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 Real California Pizza Contest (the “Contest”) is sponsored by the 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 Contest starts at 12:00:01 AM Pacific Time (PT) on 3/20/25 and ends at 11:59:59 PM PT on 5/16/25 (“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, 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. 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 pizza recipes using Real California Cheeses which are defined as a cow’s milk cheese made with 100% milk from California dairy farms, a list of which is found on the CMAB Foodservice Website found at https://realcaliforniamilkfoodservice.com/.

How to enter:  During the Contest Entry Period go to https://realcaliforniamilkfoodservice.com/pizza-contest/ (“Real California Pizza Contest Website”), click on the Enter Now page and submit an entry into one of the three categories using Real California Cheeses (which are listed on the CMAB Website: https://www.realcaliforniamilk.com/cheese-types).

• Category #1. On the Menu: An innovative pizza recipe already on your regular menu or a recipe available as a seasonal item or special Limited Time Offer. Dairy must be a key ingredient, as each recipe must contain Real California Mozzarella and a minimum of one other Real California cheese or dairy products.
• Category #2. The Big Cheese: A new creative take on America’s favorite…the cheese pizza. This all-cheese recipe must feature Real California Mozzarella and a minimum of two other Real California cheeses.
• Category #3. Innovative Wildcard: This pizza is your chance to wow the judging team with an original cheese-centric recipe that must include Real California Mozzarella, a minimum of one other Real California cheese or dairy product, and wherever else your kitchen creativity takes you.

Note: All entries in the On the Menu and Innovative Wildcard categories must include Real California Mozzarella, other Real California Cheeses and Dairy products, and have no more than three (3) additional toppings (crust/dough, sauce, and spices do not count as toppings). Entries in The Big Cheese category must include Real California Mozzarella and only other Real California Cheeses and Dairy products as toppings.

Each Entry requires the submission of (1) a completed entry form with your name, contact information, Pizza Category selection and your professional or culinary school affiliation (“Entry Form”); (2) an ingredient list that specifies all ingredients and Real California Cheeses, including brand names, that are used in your pizza recipe (“Ingredients”); (3) a photo (s) of the prepared and baked pizza (“Photo”); and (4) a 2-3 sentence description (“Description”). The Entry Form, Ingredients, Photo, and Description are collectively referred to as an “Entry(ies)”. Each person submitting an Entry is an Entrant. There are no limits to the number of entries per person. Entrant may enter one or multiple recipes in this contest. Entrant must fill out one entry form for each entry submitted.

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 the Sponsor believes it fails to conform. Your Entry must comply with the following and by entering you represent and warrant and agree that:

• Your Ingredients, Photo, and/or Description are created by you and are not copied from any other copyrighted work and do not infringe upon the rights of any third party;
• The Photo should only depict the prepared and baked Pizza prepared in accordance with your Recipe;
• 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 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 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, 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 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 winner.  A team of judges selected by Sponsor will judge the eligible Entries based on the Pizza Categories and criteria below. The decisions of the judges are final and binding on all matters relating to the Contest.

Preliminary Round:  Entries will be judged by judges from the California Milk Advisory Board, or its designees from among eligible Entries received in each of the three Pizza Categories as follows: (1) the Name of the Entry and a brief description explaining why it is applicable to the Pizza Category (10%); (2) the Photo (s) of the Entry and its appropriateness to the applicable Pizza Category (10%); (3) the creative and inventive use of California dairy products (40%); and (4) flavor expectations for the entry (40%); (collectively, “Preliminary Round Judging Criteria”). In the event of a tie, the tying Entries will be determined by the score received for the use of California dairy products. In the event of a further tie, the tying Entries will be re-judged based on the name of the Entry and its description to the applicable Pizza Category and advertising. The top four scoring Entries in each Pizza Category (for a total of 12) will be selected as potential Finalists who can participate in the Cook Off.

Required Verification and Documentation for 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, 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 in order to participate in the Finalist Cook Off Round (“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 Attend the Cook Off for any reason, the potential Finalist will forfeit the opportunity to compete and the next runner up in the same Pizza Category 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 Cook Off 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 winner in the applicable Pizza Category, in the sole discretion of the Sponsor.

Selected Finalists must be able to participate in an in-person Cook Off (“Cook Off”), presently scheduled to be held in the San Francisco Bay area (“Location”) on July 29 and 30, 2025. Details to be determined in the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Travel and accommodations will be provided to the Finalists as follows: coach airfare for one from a major airport near to their home, and/or ground transportation, and 2 nights hotel accommodations to be determined in the sole discretion of the Sponsor. If a Finalist is within 200 miles of the Location, ground transportation may be substituted for airfare.

Finalist Final Cook Off Round:  The 12 Finalists will compete in the Cook Off and will be judged based on their live presentations and live bakes of their submitted Entries in each of the three Pizza Categories to select a Category Winner in each Pizza Category and an overall Grand Prize Winner. All potential winners may be subject to a background check.

The Finalists and their Entries will be judged by a judging panel at the Cook Off as follows: (1) Live Inspiration Presentation to the Judges (10%, which will be judged based on a combination of personal background, inspiration for the Entry, speaking and presentation skills, and charisma); (2) pizza flavor (35%); (3) the inventive use of California dairy products (25%); (4) commercial viability (15%); (5) pizza texture (10%); and (6) The Pizza Name (5%) (collectively, “Final Judging Criteria”). In the event of a tie, the tying Finalist Entries will be determined by the score received for use of California dairy products. In the event of a further tie, the tying Finalist Entries will be re-judged based on the Live Inspiration Presentation scores of the Finalists. The top scoring Entry in each Pizza Category will be the Category Winner, and the top scoring Entry across all three Pizza Categories will be the Grand Prize 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.

Prizes: The Grand Prize Winner will receive $5,000. The Category Winner in each Pizza Category will receive $5,000. Each Finalist who is not a Category Winner will also receive a cash award of $1,000. All Finalists and their Entries will be considered for media coverage by the Sponsor. 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 any U.S. winner if the prize awarded exceeds $600, as required by law.

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, 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 (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 winners from among all eligible 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, Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify the 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 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 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 winners (which will be available within 30 days after the Contest ends), mail a self-addressed, envelope to: The California Milk Advisory Board, Pizza 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.