David Tochinskiy of Rosauers in Spokane won the Washington Food Industry Association’s “Best Bagger” competition, Oct. 21.  Candice Lastimado of Metropolitan Market in West Seattle was first runner-up, while Carl Bell of QFC of Mercer Island came in third.

“This is an exciting and fun event that recognizes employees in our local grocery stores and all the hard work that they do,” said Jan Gee, president & CEO of WFIA.

Participants in the “Best Bagger” are judged on a rigorous criterion of speed, style, technique and uniform bag weight. The competition consists of up to three rounds. The first uses paper bags, while the second requires participants to fill reusable bags.

A bruising third and final round determines the ultimate winner. The second and third place winners receive trophies and $1,000 and $500, respectively.

Washington state has had a proud history of stellar baggers. 2012 winner Andrew Borracchini of Metropolitan Market won the national competition and even appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman.”

In 2010 Jessica Lewis, of Yoke’s Fresh Market-Foothills in Spokane, continued on to nationals and came in second.

“All of us who shop regularly can appreciate a well-packed bag of groceries,” said Gee. “It’s pretty amazing what some of these young contestants can do. It’s practically an art.”