Chicken Reigns Supreme in Regional Finals of National Chicken Cooking Contest

LIVINGSTON, Calif., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ — Move over, Iron Chef, and make
way for … chicken! Foster Farms will host regional cook-offs for the
National Chicken Cooking Contest on Tuesday, January 13, at its professional
kitchens. The contest, sponsored by the National Chicken Council, is one of
the longest running and most lucrative cooking contests in the nation. Winners
from this round will advance to the national cook-off in San Antonio to
compete for a $50,000 grand prize. Foster Farms is hosting the West Coast
Pacific and Mountain regional cook-offs for the first time in the contest’s 60
year history.

“We are proud to host a contest that celebrates chicken as a delicious,
versatile and affordable staple in the American diet,” said Ira Brill,
Director of Marketing Services at Foster Farms. “According to a survey we
conducted recently, 63 percent of consumers prefer to use chicken as a protein
source when preparing a meal for nutrition and budget considerations. The
National Chicken Cooking Contest allows the nation’s best home cooks to share
their inspiration in the kitchen at a time when many of us are spending more
nights eating in and preparing meals from scratch.”

Foster Farms’ top chef, Mark Tadros, will prepare the competing dishes for
noteworthy culinary experts and NCC contest judges Narsai David (restaurateur
and food personality), Jenn Garbee (Los Angeles Times food writer) and Teresa
Farney (Colorado Springs Gazette food editor), who will taste and rate each
recipe. One winner from each region will win $1,000 and head to the national
cook-off, where nine regional winners from across the U.S. will compete for
the grand prize on May 2. The Pacific region comprises Alaska, California,
Hawaii, Oregon and Washington; the Mountain region comprises Arizona,
Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Montana, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming.

About The National Chicken Council

The National Chicken Cooking Contest is one of the top competitive cooking
events in the country. It is sponsored by the National Chicken Council, the
chicken industry’s trade association. The Council represents integrated
chicken producer-processors, the companies that produce, process and market
chickens. Member companies of NCC account for approximately 95 percent of the
chicken sold in the United States.

About Foster Farms

Founded by Max and Verda Foster in 1939, Foster Farms continues today as a
family-owned and operated company. Foster Farms ready-to-cook, fresh chicken
is all natural with no preservatives or sodium-based additives. For more than
70 years, families in the Western United States have trusted Foster Farms for
the highest-quality, locally raised, fresh chicken. Foster Farms conducted a
consumer survey released in December 2008 that took a look at attitudes toward
the economy and changing spending habits at the grocery store. For survey
data, visit: http://www.fosterfarms.com/twc/survey.html

According to the Foster Farms survey, here’s how consumers are spending
and eating in the New Year:

    --  63.1% of consumers prefer to use chicken as a protein source when
        preparing a healthy and affordable meal.
    --  35% report they are eating healthier in this economy.
    --  63% substitute eating out with eating in at least once a week.
    --  67% eat leftovers two or more times per week.
    --  60% report buying fewer convenience foods.

SOURCE Foster Farms