California Avocado Festival names new Guacamole Contest Winners

CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT) The 40th Annual California Avocado Festival hosted another Guacamole Contest.

The contest had two dozen entries this year.

The panel of judges included Grammy-winning musician and producer Alan Parsons and Rori Trovato of Rori's Ice Cream.

While the judges tasted each entry and looked at each presentation, audience members bid on giant avocados and avocado trees to benefit Future Farmers of America.

Guadalupe Santana won best presentation for display that included the festival Ferris wheel thate recognized its 40th year.

Santaana has won the best guacamole contest twice in previous years.

Ramon Velazquez, who works at Corazon Cocina Sur on Linden Ave., won Best Guacamole.

"I went to the farmers market in Ojai and saw some beautiful pistachios and I add pistachio oil,  I like texture, simple, I think sometimes you can have too many things and you can get overwhelmed, so that was the idea, keep it local, simple as a I can, again using local ingredients as much as we can," said Velasquez.

Following the chef's win there is talk about having a separate guacamole contest for restaurants and chefs next year.

The audience also had a chance to  check out the displays and taste the entrees following the contest .

For more information visit https://www.avofest.org