Ocean Spray® Invites Football Fans to Face-off for the Title of 'Tailgate Recipe of the New England Patriots'

LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, Mass., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- It's time to lace up those oven mitts and fire up the grill. For the second year in a row Ocean Spray is teaming up with the New England Patriots to give football fans a once in a lifetime opportunity, the chance to compete in Ocean Spray's® Tailgating Recipe Contest for bragging rights and the title "Tailgate Recipe of the New England Patriots." The contest seeks to find the most innovative, cranberry-inspired tailgate creations.

Today through Sept. 7, hungry football fans are invited to fire up the grill, smoker or stove and submit their sizzling cranberry dishes online at www.oceanspray.com/tailgating for a shot at the title and a chance to win a prize package that includes two tickets to the New England Patriots' Oct. 17 game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Katie Pelczar of Dedham, Mass., was the first to receive the title last year with her winning recipe for Grilled Bacon Apple Bites with Cranberry Chunky Spread (recipe below).

"We're giving Patriots fans an opportunity to pair two fall passions, football and tailgating by submitting their creative twists on cooking with cranberries," said Larry Martin, vice president of marketing at Ocean Spray. "Last year we were thrilled by the variety of ways consumers incorporated cranberries into their tailgate dishes; we saw everything from Kickin Cranberry Jalapeno Poppers to Big Game Cranberry Sausage-Stuffed Apples."

Contest Details

• The contest is open to New England residents (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine).
• Recipes must be original, use a minimum of 1/2 cup of any Ocean Spray product (beverages 1 1/2 ounces per serving) and reflect the overall theme of tailgating.  
• Recipes will be judged on originality, use of product, taste, overall appearance and ease of preparation.

Three finalists will be selected and invited to cook-off for the title "Tailgate Recipe of the New England Patriots" on Oct. 2 at Patriot Place in Foxborough, Mass. Chef Ming Tsai, host of public television's Emmy-nominated Simply Ming and chef/owner of the award-winning Blue Ginger will judge the entries and announce the winner.

The cook-off coincides with the debut of Ocean Spray's Fall Harvest weekend at Patriot Place, which includes a cranberry harvest demonstration, recipe demos, hayrides, pumpkin carving and a farmers market. Visitors are encouraged to visit the festival Oct. 2 and 3.

Prizes

The grand prize winner will receive a prize package including two New England Patriots tickets, autographed New England Patriots memorabilia, first class hotel accommodations at the Renaissance Boston Hotel & Spa at Patriot Place, and the honor of having the winning recipe on display at the New England Patriots' Tailgate Party on Oct. 17. The winning recipe will also be posted on the official New England Patriots website www.patriots.com, delivered to thousands of Patriots fans via the Patriots Now newsletter and featured on www.oceanspray.com.

All three finalists will receive a $100 Patriots ProShop gift card and private tour of Gillette Stadium Oct. 2.

For additional details and official entry guidelines, visit www.oceanspray.com/tailgating.

About Ocean Spray

Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative owned by more than 600 cranberry growers in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and other parts of Canada as well as more than 50 Florida grapefruit growers. Ocean Spray was formed over 75 years ago by three cranberry growers from Massachusetts and New Jersey. Florida grapefruit growers joined the Cooperative in 1976. Ocean Spray is North America's leading producer of canned and bottled juices and juice drinks, and has been the best-selling brand name in the canned and bottled juice category since 1981. Ocean Spray posted fiscal 2008 sales of $1.9 billion.

SOURCE Ocean Spray