Food & Cooking Organizations

Pittsburgh Region

• Farmers' Market Alliance of Western Pennsylvania
  Resources for the farmer and the consumer
• Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA)
  A great resource for farmers' markets and local food
• Pennsylvania Culinary Institute
  Located in Downtown Pittsburgh, PCI is the third-largest culinary institute in the U.S. with over 1,100 students. Now part of Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America.
• Pittsburgh Dietetic Association
  Their website provides contact information on registered dieticians in the Pittsburgh area
• Slow Food Pittsburgh
  Slow Food is an international educational organization dedicated to the revival of the kitchen and the table as centers of pleasure, culture, and community; to the invigoration and proliferation of regional, seasonal culinary traditions; to the stewardship of the land and ecologically sound food production; and to leading a slower and more harmonious life. Slow Food Pittsburgh has 70 members and growing.

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Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania Beef Council
  The Pennsylvania Beef Council (PBC) is a non-profit organization working on behalf of 25,000 beef, dairy and veal producers in Pennsylvania. Agriculture is the number one industry in Pennsylvania; the state ranks ninth in the number of cattle and calves sold, with cattle inventory accounting for 95% of the total value of livestock.
• Pennsylvania Dietetics Association (PADA)
  The Pennsylvania Dietetic Association, a chapter of the American Dietetic Association, is the advocate of the dietetics profession serving the public through the promotion of optimal nutrition, health and well being. It is an organization of nearly 3400 members throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, organized into six geographical districts.
• Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association / Pennsylvania Convenience Store Council
  A trade association whose mission is to improve the public image, effectiveness and profitability of companies in the food industry.
• Pennsylvania Restaurant Association
  representing, promoting and educating their members (professional restaurateurs and foodservice operators) for the improvement of the restaurant and foodservice industry in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• Project PA
  Project PA is an educational campaign, established in 1995, to enable Pennsylvania School Food Service personnel to select and successfully implement appropriate menu planning systems for their schools, in compliance with the School Meals Initiative. It is a collaborative endeavor between the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Penn State University, Department of Nutrition, and School Food Service personnel in Pennsylvania.
• School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania (SNAPa)
  (formerly the Pennsylvania School Food Service Association)

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United States

• American Culinary Federation
  the nation's largest association of cooks and chefs
• American Dietetic Association (ADA): Eat Right America
  Nutrition and contact information; abstracts from their Journal; and links to other nutritional organizations, state dietetic associations.
• American Institute of Wine and Food
  In 1981 Julia Child, Robert Mondavi, Richard Graff, and others founded The American Institute of Wine & Food, a non-profit educational organization devoted to improving the appreciation, understanding, and accessibility of food and drink. Today, The AIWF has over 30 chapters in the United States and one in France, with more than 7,000 members who are restauranteurs, food industry professionals, food educators, nutritionists, chefs, wine professionals and dedicated food and wine enthusiasts.
• American Society for Nutrition
  In 2005, the American Society for Clinical Nutrition, the American Society for Nutritional Sciences (formerly the American Institute for Nutrition) and the Society for International Nutrition merged to form ASN.
  • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
  • Journal of Nutrition
• Association of Food Journalists
  AFJ, formerly the Newspaper Food Editors and Writers Association founded in 1974, is a networking system especially created for journalists who devote most of their working time to planning and writing food copy for news media worldwide. Its membership numbers 275 mainly from the United States and Canada. Their website includes guidelines for restaurant critics and links to the newspaper food sections of their members.
• Canned Food Alliance: Mealtime
  The Canned Food Alliance (CFA) is a consortium of steelmakers, can makers, food processors and canned food brands that have joined together to promote the nutritional and convenience benefits of canned food. Mealtime is a website for consumers, encouraging them to use canned food.
• Center for Consumer Freedom
  This is a coalition of restaurant chains and food and beverage suppliers that work "to defend your right to a full and varied menu of dining options." They are against "food cops" telling people what to eat (even if they are obese).
• Food Routes
  Where does YOUR food come from?
• International Association of Culinary Professionals
  IACP is a not-for-profit professional association which provides continuing education and development for its members who are engaged in the areas of culinary education, communication, or in the preparation of food and drink. The Worldwide membership of nearly 4,000 encompasses over 35 countries and is literally a "Who's Who" of the world of food.
• International Dutch Oven Society
  Do you like to cook with cast iron over a campfire? Check out this organization and its recipes.
• Organic Farming Research Foundation
  A non-profit, tax-exempt foundation directed by certified organic farmers supporting organic farming grant-making research and advocacy.
• Organic Trade Association
  A national association representing the organic industry in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmer associations, brokers, consultants, distributors and retailers.
• School Nutrition Association
  The School Nutrition Association (formerly American School Food Service Association) is a national, nonprofit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country.
• Society for the Anthropology of Food and Nutrition (SAFN)
  The Society for the Anthropology of Food and Nutrition (SAFN), formerly known as the Council on Nutritional Anthropology (CNA), was organized in 1974 in response to the increased interest in the interface between social sciences and human nutrition.

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International

• Guild of Food Writers
  This is the professional association of food writers and broadcasters in the United Kingdom. Their website offers a recipe of the month and a list of awards winners (best first book, British food, cookery journalist, food journalist, food book, cookery book, and healthy eating).
• International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association
  The IFW&TWA strives to be a gathering point and resource base for an active membership composed of professionals engaged in the food, wine and travel industries. The association's membership includes professionals in culinary arts and sciences, the wine growing and production industry, and in the hotel and hospitality management industries.
• Slow Food
  http://www.slowfood.com/
  This is an international movement opposed to "Fast Food", active in 35 countries worldwide, with 60,000 members and about 400 "convivia".