POTSDAM — Registration for the seventh North Country Jr. Iron Chef competition is now open through Jan. 31. This regional event is a competition for teams of middle and high school age youth from Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. Teams develop healthy recipes using a combination of fresh produce 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.

On March 14, teams will gather at A.A. Kingston Middle School in Potsdam to prepare their recipes. Teams then present their dishes to a panel of distinguished judges made up of chefs, school food service staff, students and others, who select the winners.

Teams can be formed within schools, youth clubs, after-school programs or just friends. The registration deadline of Jan. 31 will not be extended. Interested teams are encouraged to register soon. For more information, to register, or to sponsor the event, please visit https://www.ncjrironchef.org/ or contact the Health Initiative at 315-261-4760.