Food Science & Technology Students Shine in Product Development Competitions

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Two teams of Cal Poly Pomona food science and technology students finished in first place at recent regional and national competitions, respectively.

A team of Corey Abesa, Kelly Gray, Blayne Nuccio, Briley Bliss, Eric Kinjo, Matthew Jordan, and Jamie Lam took first place in the Evolution of Food Waste Product Development student competition at the 2018 Research Chefs Association national competition March 26 to 28 in Savannah, Ga.

The purpose of the competition is challenge students to create a food product using waste byproducts commonly produced within the industry, applying Culinology concepts. The team, which is advised by Assistant Professor Gabriel Davidov-Pardo, created Toates – Totally Oat Cookies. The students were given a certificate and $1,000 prize.

Another team took first place in a student product development competition at the Southern California Food Industry Conference on March 7 in Anaheim.

The “Tenji Team” of Nelida Aguayo, YuGuang Zheng, Trey Jensen, Jennifer Wijaya, and Eddie Wu created mango rice sticky balls as its winning product. The team took home a $900 prize.

It was a clean sweep for Cal Poly Pomona as a second group, the “Sunnyville Team,” took second place in the competition with their product “Oat of this World Cookies”. The team of Lam, Gray, Nuccio, and Bliss, earned a $700 prize.

In addition to Davidov-Pardo, the students also thanked lecturer Dianne Trinh, who also advised the teams.

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