2023 SWAIN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL FAIR

Saturday, August 19, 2023
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Great Smoky Mountains Event Park
(Formally Inspiration Park)
1130 Hyatt Creek Road, Bryson City, NC 28713

Food Preservation Exhibit & Judging Information

All Food Preservation Entries must be received at the Swain County Cooperative Extension office between Monday, August 14 and  Tuesday, August, 15. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All entries must be received during this time. No exceptions.

Food Preservation entries will be judged before Saturday, August 19, 2023, and will be displayed with the winning ribbons at the Swain County Fair.

Food Preservation entries can be picked up after the Swain County Fair at the Swain County Cooperative Extension on Monday, August 21 – Wednesday August 23. Any food preservation items not picked up during this time will be disposed of.

Awards and Judging:
First, second and third place ribbons will be awarded in all classes. Entries must be the work of the exhibitor. Exhibitors are allowed more than one entry per class.

Entrant Eligibility

• Eligible entries must be preserved in the same brand of jar and lid:
  Ball® Jar sealed with Ball® Lid & Band specifically designed for home canning,
  or Kerr™ Jar sealed with a Kerr™ Lid & Band specifically designed for home canning.
• Entries must be labeled with the product name, date of preparation, processing method, and processing time (and pounds of pressure if pressure-canned). Also, include whether the food was hot or raw packed. The entry should be accompanied by the recipe used.
• All preserved foods must be prepared within a one-year (1 year) period prior to the judging.
• Unsealed products will not be judged.
• The food preservation categories are:
  Class A – Canned Fruit
  Class B – Canned Vegetables
  Class C – Preserves
  Class D – Jams, Butters, Conserves, Marmalades
  Class E – Jelly
  Class G – Pickles & Relishes

Canned goods MUST have a LABEL on the jar which states the processing method (pressure canning/boiling water bath canner) and processing time. The recommendations in the current USDA COMPLETE GUIDE TO HOME CANNING and SO EASY TO PRESERVE will be the judging standard. NOTE: The Ball Book of Canning and Preserving recommendations are not included in fair judging.

• Preserved Food Label Template
• Preserved Food Label Template 

Standard canning jars, practical size, clear class, no novelty jars. NO FABRIC “BONNETS” ON LIDS.

• CLASS A – CANNED FRUITS
  (Standard Pint or Quart Jars)
  • SCORE CARD:
    25 points – Appearance
    60 points – Uniformity: Ripeness, appropriate size, texture flavor & pack arrangement
    15 points – Container:  Appropriate size, neatness, label
    TOTAL: 100 Points
  • EXPLANATION OF SCORE CARD:
    Color: That of natural fruit.
    Clearness: Syrup or liquid clear and free of seeds, etc.
    Texture: Tender, yet not overcooked.
    Ripeness: Uniform, well-ripened products, free of defects.
    Appropriate Size: Graded sized fruits, uniform size, and shape.
    Pack: Arrangement with reference to symmetry and best use of jar space. Attractiveness of pack should be considered but no time-wasting fancy packs.
    Container: Standard canning jars, practical size, clear glass, no novelty jars. No fabric “bonnets” on jars.
  • CLASS A – CANNED FRUITS
    (Standard Pint or Quart Jars)
    2001  Apples, Sliced
    2002  Applesauce
    2006  Peaches
    2009  Pie Filling
    2010  Other Canned Fruits
• CLASS B – CANNED VEGETABLES
  (Standard Pint or Quart Jars)
  • SCORE CARD:
    25 points – Appearance: Color and Clearness of Liquid
    60 points – Uniformity: Ripeness, appropriate size, texture flavor & pack arrangement
    15 points – Container: Appropriate size, neatness, label
    TOTAL: 100 points 
  • EXPLANATION OF SCORE CARD:
    Color: That of natural vegetables.
    Clearness: Liquid clear and free of seeds, etc.
    Texture: Tender, yet no overcooked. Only young and tender vegetables should be canned.
    Ripeness: Uniform, well-ripened products, free of defects
    Appropriate Size: Graded sized vegetables, uniform in size and shape.
    Pack: Arrangement with reference to symmetry and best use of jar space. Attractiveness of pack should be considered but no time-wasting fancy packs.
    Container: Standard canning jars, practical size, clear glass, no novelty jars. No fabric “bonnets” on jars.
  • CLASS B – CANNED VEGETABLES
    (Standard Pint or Quart Jars)
    2016 Beans, Cornfield
    2017 Beans, Green
    2030 Tomatoes, Whole
    2031 Tomatoes, Cut
    2033 Other Canned Vegetables
• CLASS C – PRESERVES
  • SCORE CARD:
    FRUIT: 40 points
    • 10 points – Shape
      15 points – Clearness & Color
      10 points – Texture
      5 points – Pack
  • SYRUP: 45 points
    • 10 points – Clearness & Color
      15 points – Flavor
      10 points – Consistency
      10 points – Proportion of Juice
  • CONTAINER: 15 points
  • TOTAL: 100 points
  • EXPLANATION OF SCORE CARD:
    Shape: Original shape as nearly as possible.
    Clearness & Color: Clean; some fruits transparent; not too dark.
    Texture: Tender, but firm and plump.
    Pack: Clear juice, not too dark.
    Proportion of Juice: One-third juice; two-thirds fruit.
    Seal: Preserved should be sealed in a jar – no paraffin.
  • CLASS C – PRESERVES
    (Standard half-pint or pint jars)
    2045 Peach
    2046 Pear
    2049 Strawberry
    2052 Other Preserves
• CLASS D – JAMS, BUTTERS, CONSERVES, MARMALADES
  • SCORECARD:
    25 points – Smoothness
    50 points – Consistency & Texture
    10 points – Color and Clearness
    15 points – Container, Neatness, Label
    TOTAL: 100 points
  • EXPLANATION OF SCORECARD:
    Jams are made from crushed fruits, usually small ones, and are cooked to a smooth, jelly-like consistency. Butters usually have spices added. Conserves and marmalades usually have citrus fruits, nuts and raisins added. These should be sealed; no paraffin.
  • CLASS D – JAMS, BUTTERS, CONSERVES, MARMALADES
    (Standard half-pint or pint jars)
    2060 Apple Butter
    2061 Blackberry Jam
    2062 Blueberry Jam
    2063 Grape Jam
    2065 Pear Jam
    2068 Pear Honey (Pineapple Added)
    2071 Strawberry Jam
    2074 Other Jams, Butters, Conserves, Marmalades
    2079 Peach Jam
• CLASS E – JELLY
  • SCORECARD:
    50 points – General Appearance: (Color, Clearness, Lack of Crystals)
    35 points – Consistency
    15 points – Container and Label
    TOTAL: 100 points
  • EXPLANATION OF SCORECARD:
    Color: Pronounced, yet natural color.
    Clearness: Transparent and Sparkling.
    Crystals: Lack of – no sign of crystallization.
    Consistency: Tender; breaks with distinct cleavage; angles hold shape; should not be syrupy, sticky or tough.
    Container: Standard half-pint or pint jar; sealed.
  • CLASS E – JELLY
    (Standard half-pint or pint jars)
    2086 Blackberry
    2088 Grape
    2089 Peach
    2092 Strawberry
    2093 Blueberry
    2094 Other Jelly
• CLASS G – PICKLES & RELISHES
  • SCORE CARD
    20 points  – Size and Shape
    30 points  – Texture
    15 points  – Color
    20 points  – Proportion of Pickle to liquid
    15 points  – Container and Label
    TOTAL: 100 points
    
  • Explanation of Score Card:
    Size and Shape: uniform in size and shape
    Texture: firm, not tough, soft of flabby.
    Color: neutral
    Proportion pickle to liquid: jar filled with pickles; liquid to cover and fill spaces.
    Container: standard half-pint, pint or quart jar; sealed.
  • CLASS G  – PICKLES & RELISHES
    2113 Bread and Butter Pickles
    2115 Chow Chow (Cabbage, Peppers, Onions, Green Tomatoes)
    2118 Cucumber Pickle, Dill, Whole
    2119 Cucumber Pickle, Dill, Sliced
    2120 Cucumber Pickle, Sweet
    2128 Pepper Relish
    2136 Other Relish
    2138 Other Dill Pickles
    

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
swainfair@gmail.com
(828) 488-3848