Craig Ponsford, Chairman of the Bread Bakers Guild of America (BBGA), has joined the California Raisin Marketing Board's list of outstanding Celebrity Chefs and Bakers. An organization of 1,400 artisan bakers and bakery companies in the US, the BBGA's mission is to provide education and foster growth of artisan baking to insure the production of high quality bread products. The members of the BBGA sponsor numerous education opportunities each year including Bread Camp and Masters Classes. They also promote local competitions to bring top bakers in the US together for the semi-annual Coupe De Monde (World Cup) competition in Paris.

Coached by Craig Ponsford, the US team won the Cup in 1999 and, again, in 2005. With this track record for success in upgrading the quality of US breads, the Raisin Marketing Board is fortunate to have Craig assist us in developing new recipes with California Raisins, both naturals and goldens, raisin paste and raisin juice concentrate. The Marketing Board will make these formulas available to artisan bakers across the nation.