The Almond Board of California (ABC) participated with the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology (CIFST) in 2007 to launch an almond new product innovation contest among five Chinese universities with recognized food science programs.The objectives of the contest were:to create a platform for Chinese food science students to practice product innovation with their creative minds and the knowledge gained from textbooks prior to starting a career in the food industry; and to provide future food technologists an opportunity to learn about the value-adding characteristics of California almonds.