Texas Tech University's four-person product development team forged a first-place win Feb. 25 at the National Meat Association's Meatxpo'09 Conference in Las Vegas. Their winning product: blueberry sausage patties.

Several high-profile agricultural universities from across the nation competed in this second annual cook-off competition, including California Polytechnic State-San Luis, California State Polytechnic-Pomona, California State-Fresno, Florida State, Montana State, North Carolina, South Dakota State and Texas A&M. Tech won the blind taste test, which was judged by convention and meat exposition attendees, by one point.

The Red Raider team from Tech's Department of Animal and Food Sciences included:
"Shanna Ward, a junior from Coffeyville, Kan.
"Heather Veltri, a senior from Ft. Collins, Colo.
"Cassie Chancey, a senior from Santana, Kan.
"Paden Daniels, a senior from Athol, Kan.

Bright Future. Blueberry sausage has a bright future in niche markets across the country, said Jennifer Leheska, a human nutrition research consultant for the beef industry and a former Tech meat science doctoral student who helped develop the product.

To make blueberry sausage Tech researchers added blueberry puree to the sausage during the grinding process, said Mark Miller, a professor of meat science at Texas Tech University. The sausage was then formed into patties and was ready to cook.

Blueberry Puree. "Kids really like the sweetness of the sausage," Miller said. "In addition, they are getting something healthier because blueberries have zero fat. If you replace some of the sausage with blueberry puree, you decrease the total fat of the sausage, which is a good thing."

The National Meat Association, a non-profit trade association formed in 1946, represents meat packers and processors, equipment manufacturers and food suppliers who provide services to the meat industry. It has members from the United States, as well as Canada, Australia and Mexico.

Written by Norman Martin

Contact: Chance Brooks, Assistant Professor - Meat Science, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2805 ext. 230 or chance.brooks@ttu.edu

Editor's Note: individuals can buy blueberry sausage at Cowamongus Meat and Creamery located inside the Animal & Food Sciences building on the Texas Tech University campus.

Video: A video news release on blueberry sausage from Tech's Office of Communications and Marketing can be seen at http://today.ttu.edu/2008/08/blueberry-sausage/