This year’s America’s Best Raisin Bread Contest for professional and student bakers, hosted by the California Raisin Marketing Board (CRMB), Fresno, Calif., includes 36 finalists. Nine finalists from each Professional Category (Wholesale/Commercial Raisin Bread; Artisan Raisin Bread; and Breakfast item) and three from each Student Category have been selected to participate in the final bake-off, scheduled for Oct. 11-13, at the American Institute of Baking, Manhattan, Kan.

Twelve winners will receive a five-day trip to California, scheduled for spring 2013. In addition, CRMB will publish a book containing the bake-off’s winning formulas.

The contest is designed on behalf of CRMB’s California raisin growers to increase awareness of the endless varieties of bread products that can be made with California raisins. The California raisin industry seeks to help commercialize as many California raisin breads as possible for consumers to enjoy.

For more information about CRMB, visit www.loveyourraisins.com or www.calraisins.org.