The Entries may be published and posted online but you agree that Sponsor has no obligation to post or publish your Entry, that all such postings or publication, if any, will be in Sponsor’s sole discretion and that the posting or publication of an Entry does not guarantee the Entry is a winner. You will hold harmless Contest Entities, and their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotional agencies, from any claim by any third party relating to any rights in the Entry.
Selection of Winner: There will be two rounds to determine the Category Winners; a preliminary round and a finalist round. A team of judges selected by Sponsor will judge the eligible Entries based on the criteria below for each round. The decisions of the judges are final and binding on all matters relating to the Contest.
Preliminary Round: Entries will be judged from February 21, 2024 through February 28, 2024 by judges selected by the California Milk Advisory Board, or its designees, from among eligible Entries received during the Contest Entry Period to select the top eight (8) Entries based on the following criteria:
Use of California Mozzarella – 33.3%
Recipe Innovation – 33.3%
Flavor Expectations – 33.3%
In the event of a tie, the tying Entries will be determined by the score received for Use of California Mozzarella. In the event of a further tie, the tying Entries will be re-judged based on the score received for Recipe Innovation. The top eight (8) scoring Entries will be selected as potential Finalists and will be notified on or about February 29, 2024.
Required Verification and Documentation for Potential Finalists. All potential Finalists will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility with verification of professional or school affiliation, non-exclusive license to the Entry and Finalist Entry (defined herein) to be submitted and permission to conduct a background check if they are selected as a potential winner, and a release of liability, and an agreement to participate in publicity if selected as a winner (“collectively, Release”). The Release must be signed and returned within 7 days of the date on the Release. If a potential Finalist is a minor as determined by the laws of the jurisdiction in which s/he resides (“Minor’), the Minor’s parent or legal guardian will have to sign the Release on the Minor’s behalf. If a potential Finalist does not respond to the winner notification email (email will be sent 3 times over a 5 day period), or if said email is returned as undeliverable, does not return the executed Release within 7 days, or if an Entrant is otherwise found to be ineligible, does not provide required information, or if the selected Finalist cannot make the required submissions for any reason, the potential Finalist will forfeit the opportunity to compete and the next runner up will be selected. The Sponsor reserves the right to modify the notification procedures in connection with the selection of an alternate Finalist, if any. In the event after the Contest any potential winner is disqualified based on any criteria, including the results of a background check, the next runner up will be selected as the Finalist and/or Category Winner in the sole discretion of the Sponsor.
Finalist Round: The eight selected Finalists must be able to submit their Finalist Entry no later than March 15, 2024 to participate in the Finalist Round. The Finalist Entry must include the detailed recipe card which will be emailed to each Finalist.
Finalists’ Prize: Eight finalists will be selected as winners as a result of the initial recipe submission and judging. They will receive a prize of $2,000 each. In addition, the recipes from the eight finalists will be a part of the final cook-off where a winning recipe will be selected in each category, with those two Category Winners receiving an additional $2,000 ($4,000 total).
Finalist Cook-Off Round: The Finalists Entries will be judged on or around April 8-11, 2024, and two Category Winners will be selected at this time based on the criteria similar to round one. In the event of a further tie, the tying Finalist Entries will be re-judged based on Recipe Innovation. The top scoring Finalist Entry in each category will be named the Category Winner.
Publicity: Entry and acceptance of Finalist status constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use each winner’s name, prize won, hometown and likeness for promotional purposes without further compensation.
Category Winners: The Category Winners will each receive an additional prize of $2,000.
All Finalists and their Entries will be considered for media coverage by the Sponsor in its sole discretion.
Finalists and Category Winners are responsible for all local, state and federal taxes and fees, if any, on the cash prize received. Prize is non-transferrable and there is no substitution for any prize, except in the sole discretion of the Sponsor. An IRS form 1099 will be filed in the name of the Finalists and the Category Winners.
Conditions: Entrants on their behalf, and on behalf of their respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns (“Releasing Parties”), release, defend and hold harmless the Contest Entities, and their respective employees, officers, directors and agents (“Released Parties”), from any and all claims, lawsuits, judgments, causes of action, proceedings, demands, fines, penalties, liability (including, but not limited to, liability for defamation, libel, slander, invasion of privacy, infringement of publicity or any intellectual property rights, any property loss, damage, personal injury, bodily injury, death, expense, accident, delay, inconvenience or irregularity, and any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive or exemplary damages of any kind (even if the parties have been advised of the possibility of such loss or damages), costs and expenses (including, without limitation, outside attorneys’ fees) that may arise in connection with: (a) the Contest, including but not limited to any Contest-related activity or element thereof, and the Entrant’s Entry or Finalist Entry, participation or inability to participate in the Contest or use or misuse of any prize, (b) the violation of any third party privacy, personal, publicity or proprietary rights, (c) typographical errors in these Official Rules or any Contest materials, (d) acceptance, receipt, delivery of, possession, defects in, use, non-use, misuse, inability to use, loss, damage, destruction, negligence or willful misconduct in connection with the Contest or use of a prize (or any component thereof), (e) any change in the judging or prizing (or any components thereof) due to unavailability, business or creative considerations, or due to reasons beyond Sponsor’s control, including but not limited to by reason of any acts of God, any action, regulation, order or request by any governmental or quasi-governmental entity (whether or not such action, regulation, order or request proves to be invalid), equipment failure, threatened or actual terrorist acts, earthquake, war, fire, flood, explosion, unusually severe weather, hurricane, embargo, labor dispute or strike (whether legal or illegal), labor or material shortage, transportation interruption of any kind, work slow-down, civil disturbance, insurrection, riot, or any other cause beyond any of the Contest Entities’ control, or as otherwise permitted in these Official Rules, (f) any interruptions in or postponement, cancellation, or modification of the Contest, including the Cook-Off, (g) human error, (h) the failure of any third party to comply with the instructions and proper administration of this Contest (i) incorrect or inaccurate transcription, receipt or transmission of any part of the Entry or Finalist Entry (including, without limitation, the information or any parts thereof), (j) any technical malfunctions or unavailability of any website or any telephone network, computer system, online system, computer timing and/or dating mechanism, equipment, software, or Internet service provider, or mail service utilized by any of the Contest Entities or by an Entrant, (k) interruption or inability to access the Contest, any website or any online service via the Internet due to hardware or software compatibility problems, (l) any damage to Entrant’s (or any third person’s) hardware and/or its contents related to or resulting from any part of the Contest, (m) any lost/delayed data transmissions, omissions, interruptions, defects, and/or any other errors or malfunctions, (n) any late, lost, stolen, mutilated, misdirected, illegible, delayed, garbled, corrupted, destroyed, incomplete, undeliverable or damaged Entries, (o) any wrongful, negligent, or unauthorized act or omission on the part of any of Sponsor, or any of its agents or employees, (p) lost, late, stolen, misdirected, damaged or destroyed prizing (or any element thereof), (q) the collection, use and/or sharing of Entrant’s personally identifiable information by Sponsor or its designees, or (r) the negligence or willful misconduct by Entrant. Sponsor reserves the right to permanently disqualify from any Contest it sponsors any person it believes has intentionally violated these Official Rules and terminate the Contest if it becomes technically corrupted (including if a virus or system malfunction inalterably impairs its ability to conduct the Contest), or to select the Finalists or Category Winners from among all eligible Entries or Finalist Entries received prior to termination. If Sponsor at any time receives a complaint (including but not limited to a cease and desist letter, general letter of complaint etc.) alleging intellectual property infringement or any other violation of any third party right pertaining to any element of an Entry or Finalist Entry, Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify the Entry or Finalist Entry. By participating, Entrant acknowledges that Sponsor, does not waive any rights to use similar or related ideas that might be contained in an Entry or Finalist Entry which is otherwise not protected by law or was previously known to Sponsor or developed by their respective employees, or obtained from sources other than the Entrant. If fewer qualified Entries or Finalist Entries are received than the stated number of Finalists, Sponsor may name a fewer number of Finalists or cancel the Contest in its sole discretion.
Disputes; Governing Law. The parties waive all rights to trial in any action or proceeding instituted in connection with these Official Rules, including, without limitation, the Contest. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to these Official Rules and/or the Contest shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association pursuant to the United States Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sections 1 through 16. Any such controversy or claim shall be arbitrated on an individual basis and shall not be consolidated in any arbitration with any claim or controversy of any other party. The arbitration shall be conducted in the State of California. THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND THE INTERPRETATION OF ITS TERMS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS RULES. For any matters which are not subject to arbitration as set forth in these Official Rules and/or in connection with the entering of any judgment on an arbitration award in connection with these Official Rules and/or the Contest, the parties irrevocably submit and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in San Joaquin, California. The parties agree not to raise the defense of forum non conveniens.
Limitation of Liability; Disclaimer of Warranties. IN NO EVENT WILL THE RELEASED ENTITIES BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ACCESS TO AND/OR USE OF ANY WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTEST AND/OR DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM ANY WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTEST OR ANY ENTRY SUBMISSION. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THIS CONTEST IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.
CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION FROM PARTICIPATION. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES, INCLUDING ATTORNEY FEES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. SPONSOR’S FAILURE TO ENFORCE ANY TERM OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF ANY SUCH PROVISION.
Winner’s list: For the names of the Finalists and/or Category Winners (which will be available within 30 days after the Contest ends), mail a self-addressed, envelope to: The California Milk Advisory Board, The Great Mozzarella Showdown Recipe Contest Winners, 2156 W Grant Line Road, Suite 100, Tracy, CA 95377 no later than 60 days after the Contest ends.
Privacy: All information submitted by you as part of this Contest will be treated in accordance with Sponsor’s Privacy Policy (accessible from https://www.realcaliforniamilk.com/privacy-policy). By participating in this Contest, Entrants acknowledge and agree that all information and material, including any personal information provided in your Entry materials, will be shared with Sponsor’s agents, representatives, and other third parties involved in the execution, administration, or hosting of this Contest, and may be further publicized as described above as permitted by law. In the event of any conflict between these Official Rules and the terms of Sponsor’s Privacy Policy, these Official Rules shall govern.
