News Room

At Asparagus Festival– April 7, 2010

New Board President Elected For 25Th Annual Stockton

Asparagus Festival — 10/9/09

Asparagus Festival Raises Big Money For Local Charities — 6/17/09

2009 Stockton Asparagus Festival Recap — 5/1/09

A Message From Our 2009 Board President — 10/9/08

Celebrating Asparagus, and Providing More Money to Local Charitiess — 6/20/08

2008 Asparagus Festival Breaks Attendance Records — 5/9/08

Joey Owns Stockton — 4/26/08

Two Top-Ranked Competitive Eaters Clash For Coveted Asparagus Title — 4/1/08

• • •

Asparagus Festival goes “Green” and offers motorcoach transportation from outlying areas (February 15, 2012) – Stockton, CA.

The Asparagus Festival, which drew 105,000 last year, is prepared for an anticipated large attendance again for 2012 by offering luxury motorcoach transportation from 16 pickup locations around Northern California.

BOB! (Board Our Bus), a transportation marketing company, has contracted with multiple motorcoach companies to stage pickup locations from Chico to San Francisco to Fresno.

According to BOB!’s president, Bob Aube, who has managed operations in the past for 49er fans, San Diego Chargers and NASCAR, “The time has come to recognize how much your experience will be improved by attending events where your arrival and departure is seamless and painless.
Relaxing on a luxury motorcoach is fun and relaxing and allows you the freedom to not worry about filling your tank, parking or traffic.” claims Aube.

Asparagus Festival Director Kate Post is pleased to offer this new service. “No one has come up with this idea before, and we support the service. We hope our guests will go online and purchase this package. Transportation packages include admission ticket, round trip transportation and we
even added an asparagus necklace, so get on the Bus, Gus!” Post added, “ We are a socially conscious festival and we want to promote an eco-friendly event. I love the idea of replacing 30-40 cars with one bus!

BOB! has staged pickup locations for Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29 only. Coaches arrive approximately 11:00 am and drop passengers right at the Asparagus Festival. They depart each day at 7:00 pm. Tower of Power and Average White Band will perform on Sunday afternoon and admission tickets includes the concert. Packages begin at $34 for teens and seniors and $39 for adults. To purchase tickets, visit www.ridebob.com and click on EVENTS. The festival website is www.asparagusfest.com.

• • •

New Board President Takes Helm For 27Th Annual Stockton Asparagus Festival

Date: 09/09/2011
The Stockton Asparagus Festival Board of Directors is already planning for the 27th Annual Festival in April 2012, under the leadership of new Board president Wayne Hose, Retired Chief of Police, Stockton SPD. Hose assumed leadership duties at this month’s Board meeting on September 8.

Hose brings unique experience to the long-running nationally acclaimed festival, having served on the police force when the festival moved to its downtown waterfront venue in 2005. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2008, filling the vacancy of festival co-founder Gordon Medlin. His first festival as a board member was in 2009 where he monitored all alcohol sales. In 2010 he assumed the duties of coordinating all waste management and recycling issues.

“Entering our 27th year,” says Hose, “the Stockton Asparagus Festival continues to be recognized as one of the outstanding festivals in the United States. Featuring the beautiful downtown Stockton waterfront, Asparagus Festival visitors are treated to a wide variety of entertainment, cooking demonstrations, shopping, children’s activities, and arguably the best food offered at any festival anywhere!”

“The enjoyment of those in attendance,” he continues, “is further enhanced with the knowledge that hundreds of thousands of dollars will be donated at the festival’s end to local charities who donate thousands of hours of their time each year to the festival’s success.” He stresses, “On behalf of the Festival staff and the board of directors, we want to thank the guests who attend, the hard working volunteers, our vendors, and especially our corporate sponsors and the City of Stockton for their outstanding support.”

Serving with Hose during this year’s planning are board members: Immediate Past President, John Reusche, President, Reusche Homes; John Green, Asst. General Manager, Stockton East Water District; Bob Harmon, Vice President/Loan Officer, F&M Bank; Jim Hulstrom, Vice President, Wells Fargo Bank; Marc Marchini, Chairman, California Asparagus Commission; Steve Moore, San Joaquin County Sheriff; Wes Rhea, Director, Stockton Convention & Visitors Bureau; C.P. Riddle, Retired National Guard Brigadier General; Leslie Snyder, Marketing Services, Delta Sierra Beverage; and Doug Wilhoit, CEO, Stockton Chamber of Commerce.

The Stockton Asparagus Festival experienced a record year last year, with 103,000 people attending, the second highest in its history, surpassed only by the attendance the first year the festival moved downtown. This attendance resulted in raising $351,457 for a record 129 local non-profit organizations. Festival volunteers contributed over 32,000 hours to make this distribution possible. Over $5.5 million dollars has been contributed back to local charities since it began in 1986.

The 2012 Festival will be held April 27th, 28th and 29th. For more information, contact the Festival office at 644-3740, or visit the website at www.asparagusfest.com.

• • •

Stockton Asparagus Festival Announces 2011 Proceeds to Local Non-Profits

Date: 06/23/2011
Chamber of Commerce sunny weather blessed this year’s 26th Annual Stockton Asparagus Festival and brought out over 103,000 people, making this year’s festival’s attendance the second highest in its history, surpassed only by the attendance the first year the festival moved to its beautiful downtown waterfront venue.

Despite challenging economic times, this year’s attendance contributed to the raising of $351,457 for a record 129 local non-profit organizations. Checks were distributed at a Volunteer Celebration held at the Hilton Stockton, Wednesday evening, June 22.

This was a significant increase in the number of non-profits volunteering at the festival which increased the number of hours; over 32,000 this year. With this year’s distribution, in the past 26 years, over $5.5 million dollars has been contributed back to local charities directly from the Stockton Asparagus Festival.

“I give credit to a fabulous staff, a dedicated, hardworking Board of directors and a committed, focused team of committee chairs, but I know all would agree that the true thanks goes to that passionate volunteer who knows that their hard work at this event translates directly into a donation to their favorite charity,” noted John Reusche, this year’s president of the Board of Directors. Over 5,000 volunteers work at the festival, making the Asparagus Festival the County’s largest employer for the three days of the event. Each non-profit receives a “donation” based on a schedule of hours for the work performed by the volunteers.

The 2012 festival will return to its normal last full weekend in April which will be April 27, 28 and 29.

• • •

The World Deep-Fried Asparagus Eating Championship

Date: 04/16/2011

Location: Stockton, CA

Winner: Joey Chestnut, Deep-Fried Asparagus

Total Prizes: $2,750 total cash purse

Recap

Joey Chestnut once again proved why he is the greatest eater on the planet when he broke his own record at the World Deep-Fried Asparagus Eating Championship. Chestnut ate 9 lbs 5.2 oz of friend asparagus spears in front of a capacity crowd raucously cheering on their homegrown hero.

The win was the fifth asparagus title for Chestnut in the contest’s six-year history. His only loss coming in 2009 to #2-ranked Pat Bertoletti, the 2011 second place finisher (7 lbs 3.5 oz).

Impressing both the crowd and his fellow eaters, Matt “megatoad” Stonie surprised many in his first-ever MLE contest by taking third place after eating 6 lbs 12 oz. The San Jose native edged out #14-ranked Adrian Morgan by just 6 oz for the last payout.

Results

1-Joey Chestnut – 9 lbs 5.2 oz friend asparagus in 10 minutes ($1,500)

2-Pat Bertoletti – 7 lbs 3.5 oz ($750)

3-Matt Stonie – 6 lbs 12 oz ($500)

4-Adrian Morgan – 6 lbs 6 oz

5-Erik Denmark – 5 lbs

6-Kevin Ross – 4 lbs 12 oz

7-Cameron Birdwell – 4 lbs

8-Ryan McKillop – 3 lbs 2 oz

• • •

Stockton Asparagus Festival Brings Energy And Excitement To 26th Annual Event

With a fresh, energetic logo for the 2011 Stockton Asparagus Festival, organizers have been hard at work with plans for another exciting year of entertainment and activities. This year’s festival falls a week earlier than usual due to Easter weekend. Dates are Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 15, 16 and 17, 2011.

The festival promises three exciting days of entertainment on the Main Stage at Weber Point, sponsored by Bud Light. All performances are illuminated on the huge LED screen. Starting off the power-packed weekend on Friday at 1:00 p.m. is Caravanserai, a Santana tribute band performing music to satisfy Santana fans young and old. They will be followed at 4:30 p.m. with the headliner Pride and Joy. This group is the Pride and Joy of the Bay Area presenting the most timeless pop/soul music of our time in an electrifying high-style show.

Following the Michelob Ultra Great Spear-It Run Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m., and the Deep Fried Asparagus Eating Competition, sponsored by Bud Light, at noon at the Main Stage, Department of Rock takes over the stage at 1:00 p.m. defending your right to party. You will rock out hard to the best rock music of the 70′s, 80′s, 90′s and beyond. At 4:30 p.m. Smash Mouth commands the Main Stage. A quick listen to their music and you realize the multi-platinum Smash Mouth, from San Jose, is a 60′s influenced garage band with a keen pop edge…a style they have created and that is all their own

Main Stage entertainment kicks off again at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday with Life in the Fastlane, an Eagles tribute band. A new twist to a show of Eagles music is having a female vocalist singing songs like “Desperado,” “I Can’t Tell You Why,” and “Love Will Keep Us Alive.” Then we turn Country at 4:30 with Little Texas, an American country music band founded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1988, releasing its debut album First time For Everything. The album’s lead off single, “Some Guys Have All the Love”, reached a peak of #8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.

The beautiful, shade-covered waterfront venue at DeCarli Square features a full schedule of local and regional entertainment. Entertainment on the DeCarli Square Community Stage, sponsored by Foresters, kicks off on Friday at 11:30 a.m. with John Covert and Crystal Image followed by The Advocates from Person Centered Services at 12:30, Finding Stella at 2:00, City Tappers at 4:00, and concluding with Geri Eckert and Steppin’ Out at 5:00. Saturday entertainment begins with the rousing drumbeats of Stockton Bukkyo Taiko at 10:00 a.m. The KAOS Dance Company performs at 11:00 followed by Ed and the Educators at 11:30, Na Hoku Mai Kanoelani at 1:00, Children’s Home Band at 2:30, The Old Pinoys at 3:00, and Ballet Folklorico de Frank Zapata at 3:30. The Mike Torres Band wraps up the day’s entertainment starting at 4:30. The Caesar Chavez High School Band opens the DeCarli Stage on Sunday at 10:00, followed by Los Danzantes del Puerto at 11:00, Bahala Na – Multi-Style Escrima at 12:30, Loki Rhythms at 1:00, The Caesar Chavez Mariachis & Show Choir at 2:30, Dance Extreme at 3:30, and ending the weekend with Latin Magic at 4:30.

Another highlight of the annual Best of the West Food Fest is the Celebrity Kitchen presented in the main hall of the Civic Auditorium. Sponsored by Delta Health Systems, the three day schedule will feature several KCRA celebrities along with some noted Stockton area chefs. San Joaquin Delta College Culinary Arts Instructor Mark Berkner will be a major feature on Friday and Saturday representing his two restaurants: Taste in Plymouth and The Volcano Union Inn in Volcano. In addition his Delta Culinary department will perform culinary feats during two sessions each day. Other chefs spotlighted will include Chef Julio of Califas Café & Bistro in Lodi, Chef Richard Hyman of Mezzo, and Chef Lance Hatcher of Le Bistro, both in Stockton.

The Foster Farms Chickens return this year on Saturday only, and on Sunday you can enjoy the musical antics of The California Repurcussions as they stroll the grounds. Then there’s Velocity Circus sponsored by University of the Pacific, Sea Lion Encounters sponsored by Village West Marina, Skyy Dogs and Tyson the Skateboarding Bulldog sponsored by Toyota, and much, much more. Please visit the festival website at www.asparagusfest.com for all the details.

• • •

New Board President Elected For 26Th Annual Stockton Asparagus Festival

Board president John Reusche, President, Reusche Homes Construction of Valley Springs The Stockton Asparagus Festival Board of Directors is already planning for the 26th Annual Festival in April 2011, under the leadership of new Board president John Reusche, President, Reusche Homes Construction of Valley Springs. Reusche assumed leadership duties at the monthly Board meeting on June 10.

Having celebrated its 25th Anniversary this last year, the Festival embarks on its next 25 years in 2011. “The longevity of this nationally acclaimed event is due in large part to the hard work of thousands of dedicated volunteers from over a hundred local charities,” says Reusche. “Despite the economy, our festival takes on its own momentum, highlighting our Valley’s diversity and promoting the philosophy that a community survives by ‘Giving Back’. In addition, we owe a great deal of success to our generous corporate sponsors and particularly to the City of Stockton for a continued partnership highlighting a beautiful downtown venue.”

Serving with Reusche during this year’s planning are board members: Immediate Past President, C.P Riddle, Retired National Guard Brigadier General; President-Elect, Wayne Hose, Retired Chief of Police, Stockton SPD; John Green, Asst. General Manager, Stockton East Water District; Bob Harmon, Vice President/Loan Officer, F&M Bank; Jim Hulstrom, Vice President, Wells Fargo Bank; Marc Marchini, Chairman, California Asparagus Commission; Steve Moore, San Joaquin County Sheriff; Wes Rhea, Director, Stockton Convention & Visitors Bureau; Leslie Snyder, Marketing Services, Delta Sierra Beverage; and Doug Wilhoit, CEO, Stockton Chamber of Commerce.

The Stockton Asparagus Festival experienced a significant resurgence after last year’s downturn, with 85,000 people attending, and raising $361,574 for 100 local non-profit organizations. Festival volunteers contributed over 29,000 hours to make this distribution possible. Over $5.1 million dollars has been contributed back to local charities since it began in 1986.

Normally held annually during the last full weekend of April, next year’s event will be held earlier in the month due to Easter Sunday. The 2011 Festival will be held April 15th, 16th and 17th. For more information, contact the Festival office at 644-3740, or visit the website at www.asparagusfest.com.

• • •

Stockton asparagus festival announces this year’s proceeds to local non-profits

A window of sunny weather between storms blessed this year’s 25th Annual Stockton Asparagus Festival and brought out over 85,000 people, raising $361,574 for 100 local non-profit organizations. Checks were distributed at a Volunteer Celebration held at the Hilton Stockton, Wednesday evening, June 23.

This was a significant resurgence after last year’s downturn. Proceeds for 2009 were $276,508. In the past 25 years, over $5.1 million dollars has been contributed back to local charities directly from the Stockton Asparagus Festival.

“We celebrate the multitudes of volunteers who worked behind the scenes to make this 25th annual festival a ‘spear-ited’ success”, commented C.P. Riddle, this year’s President of the festival’s Board of Directors. Some 5,000 volunteers work at the festival, making the Asparagus Festival the County’s largest employer for the three days of the event. Each non-profit receives a “donation” based on a schedule of hours for the work performed by the volunteers.

Normally held annually during the last full weekend in April, next year’s event will be held earlier in the month due to Easter Sunday. The 2011 festival will be held April 15th, 16th and 17th.

• • •

Stockton Asparagus Festival Honored at the 38th Annual SJ Hispanic Chamber Installation of Officers and Business Awards Luncheon

(Stockton, CA) The San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 38th Annual Installation of Officers and Business Awards Luncheon on Friday, July 9, 2010 at the Stockton Golf & Country Club. The event will begin at 11:30 am with a Luncheon and the Awards program to follow. The event will also include the presentation of the new Board of Directors.

Those that the chamber will honor include: Arroyo’s Cafe for Business of the Year; Michael Duffy, Financial Center Credit Union for Executive of the Year; Diana Costa, Sims Metal Management for Volunteer of the Year; Wells Fargo, Corporation of the Year, Gregg Meath, Meath & Pereira Attorney’s and Counselors for Business Advocate of the Year; Stockton Asparagus Festival, Community Based Organization of the Year, and John Solis, San Joaquin County WorkNet for the John Aguilar Spirit Award. “Our annual business awards event is a time for us to share with the community the wonderful programs that our chamber has grown and cultivated and recognize those that have contributed to our business community,” stated Mark Martinez, CEO of the SJCHCC.

The San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SJCHCC) represents the interest of approximately 250 members, many of whom are small business owners. Established in 1972, the Chamber provides assistance in opening businesses, accessing capital, and links members-to-members through its many events held throughout the year. The Chamber sponsors monthly business mixers, workshops, tradeshows and conferences. In addition, the Chamber serves as a source of referrals for the agencies and organizations needing information about the local Hispanic community and market. For more information contact the Chamber Offices at (209) 943-6117 or visit our website at www.sjchispanicchamber.com.

• • •

World’s Top-Ranked Eater Looks For Redemption At Asparagus Festival

Major League Eating STOCKTON, CA (April 7, 2010) – In 2004, Joey Chestnut competed in the Stockton Asparagus Festival’s Fried Asparagus Eating World Championship. It was Chestnut’s first professional eating event, one that he won and a victory that launched the career of America’s greatest modern day Major League Eater. Chestnut is a California native and the asparagus title has always been dear to his heart. But, in 2009, Chestnut lost the title to Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago. On April 24, 2010, Chestnut will return to the Weber Point Event Center in Stockton, walk through Asparagus Alley and approach the stage where his career began.

“The deep-fried asparagus eating contest is certainly a highlight of our festival,” said Kate Post, executive director of the Stockton Asparagus Festival. “Last year the fans were stunned at Joey’s loss. And, while they were gracious to the new champion, I expect a huge crowd to turn out this year to root on Joey Chestnut, the greatest eater ever to take the stage in Stockton.”

Chestnut has consumed 8.6 pounds of deep-fried asparagus in 10 minutes. He has won three consecutive Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating titles and is still the top-ranked eater in the world. Standing between him and asparagus eating glory are fourteen other Major League eaters currently registered to compete in the World Deep-Fried Asparagus-Eating Championship, which occurs at high noon on April 24 and kicks off a busy festival day.

The event features delicious, thick deep-fried spears of locally grown asparagus. The winner will take home a cash prize of $1,500 and the beautiful champion’s trophy. Second place earns $750 and third place earns $500.

The 25th Annual Stockton Asparagus Festival, called the Best of the West Food Fest by Sunset magazine, is a three-day, multi-event, food and entertainment festival that celebrates asparagus. The festival, held April 23-25, features three performance stages, an Asparagus Alley with delicious deep-fried asparagus, a celebrity chef cooking demonstration kitchen, a fabulous Spear-Its of the Valley wine and beer pavilion, and exhibits by more than hundreds of food purveyors and 100 specialty merchandise vendors. The festival is the largest charitable food festival in California. Over 5,000 volunteers representing over 100 non-profit organizations work to make it a huge success. To date over $4.7 million has been donated to local charities www.asparagusfest.com.

• • •

New Board President Elected For 25Th Annual Stockton
Asparagus Festival

President, Jerry Smith Although the 25th annual Stockton Asparagus Festival is not until April 2010, the Festival Board of Directors has already begun planning, with retired National Guard Brigadier General C.P. Riddle of Tracy taking the helm as the new Board president. Riddle assumed leadership duties at the monthly board meeting on August 13.
This is Riddle’s second time serving as president, having served in 2001 during the 16th annual Festival when it was still located at Oak Grove Regional Park. This year the Festival celebrates its 25th Anniversary year. “The longevity of this nationally acclaimed event is due in large part to the hard work of thousands of dedicated volunteers from over a hundred local charities,” says Riddle. “We also have the partnership with the City of Stockton to thank for our continued success.”

Serving with Riddle during this year’s planning are Board members: Immediate Past President, Gerald Smith, Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual; President-Elect, John Reusche, President, Reusche Homes Construction; John Green, Assistant General Manager at Stockton East Water District; Bob Harmon, Vice President, Farmers & Merchants Bank; Wayne Hose, Retired Chief of Police, SPD; Jim Hulstrom, Vice President, Wells Fargo Bank; Marc Marchini, Chairman, California Asparagus Commission; Steve Moore, San Joaquin County Sheriff; Leslie Snyder, Sales Manager, Delta Sierra Beverage; and Douglass Wilhoit, CEO, Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce.

Despite current economic woes, Stockton Asparagus Festival attendees in 2009 proved once again that giving is in. By consuming 36,000 pounds of asparagus, festival-goers raised $276,507 for 104 local charities whose 5,000 volunteers contributed over 29,000 hours. This brought the total Festival donation to more than $4.7 million since it began in 1986.

Festival dates are April 23-25, 2010, and with continuing improvements to the downtown waterfront, it is anticipated this year’s Festival will be better than ever. For more information, contact the Festival office at 644-3740, or visit the website at www.asparagusfest.com.

• • •

Asparagus Festival Raises Big Money For Local Charities

STOCKTON, Calif. – Despite current economic woes, Stockton Asparagus Festival attendees proved once again that giving is in. By consuming 36,000 pounds of asparagus, festival-goers raised $276,507 for 104 local charities, bringing the total Festival donation to more than $4.7 million since it began in 1986.

Volunteers clocked in 29,573 hours over the three-day food fest, earning $9.35 an hour towards their local charity of choice and setting a record-breaking precedent in Festival volunteer hours.

“I am honored to be part of a community that recognizes the importance of charitable giving,” said Festival Board President Jerry Smith. “This is the fifth largest donation in the 24-year history of the Festival. In these difficult economic times, the donations mean even more this year.”

On-site attendance was approximately 85,000 festival-goers.

Festival organizers are already planning next year’s festivities, which are destined to be a big celebration. The event will be held April 23-25, 2010.

“Next year marks our 25th anniversary,” said Kate Post, executive director of the Festival. “We have some great surprises planned and new venues for the festival-goers!”

• • •

2009 Stockton Asparagus Festival Recap

Under beautiful sunny skies and moderate temperatures, festival-goers gobbled over 36,000 pounds of asparagus in all forms — deep-fried, in pasta, burritos and margaritas. The Asparagus Eating Competition crowned a new champion, Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti, who swooped in and took the Deep-Fried Asparagus title from its longtime owner Joey Chestnut. Bertoletti won with 7 lbs., 5.81 oz. Chestnut came in second with 7 lbs., 2.81 oz., and Eric Booker took third place with a mere 5 lbs.

The new Sea Lion Encounter entertained packed audiences, Tyson the Skateboarding Bulldog brought laughter and applause, and of course, the Main Stage rocked with Papa Doo Run Run, Mickey Thomas & Starship, and The Tubes.

On-site attendance was approximately 85,000 festival-goers.

“We consider festival attendance strong and steady, we are excited as plans are underway for our Volunteer Celebration,” said Kate Post, executive director of the Festival.

The Volunteer Celebration, where local charities will receive the benefit of their combined 28,000 hours contributed, will be held on Wednesday, June 17. Financials will be announced after the total donated amount is unveiled. To date, “The Best of the West Food Fest” has raised more than $4.5 million to local charities.

• • •

A Message From Our 2009 Board President 10/09/2008

The Stockton Asparagus Festival begins its second five year term in downtown Stockton with the 2009 Festival with the purpose of raising funds for charitable organizations. What a great five years it has been but the best is yet to come. The Festival in partnership with the City looks forward to providing one of the most exciting entertainment venues for all during the 2009 Stockton Asparagus Festival. So get the dates on your calendar, April 24-26, 2009, and get your family and friends from near and far ready to have a wonderful time all the while knowing that many worthwhile people and charitable organizations will benefit. On behalf of myself, and our Executive Director, Kate Post we look forward to providing you the best Festival ever.

President, Jerry Smith “The best is yet to come!”

President, Jerry Smith

• • •

Celebrating Asparagus, and Providing More Money to Local Charities – 06/20/2008

The 2008 Stockton Asparagus Festival completed another record-breaking year, giving more money to local charities than ever before. The festival organization handed out checks to local charities in the amount of $461,912, bringing the total Festival donation to more than $4.5 million since it began in 1986.

Board President and Sheriff Steve Moore unveiled the check, commending the volunteer “spear-it!”

“Volunteers worked a whopping 28,960 hours and received an hourly dividend of $15.95 per hour worked at the Festival,” said Moore. “We could not produce an event of this magnitude without their dedication to this event.”

Festival Executive Director, Kate Post, noted, “This is the largest charitable food festival in California and beyond. We proudly donated to 102 local charities. This is something our community can truly be proud of and is co-sponsored by the City of Stockton.”

Next year will be the 24th Annual Stockton Asparagus Festival to be held at the Downtown Waterfront, April 24-26, 2009.

• • •

2008 Asparagus Festival Breaks Attendance Records — 05/09/2008

The recently completed 2008 Stockton Asparagus Festival — the Best of the West Food Fest — had its best festival ever, with record attendance that reached 110,000 visitors. The three-day, multi-event, food and entertainment festival was held April 25-27 at the Downtown Stockton Waterfront, the fifth year that the Festival was held at this venue.

The nationally acclaimed Festival broke attendance records last year as well when more than 40,000 pounds of world-class, deep-fried asparagus was enjoyed at the Festival. This year, the Festival featured two performing stages, an Asparagus Alley where the deep-fried asparagus was served, amazing celebrity cooking demonstration kitchens, the Michelob Ultra Great Spear-It Run, an Olympic Pole Vault exhibition and high school competition, Tyson the Skateboarding bulldog, an Arts & Craft show, 600 booths, displays and exhibits.

“Our record attendance represents a 16.87% increase in ticket sales, including tickets purchased on-site, comp tickets and e-tickets, which enjoyed a 50% increase in its second year of online ticket sales,” noted Kate Post, executive director of the Stockton Asparagus Festival. “The huge attendance bodes well for all of the participating non-profit organizations. Last year we distributed $438,107 to over 100 charities, and this year we should exceed that number.”

Over the past 22 years, the Stockton Asparagus Festival was able to distribute over $4 million dollars to local charities. In 2007, over 100 local charities and community organizations logged more than 28,000 volunteer hours. That number should be greater in 2008. This year, the Stockton Asparagus Festival will be handing out the charity donations on June 18 at 5:30 pm at the Sheraton Stockton at Regent Pointe.

• • •

Joey Owns Stockton! — 4/26/2008

Joey Chestnut spearheaded another exciting tempura fried asparagus eating contest today and won the event by downing 8.8 pounds of the green vegetable.

Pat Bertoletti placed second with 7.14 pounds and Erik the Red took third place with 4.75, edging out Juris “my abs don’t lie” Shibiyama by a quarter of a pound.

• • •

TWO TOP-RANKED COMPETITIVE EATERS CLASH FOR COVETED ASPARAGUS TITLE

Major League Eating

Chestnut, Bertoletti Battle for Honor and $2,500

An all-star cast of the world’s best competitive eaters will gather at the Stockton Asparagus Festival in Stockton, CA on April 26th, 2008, for the World Deep-Fried Asparagus-Eating Championship. The competition will commence at 12:00 pm on the Main Stage at the Weber Point Event Center.

The contest marks an eagerly awaited match-up between the two best competitive eaters on the planet: San Jose’s #1-ranked Joey Chestnut, and his archrival / good friend, Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti of Chicago. Both have surpassed Takeru Kobayashi in the rankings, and are 7-7 against each other in their last 12 meetings. In their most recent meeting, on March 2nd in Houston, Chestnut edged out Bertoletti in matzo balls, eating 78 to Bertoletti’s 76. Nipping against their heels will be last year’s runner-up, 12th-ranked fry bread eating champ, Erik “The Red” Denmark. And an exciting new addition to this year’s lineup is 23rd-ranked Juris “Dr. BigTime” Shibayama, a spine surgeon, body builder, and rising star on the circuit.

The event will feature delicious, thick deep-fried spears of locally grown asparagus. The winner will take home a cash prize of $1,500 and the beautiful champion’s trophy. Second place will receive $500 and third will leave with $250.

“The Stockton Asparagus Festival is elated to once again host the world’s greatest eaters,” said Kate Post, executive director of the Stockton Asparagus Festival. “The eating contest is a fan favorite here, and we look forward to a dramatic battle between the two best eaters out there.”

The Stockton Asparagus Festival, called the Best of the West Food Fest by Sunset magazine, is a three-day, multi-event, food and entertainment festival that celebrates asparagus. The festival, held April 25-27, features three performance stages, an Asparagus Alley with delicious deep-fried asparagus, a celebrity chef cooking demonstration kitchen, a fabulous Spear-Its of the Valley wine and beer pavilion, and exhibits by more than hundreds of food purveyors and 100 specialty merchandise vendors. The festival is the largest charitable special event in San Joaquin County. Over 5,000 volunteers representing over 100 non-profit organizations work to make it a huge success. To date over $4 million has been donated to local charities. www.asparagusfest.com.

Major League Eating (MLE), the governing body of all stomach-centric sports, conducts more than 80 events annually, including the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, NY. The competitive eating community, which numbers more than 6,000 veteran and rookie athletes, travels the nation in search of top titles and the glory that they provide.

Event Info:

The World Deep Fried Asparagus-Eating Championship

Stockton Asparagus Festival, Saturday, April 26, at 12:00 pm.

Main Stage, Weber Point Event Center, Downtown Stockton, CA

Festival Admission: $10 adults; $5 teens 11-17 and seniors; under 10 free.

News Room

TWO TOP-RANKED COMPETITIVE EATERS CLASH FOR COVETED ASPARAGUS TITLE

Festival Powered by Over 120 San Joaquin County Non-Profits

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