President’s Blend – a medium-bodied, aromatic, smooth student-produced coffee selected by California State University, Fresno President John D. Welty from among three finalists, is new at the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market on campus.

President’s Blend joins a line of student coffees commemorating Fresno State’s Centennial: Time Out Roast, Victor E. Blend, Bulldog Regular and Bulldog Decaf. Each 12-ounce package of ground or whole-bean coffee costs $9.95 and is available in three-, four- or five-variety boxes suitable for personal use or for giving.

President’s Blend has been selling very well since it hit the shelves just before Fresno State’s 100th Commencement on Saturday, May 21, said Dr. Ganesan Srinivasan, director of Fresno State Agricultural Operations who oversees the student enterprises that supply the farm market.

The coffees were chosen from dozens of experimental blends that underwent extensive testing, tasting and consumer studies by food sciences and nutrition students under the direction of Dr. Dennis Ferris. The Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition is housed within the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.

For the President’s Blend, Welty chose the coffee prepared by students Hytham Badr, Simin Chen and Angela Weber in a blind tasting among three finalists. The others were judged to be equally good and unique in flavor.

So the blends produced by Farah Falahi, Amber Hall and Min Zhang and by Xing Rui (Henry) Chen, Sovron Meas and Jason Smith were named Victor. E. and Time Out, respectively, to recognize the university’s live and costumed sports mascots.

Bulldog Decaf was developed by Theresia Lie, Phillip So and Jennie Xayavath.

“I am honored our students are commemorating the university’s Centennial with this Presidents Blend and the other new coffees,” Welty said. “It was a tough choice to make; each one tasted very good.

“I commend our students for their fine work and encourage our university friends and Bulldog fans to support them by trying these blends and proudly offering them to your guests.”

In partnership with Fabiano’s Coffee Roasting Co. of Fresno, students blended different high-quality, hand-selected Arabica beans to learn about artisan roasting, product development and sensory studies.

Under Ferris’ guidance, the students learned the art of blending and conducting a taste-off to arrive at a winning mixture with the various blends.

Bulldog Blend, the first Fresno State coffee, was introduced in February 2009 and is a favorite among farm market customers, Srinivasan said.

The Gibson Farm Market at Chestnut and Barstow avenues is open during the summer 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more information, contact Srinivasan at 559.278.2011 or gsrinivasan@csufresno.edu or check the store’s Facebook page for supply update.

(Copy by University Communications news intern Nicole Maul)

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