Jam / Jelly / Chutney Contest

PRIZES

Blue (1st place), red (2nd place), and white (3rd place) ribbons will be awarded in the following category:

• Best Jam/Jelly/Chutney

RULES

1. Individuals may not submit more than two entries.

2. Entries must be properly processed and sealed according to accepted safe-canning procedures.

3. Entries must be based on recipes from trusted published sources, such as the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving or the United States Department of Agriculture Complete Guide to Home Canning. Helpful websites on canning are available at http://www.uga.edu/nchfp or http://www.freshpreserving.com/getting-started.

4. Entries must include the source of the recipe and the complete recipe, including the processing method and time, and the size of the jar. 

5. All entries must be exhibited in clear glass, standard home-canning jars in half-pint (8 oz.), pint (16 oz.), or quart (32 oz.) size. Products in fluted or blue-tinted jars will not be accepted. Use self-sealing jars only with two-piece metal canning lids (flat lid and band).

6. The lid (not the glass) must be labeled with the product name and the date processed. Do NOT place your name on the label, as entries will be numbered for anonymous judging.

7. All jars must be clean and have lids and bands free from mold and rust.

8. All entries must have been processed after August 23, 2024 (a year before judging). In other words, no entries should have been canned before August 23, 2024.

9. All entries must be shelf-stable. Entries preserved in alcohol, entries that require refrigeration, fermented foods, unsealed jars, entries canned with paraffin, and entries that show signs of spoilage will not be accepted.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Judges will follow the current safety recommendation of the National Center for Home Food Preservation and rate entries on characteristics other than taste. The following scoring method will be used:

1. Container (10%)

   1. Lid neatly labeled with name of product and processing date. Vacuum-sealed. Clean, clear glass standard home-canning jar of appropriate size for product and process. Matching lid and band, clean and free of rust. Band unbent and easily removed.

2. Pack (30%)

   1. Jar filled to appropriate headspace (1/2 inch). Proper balance of solids and liquids, neatly packed. Liquid covers all solids. No floating pieces. Food pieces evenly distributed throughout jar. No vertical or horizontal layering (“fancy pack”). Spices and seasonings attractive in pack. 

3. Liquid (20%)

   1. Clear with no unnatural cloudiness. Free of bubbles, sediment, mold, and foreign matter (stems, cores etc.).  

4. Color (20%)

   1. Even color characteristic of cooked product. No artificial coloring. Color and translucency uniform throughout the jar. Free of discoloration or blemishes on food pieces. 

5. Texture/Consistency (20%)

   1. Pieces appear plump, not shriveled or shrunken. Food pieces evenly sliced or chopped. Pleasing aroma appropriate for product; no indication of spoilage. Spices and seasonings not overwhelming. Jams are made from crushed fruits cooked to a smooth consistency that will mound up on a spoon but not jelly firm. 

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Register for the jam/jelly/chutney contest at https://www.dcstatefair.org/2025-contests by 9:00 p.m. on Friday, August 15. No walk-up registrations will be accepted.

2. Bring your entry, accompanied with 1) a removable label that includes your name, the contest category, and the name of the entry and 2) a list of ingredients used in making your entry to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library at 901 G St NW on Saturday, August 23 between 11 am and 1 pm. Exact room location will be sent closer to the date.