Food: Fleet Farm Canned Marmalades

Iowa City Cook Named State Fair Marmalade Master

Iowa City's Rod Zeitler claimed First Place Overall and a $150 gift card in the Fleet Farm Canned Marmalades competition judged Wednesday, August 7, prior to the start of the 2024 Iowa State Fair.

Joy Russell of Des Moines earned Second Place Overall and a $100 gift card. Jacqueline Riekena of West Des Moines took Third Place Overall and a $50 gift card.

Zeitler earned the Sweepstakes Award and Riekena claimed Reserve Sweepstakes honors.

Marmalades are soft fruit jellies containing small pieces of fruit or peel evenly suspended in translucent jelly. Marmalade often contains citrus fruit.

Entries were judged on flavor, consistency, appearance and food safety.

Additional results follow:

Grapefruit

1) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

2) Dennis Toby Williams, Colfax

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Lemon

1) Dennis Toby Williams, Colfax

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

Lime

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

3) Dennis Toby Williams, Colfax

Orange

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

3) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

Marmalades Other Than Named

1) Joy Russell, Des Moines

2) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

3) Louise Piper, Garner

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. There were 140 divisions, 726 classes and over 6,400 entries at this year's Fair. Food Department judging is held in the Elwell Family Food Center.