Laura Shumow
Executive Director
From our Executive Director
As the Executive Director of ASTA, I am immensely proud to represent an industry that promotes health, culture, and the economy. Spices are critical to flavoring healthful foods and recipes that strengthen familial bonds, and connect people to their heritage. Furthermore, spices are essential to the livelihoods of farmers around the world, and integral to the American food industry, which accounts for about one-fifth of the U.S. economy.
In response to ever-growing challenges related to supply chain complexities, regulatory changes, climate, labor, and technical issues, ASTA equips all our valued members with the crucial resources, support, and advocacy needed to excel in this industry. We bring together our diverse membership, which includes farmers, processors, importers, researchers, and other stakeholders in the U.S. spice industry with leaders in industry, academia and regulatory agencies to solve our sector’s biggest issues and advance the trade. Together, we are working to ensure a sustainable supply of safe pure spice by protecting and promoting our vital industry. Join us in our mission!
Supporting ASTA Members and the U.S. Spice Industry
Our dedicated team brings a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. Together, we work tirelessly to serve our members and advocate for the U.S. spice industry.
Guiding the American Spice Industry for over 100 years
Formation
ASTA was established to bring organization to the spice industry and uphold newly established food safety laws. During this period, the association worked to develop industry-wide standards to foster compliance with the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. ASTA also established standard contracts and addressed disputes among members.
Expansion
Amid challenges like declining markets, poor publicity, intra-industry strife, the First World War, and lack of import-level government standards, ASTA underwent a significant restructuring to grow the association and hire professional staff to efficiently navigate these challenges.
Education
With the resurgence of the spice trade following the Second World War, ASTA focused on organizing industry networking events. ASTA also focused on educating American consumers, who had limited knowledge and access to spices, through magazine articles and recipes featuring the use of spices.
Methods and Research
This era is marked by a focus on developing technical expertise within the spice industry. ASTA continued to prioritize consumer safety and developed industry standards for analytical testing of spices. ASTA also worked closely with the FDA in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster to safeguard consumer health.
Advocacy
ASTA relocated from New York to Washington D.C. to enhance its advocacy efforts, establishing closer ties with legislative and regulatory bodies and increasing synergy with other trade associations. ASTA continues to be involved in coalitions pressing for legislative and regulatory action on food-related issues.
Safety and Sustainability
Since the passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act, ASTA has focused on enabling food safety compliance through research, education, and resources. As we look to the future, ASTA expects to focus more on sustainable sourcing and responsible labor standards, as well as addressing climate-related challenges.
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