The Food Committee is the Oregon State University chapter of the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA). Through IFTSA, we participate in a variety of collegiate competitions, including product development competitions and College Bowl. There are also opportunities to receive recognition for undergraduate research through poster sessions at the annual IFT meeting and the undergraduate research competition.

 

Check out the IFTSA Blog ScienceMeetsFood. They are also looking for student contributions. So write about a club event or interesting food science topics and send them in.

 

It is strongly recommended that members of the Food Committee join IFT. Membership dues for student members are $50 with the printed subscription to Food Technology magazine or $25 with an online subscription. Graduating student members are eligible to receive a free year of membership upon graduation. Learn more about becoming a student member here

 

We are affiliated with the Oregon Section Institute of Food Technologists (OSIFT). We are invited to attend their monthly dinner meetings and our ticket prices are subsidized. They continuously support the FST department through scholarships, travel grants, donations to laboratory upgrades, and access to internships and job opportunities. 

 

The Food Committee hosts several other activities. We have an annual trip to the Astoria Seafood Lab to smoke salmon. We run several workshops to make food ranging from bread, sausage, candy, and pretzels. Community service is also completed through the Food Committee. In years past, we have made jams and repackaged cheese curds and IQF vegetables to donate to the local food bank.