Blue Ribbon Contest Results

9th Annual Long Beach Urban Agriculture Contest Celebrates Local Growers

Published by Long Beach Fresh | Photos by Manuel Diaz | Katie Phillips Gallery, Bixby Knolls

The 9th Annual Blue Ribbon Contest for Local Urban Agriculture brought together some of Long Beach's most passionate growers, bakers, and makers for a celebration of what's possible when community members tend their plots with care, creativity, and a little competitive spirit.

Hosted by Long Beach Fresh at the beautiful Katie Phillips Gallery at The Expo in Bixby Knolls, this year's contest showcased a colorful spread of entries from community gardens, backyard plots, and small home kitchens across the city. Whether a seasoned entrant with years of blue ribbons under their belt or a first-timer stepping up to the judging table for the very first time, every grower brought something worth celebrating.

Long Beach Fresh Co-Director Tony Damico reflected on what makes this contest special year after year:
"This contest often takes place in a tricky transition for gardens, early in the spring. This gives us a chance to showcase resilience and creativity among growers — we never know what we'll see, and this year had some pretty cool surprises from long time entrants and some new faces."

From Glen Skalland's standout beets, to the bold Peruvian chili sauce from Green Axe, the range of entries this year was a testament to the depth and diversity of Long Beach's urban agriculture community. Zaferia Junction Community Garden and Chestnut Garden both showed up strong across multiple categories, and Pastry Pang's sourdough focaccia had everyone reaching for a second look — and a second slice.

Here's how the ribbons fell:

BEST IN SHOW
Glen Skalland's Homegrown Candycane Beets

VEGETABLES
1st Place — Glen Skalland's Homegrown Onions
2nd Place — Andrea | LBO Chestnut Garden Hybrid Gourd
3rd Place — Leticia Andrade's Homegrown Celery

SAUCES
1st Place — Green Ax Peruvian Chili Sauce
2nd Place — Candlestick Ravine Cilantro Pesto
3rd Place — Candlestick Ravine Pineapple Habanero

BOUQUETS
1st Place — Allison | LBO Zaferia Junction Community Garden Artichokes
2nd Place — Vanessa | LBO Zaferia Junction Community Garden Flowers
3rd Place — Andrea | LBO Chestnut Garden Flowers

ROOT VEGETABLES
1st Place — Glen Skalland's Homegrown Candycane Beets
2nd Place — Vanessa | LBO Zaferia Junction Community Garden Carrots

LEAFY GREENS
1st Place — Andrea | LBO Chestnut Garden Longevity Spinach
2nd Place — Vanessa | LBO Zaferia Junction Community Garden Kale
3rd Place — Glen Skalland's Homegrown Cabbage

FRUIT
1st Place — Allison | LBO Zaferia Junction Community Garden Blackberries

BAKED GOODS
Best in Category — Pastry Pang's Sourdough Focaccia

Congratulations to all of this year's winners and entrants — and a huge thank you to everyone who grew, baked, harvested, and hauled their work to the gallery. Events like this are a reminder that Long Beach's food culture runs deep, and it starts in the soil.


​Want to get involved in next year's contest? Follow Long Beach Fresh for updates on upcoming events, workshops, and growing opportunities across the city.