Time is running out for entering the America’s Best Raisin Bead Contest, which runs through August 15.

Time is running out for entering the America’s Best Raisin Bead Contest, which runs through August 15.

The second annual contest is open to bakers and the research and development staff of commercial baking companies, craft bakers and retail bakery shop owners, certified baking teachers, registered students and bakery technicians working in allied industries such as bakery supply wholesalers, flour milling companies and bakery ingredients suppliers.

To qualify, formulas should be for raisin bread products planned for sale in the future or raisin bread products currently available in the market, which can be commercialized. The California Raisin Marketing Board, Fresno, Calif., is seeking the best raisin breads based on taste, appearance, originality, and value. Applications must be in baker's percentages. No one person may submit more than three entries, and applicants also must provide color photos of a cut cross section and the whole finished loaf.

In the United States, the legal standard of identity for raisin bead is 50% raisin content to dry flour weight. This is the minimum acceptable California raisin content level for the contest. It should be noted that California raisin content may be made up of California natural sun-dried raisins, California golden raisins, California raisin paste and/or California raisin juice concentrate.

Contestants may pick up applications at www.loveyourraisins.com.