WATSONVILLE, CA - California Giant Berry Farms takes a unique approach to cultivating culinary creativity with its annual Chef Invitational and innovation-fueling Chef Invitational Academy. Among the previous Invitational winners in attendance at the Academy was Sodexo’s Chef Sam Blackburn, who shared that the event deepened his connection to the culinary community and inspired him to embrace the berry category even further.

"We designed the Chef Invitational Academy to be more than just a culinary skills workshop," says Tom Smith, Director of Sales at California Giant Berry Farms. "We wanted to empower our chefs to become true champions of their work, to blueberries, specifically, and to inspire their audiences to explore the endless possibilities our fruit offers."

As the winner of the 2020 California Giant Chef Invitational, Blackburn was invited to participate in the inaugural California Giant Chef Invitational Academy this summer, a press release shared. The four-day event placed a focus on personal branding, food photography, food styling, and the journey of blueberries from field to table.

“The tours of California Giant's blueberry operations transformed my perspective of the process. Witnessing the dedication and innovation across all farm sizes, from small family-run operations to large-scale producers, provided an invaluable understanding of the tremendous effort that goes into every berry,” said Blackburn, Senior Technical Culinary Support Manager on Sodexo's Operational Excellence Team. “This appreciation will influence my approach to incorporating California Giant berries into my dishes, allowing me to showcase their high-quality products and the effort that goes into bringing them from field to table.”

Under the guidance of Chef Rosalyn Darling, Blackburn and four other California Giant Top Chef counterparts gained invaluable insights into the culinary world and the potential of berries as a versatile ingredient.

"The styling workshop has influenced my photography and editing," Blackburn said. "Winning the Chef Invitational in 2020 sparked motivation to enter (and win) other competitions, and I've since gained a lot more confidence in my abilities."

As a result of his experience at the California Giant Chef Invitational Academy, Blackburn is more inspired than ever to continue exploring the culinary world and the endless possibilities of berries, the release noted.

Read more about Blackburn’s experience here. And keep reading ANUK for updates on this event and more.