Citrus Combination Claims Conserve Competition Crown at Iowa State Fair

DES MOINES, IA (08/13/2010)(readMedia)-- Cathy Stahlman of Ames bested the competition to win the top two awards in the C & H Canned Conserve competition, judged August 9, prior to the start of the 2010 Iowa State Fair.

Stahlman's Citrus Fantasy Conserve claimed the top overall prize and her Pear Conserve won Second Place Overall.

Rod Zeitler of Iowa City claimed Third Place Overall with his Peach Conserve.

Conserves are similar to jam in consistency. Conserves generally contain two or more fruits, one of which is usually a citrus fruit. They contain nuts and or raisins or coconut. In their purest form, conserves contain both nuts and raisins. They are flavored to accompany meat and poultry; however they may also be used as spreads on bread products.

Additional competition results:

Apple

1) Cathy Stahlman, Ames

2) Kaye Rupprecht, Oskaloosa

Apricot

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

3) Kaye Rupprecht, Oskaloosa

Apricot-Almond

1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Peach

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Pear

1) Cathy Stahlman, Ames

2) Kaye Rupprecht, Oskaloosa

Apricot in Combination

1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Peach in Combination

1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

2) Cathy Stahlman, Ames

Rhubarb in Combination

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Cathy Stahlman, Ames

Fruit in Combination Other Than Named

1) Cathy Stahlman, Ames

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Terri Sinclair, Cummings

Sweepstakes

1 tie) Rod Zeiter, Iowa City

1 tie) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

1 tie) Cathy Stahlman, Ames

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. Due to the large number of classes, Food Department judging begins prior to the Fair in the recently-renovated Elwell Family Food Center sponsored by Blue Bunny.

"Non Stop Fun" runs through August 22. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines, and are open 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. each day of the Fair. Exhibit hours may vary. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

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