The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has opened entries for the Florida Future Chef 2025 competition. This event is a statewide cooking contest for students aged 7 to 13, highlighting Florida agriculture, culinary creativity, and nutritional awareness within the National School Lunch Program.
Students are invited to submit a two-to-five-minute video demonstrating the preparation of an elevated school meal using at least one Florida commodity. The competition offers prizes, including up to $5,000 in college funds provided by the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, the 2025 Presenting Partner. Entries will be accepted until July 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
“Empowering Florida’s students with hands-on culinary experience is key to cultivating nutritious eating habits and a deeper appreciation for our state’s rich agricultural roots,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “Through the Florida Future Chef competition, we’re not only encouraging creativity in the kitchen but also helping students understand the value of using fresh, Florida-grown ingredients.”
FDACS’ Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness will review submissions to select three finalists from across the state. These finalists will participate in a three-day finale event in Tampa, where they will compete for the title of 2025 Florida Future Chef Champion. During this event, participants will learn kitchen skills, receive education on nutrition standards for school meals, and prepare their final dish for a panel of judges.
In addition to competing for up to $5,000 in a Florida 529 Savings Plan scholarship and having their recipe adapted into a school meal, participants can win other special prizes. The contest supports Florida’s National School Lunch Program by promoting nutritionally balanced meals for children.
For more details about entering the competition or learning about FDACS and its Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness, visit FDACS.gov or FloridaFutureChef.com.
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