Croix Valley and World Food Championships Invite Cooks Nationwide to Compete for Golden Tickets to Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – (June 23, 2026) – The World Food Championships (WFC) and Croix Valley Foods are inviting cooks from all US States, Canada and Mexico to take their shot at Food Sport's biggest stage through the newly launched Taste of Croix Valley Online Recipe Challenge. The online competition represents a unique digital opportunity for cooks to earn a coveted Golden Ticket to compete at the 2026 World Food Championships in Indianapolis.
Beginning June 23 and continuing through July 6, home cooks, backyard enthusiasts, competitive teams, food truck operators, and professional chefs are encouraged to submit an original recipe featuring at least one Croix Valley sauce or seasoning product. Contestants must also include a photo of their finished dish with the featured Croix Valley product visible in the image.
How to Enter
To participate, entrants must:
• Create an original recipe using at least one Croix Valley product
• Prepare and photograph the finished dish with the Croix Valley product visible
• Complete the official contest entry form after liking the World Food Championships Facebook page
• Submit their recipe and photo before the July 6 deadline
Recipes will be evaluated on creativity, flavor profile, presentation, and effective integration of the featured Croix Valley product. See official rules for full program details.
Prizes
Three (3) winning entries will each receive:
• A Golden Ticket to compete at the 2026 World Food Championships
• Complimentary WFC registration (a $1,000 value)
• The opportunity to compete live in Indianapolis, October 15-18, 2026, against the world's best cooks
"The Taste of Croix Valley Online Recipe Challenge is exactly what Food Sport is all about, creating opportunities for talented cooks to showcase their creativity and earn a path to the world stage," said Mike McCloud, Founder and CEO of the World Food Championships. "Whether you're a seasoned competitor or someone who's never entered a culinary competition before, this challenge provides a direct route to Indianapolis and the opportunity to compete for the title of World Food Champion."
Croix Valley has built a reputation throughout the Food Sport community for producing competition-tested sauces, seasonings, and flavor solutions that have contributed to multiple championship-winning dishes across barbecue, steak, and professional culinary competitions. The Taste of Croix Valley Online Recipe Challenge provides cooks the opportunity to showcase those products while demonstrating their own creativity and culinary skill.
The 2026 World Food Championships will take place October 15-18 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, where hundreds of qualified competitors from around the world will battle across ten championship categories for food, fame, and fortune. The ten category champions will then advance to The Final Table and compete for the coveted World Food Champion title and $100,000 grand prize.
Complete contest details, official rules, and entry information are available on the Taste of Croix Valley contest page at worldfoodchampionships.com. Competitors, partners, and fans of Food Sport can stay up to date on qualifying events, official partners, and all things related to the World Food Championships by following World Food Championships on Facebook and Instagram (@WorldFoodChampionships) and LinkedIn (@WorldFoodChampionshipsHoldings).
About World Food Championships
The World Food Championships (WFC), recognized by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards as a “Best City Food Festival”, is the premier Food Sport competition globally. This multi-day, live culinary event showcases some of the world's best cooks competing for food, fame, and fortune across multiple categories. Each year, thousands of teams vie for a coveted Golden Ticket at official qualifiers to earn their spot at WFC. Since its debut in 2012, the event has attracted participants from nearly 40 countries and every state in the U.S. The 2026 World Food Championships will take place October 15-18 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion, located at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center in Indianapolis. For more information, visit WorldFoodChampionships.com.
About Croix Valley Foods
Founded by passionate competitors and flavor innovators, Croix Valley Foods produces award-winning sauces, seasonings, rubs, marinades, and specialty food products used by chefs, pitmasters, and home cooks throughout North America. Known for bold flavor and competition-proven performance, Croix Valley products have helped fuel multiple championship victories across the Food Sport landscape. For more information, visit CroixValleyFoods.com.
Taste of Croix Valley Official Contest Entry Page
For media inquiries, please contact:
Michael Hand
Chief Marketing Officer, World Food Championships
Phone: 585.348.1287, Email: mhand@worldfoodchampionships.com
