You can participate in UC’s latest outreach effort by creating a collage with lusciously local food imagery and submitting it to UC’s Produce Collage Contest. Three designs selected as favorites will each win $75 gift certificates to LocalHarvest, where you can purchase locally grown food products and support local agriculture.

So, go ahead and play with your food! The contest is open to legal U.S. residents over the age of 13 with a valid Facebook account. It is open from now until 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014.

Here’s how you can create your own collage:

  1. Visit UC’s Power of Public website and click on Make one now. Then follow the instructions to create your collage. (Click the Facebook contest page button for inspiration!)
  2. Click Submit your collage to post your collage to the Facebook page and officially enter it in the UC Produce Collage Contest.
  3. A panel of judges will review submissions for creativity. Those selected will be featured on the main University of California Facebook page and entered into a photo album where everyone can “like” their favorites.
  4. Share your collage with friends and check out other submissions on UC’s Facebook page to vote for your favorites.
  5. The three collages that receive the most likes by Nov. 20 will each win a $75 LocalHarvest gift card. Winners will be notified by the University of California directly via Facebook and have 15 days to claim their gift card.

See complete contest rules on the UC Produce Collage Contest Facebook page.

In conjunction with the contest, the updated Power of Public website features more fun and interactive content showcasing the range of remarkable people and visionary work under way across the system, including:

  • Public Offering explores UC’s work in the creation, development and application of agricultural research. Visitors can learn more about UC’s specific role in a select number of produce items.
  • Public Records spotlights the richness of UC’s museums, libraries and other collections. Video content offers a behind-the-scenes peek at some of the unique artifacts from the point of view of librarians and curators.
  • Public Office displays an interactive photo gallery that allows you to experience the breadth and depth of the University of California by exploring the amazing locations where UC minds are at work.

Patti Meagher is a communications strategist at UC's Office of the President.