POTSDAM -- Registration for the fifth annual North Country Jr. Iron Chef competition will open on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

The regional event is a competition for teams of middle and high school students from Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

Teams develop healthy recipes using a combination of local and USDA commodity foods that could be realistically prepared in a school cafeteria.

North Country Jr. Iron Chef is a project of the Health Initiative.

“We’re very excited about this year’s competition, and for our area’s youth to bring their enthusiasm and creativity to school food,” said Sarah Bentley-Garfinkel, School Program Director at the Health

Initiative and event coordinator.

The competition will be held at A.A. Kingston Middle School in Potsdam on March 11.

Teams will prepare their recipes and present their dishes to a panel of distinguished judges, made up of chefs, farms, school food service directors and others, who will select the winners.

Teams can be formed within schools, youth clubs, churches, afterschool programs or just friends.

“Youth use a variety of ingredients from frozen green beans to a locally baked sub roll to create a healthy, tasty recipe. They consider cost and time constraints to learn what might work in a cafeteria”, Bentley-Garfinkel added.

“Along the way they chop, measure and stir, practicing cooking skills that last a lifetime.”

Online registration is available at www.ncjrironchef.org.

Photos, recipes, videos and sponsor information are also available on the website.

More info: Health Initiative at 261- 4760.