Food & Cooking Organizations

Pittsburgh Region

• American Wine Society Pittsburgh Chapter
  The founding chapter of the American Wine Society in Pittsburgh, where members learn the appreciation of wine, and wine making through conferences, wine tastings, educational and fun meetings. They meet in the North Hills area of Pittsburgh on every third Wednesday at 7:30pm.

• American Wine Society - Pittsburgh East Chapter
  A brand new chapter founded by Karen and Doug Wayner in January 1998 and whose goal is wine education.
• 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.
• Pennsylvania School Food Service Association
  Chartered by the American School Food Service Association in 1955, PSFSA is a not for profit corporation that has grown to over 2,000 members divided into 15 regions which currently house 33 active chapters.
• 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.

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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 Clinical Nutrition
  
  • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
    Read abstracts of the current articles online. This is the publication of The American Society for Clinical Nutrition.
• American Society for Nutritional Sciences
  The American Society for Nutritional Sciences (3500+ members) is the premier research society dedicated to improving the quality of life through the science of nutrition. They publish the journal Nutrition.
  • 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.
  • CASI: Chili Appreciation Society International
    Affiliated CASI Pods sponsor and support local and regional Chili Cookoffs. Last year, CASI sanctioned over 450 Chili Cookoffs throughout the United States, Canada, and the Virgin Islands, and contributed over 1.2 million dollars to worthy charitable organizations.
  • 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).
  • COPIA
    American Center for Wine, Food, and the Arts. A new $44 million arts and cultural attraction under development in Napa in the California Wine Country, dedicated to exploring and celebrating the distinctly American contribution to the character of wine and food in close association with the arts and humanities.
  • The Council on Nutritional Anthropology
    Organized in 1974 under the auspices of the American Anthropological Association in response to the increased interest in the interface between social sciences and human nutrition.
  • 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.

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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".