Cooking Channel serves up fresh new culinary competition series 'Farmers' Market Flip'

The cream of the crop of the culinary world go head-to-head as they are put to the test to produce the most crowd-pleasing dishes in local farmers' markets on Cooking Channel's newest action-packed, half-hour cooking competition, "Farmers' Market Flip."

Host Jeff Mahin presides over the competition beginning on Thursday, April 20 (10 p.m. ET), as two teams of talented chefs shop for the freshest, seasonal ingredients the farmers' market has to offer. Then, they must cook up the most delicious gourmet meal for the toughest judges around - hungry marketgoers. When time is up, the team that wins over the most palates will take home the $5,000 prize and bragging rights.

" 'Farmers' Market Flip' combines the hottest food trend of farm-to-table fare, with fast-paced challenges that push the teams' cooking skills and culinary creativity to their limit," said Allison Page, general manager, U.S. programming and development, Scripps Networks Interactive. "Viewers, and marketgoers, are in for a treat as these talented competitors whip up on-the-fly, fresh gourmet bites."

In each episode, the contestants' cooking abilities are put to the test as they face off in two rounds of challenges. First, in the "Flavor of the Market" challenge, the teams must create a dish that highlights a vendor's star ingredient, such as a naval orange, bok choy or cauliflower to make it shine on the plate. The team with the most flavorful and creative dish, with the best presentation, will earn a special advantage in the "Feed the Market" challenge. In the second round, the teams will have 20 minutes to race through the farmers' market to buy ultra-fresh ingredients for their final plates. With only one hour to prepare their gourmet plates, the competition heats up with surprising twists, such as incorporating secret ingredients or using a specific kitchen tool to make their meal. The team that impresses the hungry customers at the market and earns the most votes will be crowned the winner.

Fans can get tips for prepping and cooking with farmers' market produce on CookingChannelTV.com/FarmersMarketFlip. They can also join the conversation online using #FarmersMarketFlip.

Mahin is a chef and partner at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) and, at just 33 years old, he has already accumulated several industry accolades. Mahin received his professional training at the California Culinary Academy and went on to work in prestigious kitchens around the country after graduation. In 2007, Mahin assisted in opening LEYE's Michelin-starred restaurant L2O in Chicago.

As a devotee of locally produced ingredients, Mahin opened his first LEYE concept in 2011, Stella Barra Pizzeria, in Santa Monica, California, where he experiments with locally milled flour and farmers' market ingredients to make up the ever-changing menu.

Out of the kitchen, Mahin can be found judging a variety of cooking shows, including "Sugar Showdown" on Cooking Channel, as well as riding his bike to fight childhood hunger for No Kid Hungry.