It’s that time of year again for the Market Chef Competition. This year, however, it’s for the youth.

We had such a blast last year with the competition that we were begged to do another one that allowed the youth to compete with each other.

We will have the first round of competition on Aug. 8 and the finale on Sept. 19. Almost everything is the same with the competition rules except that all contestants must be between the ages of 9 and 18 years old. The contestants are also allowed a sous chef or assistant.

So, if you are a youth who enjoys “heated” competition, are brave in the kitchen, and can create gourmet dishes in a pinch, the Market Chef Youngster Competition is for you. This will be the first Farmers’ Market cooking competition for youth.

The winner of the first round must be able to attend the last challenge, and any of the previous competitors can try again. At the end of the competition, the winner will be crowned The Best Market Chef- Youth Edition.

All chef contestants will be provided with secret local ingredients and given additional hints along the way. There will be select appliances to use for their culinary dishes. There is a fee of $10 to participate that is due on the day of competition; it will be used to buy additional ingredients from the Salisbury Farmers’ Market.

Because safety is our top priority, pots and pans must be sanitized at the Cooperative Extension office each Thursday prior to the contest.

If you would like more information about participating in the Market Chef Competition, please call your local Cooperative Extension agent, Danelle Cutting, at 704-216-8970, visit the Salisbury Farmers’ Market, or check out their website at www.salisburyfarmersmarket.com.