The International Chocolate Awards, the world’s largest and most respected fine chocolate competition, returns to New York for its biggest event of the year, the Americas Competition.

And this year there’s new categories for micro-batch chocolate makers. The categories were added to recognize the leading role that the U.S. craft chocolate scene has played in this world-wide movement.

The competition will be accepting submissions until April 24. Judging will be held in the New York City area April 26-30 at the Horticultural Society of New York in Manhattan and at Ultramarinos in Hoboken, N.J.

Founded in 2012, The International Chocolate Awards are run by a group of independent international partners based in the UK, Italy and the USA, with years of experience tasting and evaluating chocolate and running fine chocolate related events. The rules and judging are overseen by the group’s permanent Grand Jury members, Country Partners and independent experts, who set the rules of the awards based on ongoing consultation with the entrants.

The Americas Competition is one of 11 competitions taking place in 2015, the other rounds being held in France, Italy/Mediterranean, Belgium, Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada and the World Final in London in October.

Maricel Presilla, the awards co-founder and grand jury member, says in the four years since starting the Americas competition, the number of entries has continued to grow in number and quality.

“The competition showcases the widespread revolutionary changes that have transformed the chocolate industry in the last two decades,” Presilla says.

For information on eligibility, how to enter the competition and critical dates. visit the International Chocolate Awards website. The competition admission fee is USD $65 plus USD $40 for each entry.