National Pie Championships Kick Off April 27th

I do!  So, I'm going!  And, I'll bring you all the pie news and stories from Orlando, Florida.  As a member of the press, I'll be reporting to you on:

• Amateur contestants, baking their prize pies on site at the Royale Caribe hotel and convention center. They bake on Friday, April 27, and entries will be judged and prizes awarded on Saturday..
• "Independent Bakers," those who have less than a milliion dollars in pie sales/year, will enter their pies in this new divisions of the Commercial Competition.  Their pies will be judged Friday, with awards that evening.
• Professional bakers can bake on site on Saturday.  Their judging and awards are on Sunday.
• High school students -- the future of pie! -- will bake on Saturday, with judging and awards on Sunday. 

Each category of competition has specific categories for entries.  For example, high school students can submit pies in these flavors:  apple, cream, open and fruit/berry.  The amateurs have 18 categories to choose from, including "open."  Anything goes! 

This national pie contest is sponsored by the American Pie Council and Crisco.  They've been conducting it since 1995.

Wonder what the judges are looking for?  I'll see what I can find out and let you know.

Your Pie Pal,

Rebecca Jo Dakota