Which Professional Organization has the most value for the money?

I need to join a professional organization as part of BRC requirements. I prefer to become part of an organization that will actually provide information relevant to my Industry. Food Processing. I am  familiar with IAFP and a few others. Which ones do the members feel has the most value for the money?

 

Thanks   

in Advance

Hi hailstate,

 

I'm not aware of the requirement to be a member of a professional organisation. However, there are many benefits in being associated with organisations such as Campden BRI, Leatherhead Food Research and Reading Food Science (all in the UK). We find trade bodies useful as well as they often set standards/specifications and provide notification of potential issues. Both these groups will also lobby government.

Hi hailstate -

 

     Where are you located, and what types of food are you processing?

 

 

KTD

Southeastern USA - Poultry

Maybe USP where vulnerabilitiy assessments are involved.

I would think that this group, IFSQN, would qualify.  However, there is ASQ or the American Poultry Association or International Association for Food Protection.  They all provide many resources. 

In addition to the ones Mulan 1010 notes, The Poultry Federation is another good one. It is regionally based (AR, MO, OK), but heavily poultry driven. you might check with your local university. Some of them have periodic meetings with industry that may involve reg officials. The Univ of Ark has had one running for going on 10 years.

 

KTD

In 1.1.6 it says one of the options if to get a membership... there are other ones.  For knowing legalities, you could get notifications from USDA in their website and attend the Poultry show in Atlanta each year too.  That would be valuable for knowledge and networking.

In the UK, Campden BRI is the one I really rate.  It would be interesting to hear if there are US equivalents as sometimes we have problems in the US where having an independent body look into them would be helpful.

There is a great organization called Food Protectors and membership can de done on a state by state basis.

We were members of the Florida Food Protectors Association which is made up of those in food retailing and manufacturing.

From a standpoint of value there for under 100.00 a year their was a constant flow of available workshops, meetings, educational funds for young people entering the food industry etc and many times the event are hosted by the various members at their own corporate locations like Disney, Publix Supermarkets, Darden etc - for Florida most of these were in the Orlando area.

Really a great organization to contribute to and to derive knowledge from.

There is a great organization called Food Protectors and membership can de done on a state by state basis.

We were members of the Florida Food Protectors Association which is made up of those in food retailing and manufacturing.

From a standpoint of value there for under 100.00 a year their was a constant flow of available workshops, meetings, educational funds for young people entering the food industry etc and many times the event are hosted by the various members at their own corporate locations like Disney, Publix Supermarkets, Darden etc - for Florida most of these were in the Orlando area.

Really a great organization to contribute to and to derive knowledge from.