Partner with other leaders in the U.S. Spice Industry
For over a century, we have proudly served as the authoritative voice of the U.S. spice industry, representing an extensive network of over 200 members that encompasses growers, dehydrators, and processors of spices.
Our members are responsible for manufacturing and marketing the vast majority of spices sold in the U.S., catering to a diverse range of sectors including industrial, food service, and consumer use. We’re dedicated to providing ongoing opportunities to our members for education and networking, as well as ensuring our members have access to up-to-date and valuable resources.
Join these other proud members
Our founder joined ASTA in 1921, so our company has been an ASTA member for over 100 years. ASTA provides a forum for well-established spice and seasonings companies to work together towards a safe & sustainable flavor industry. Beyond quality standards and advocacy, the ASTA membership has a long tradition of friendship and community that spans the globe. The annual meetings, regulatory workshops, and market reports that provide key insights into the crops and relevant issues affecting the spice trade.
Peter Sayia, Jr.
Partner, Broker - Active Member
ASTA provides a remarkable forum for the global spice community to unify with one strong voice. Policies and regulations that happen in the United States and the world require constant vigilance, research, and advocacy - culminating with a thoughtful response. Without ASTA, our voices would be lost. ASTA gives members a forum to continue to engage, learn, and broaden their networks in the spice world.
Ravin Donald, PhD
Executive VP of Operations
ASTA is the best value your company can obtain for the cost. Many voices with common interests funneled through one Washington DC-based organization provide very effective synergies to deal with global regulatory and trade issues.
Tom Overby
President and CEO, US
ASTA is THE organization for any serious player in the global spice trade. We’ve been a member since our inception decades ago and ASTA has been an integral partner of our development since.
Mostafa Bedair
CEO
ASTA is a great voice for our industry. It works at the local, state, and federal levels to help communicate the interests of its members, as well as educate those members on what is going on with regulations around the globe. The amount of work done on a regulatory basis greatly benefits a company of our size, allowing us to accomplish things as a group that we couldn't do on our own, and to be ahead of the curve on food safety and regulations. The lifelong industry friendships with leaders in the industry have made this organization's events one of those items I actually look forward to on the calendar.
Greg Hanks
President and CEO - Active Member
ASTA is an organization that promotes the sharing of best practices across the spice industry which should give end users confidence when they use products from a member company. We all have an obligation to defend the ASTA reputation. the value in ASTA membership is the ability to jointly address industry issues and not have to go it alone.
Greg Lightfoot
VP Global Business Development
Our ASTA membership is impactful due in part to the newsletters that provide relevant, timely updates across the industry, networking opportunities to connect with customers and suppliers, and highly skilled volunteers & team members all working towards common goals to advance key initiatives for the industry.
ASTA has invested considerable time and talent to listen to our members and offer easier ways to find the critical information you are looking for across the revamped newsletters & future website improvements. This will include having easier access to expert product & regulatory expertise. ASTA has also been implementing additional ways to help facilitate networking which is an effective and important consideration for member companies.
Jill Russell
VP Business Development, ofi (Olam Food Ingredients)
Partner with the premier U.S. spice trade organization
Amplify your voice. Grow your business. Unlock exclusive benefits.
If spices are important to your business, membership is essential
Active Membership
Active Members of ASTA are individuals, firms, and corporations that are involved in the direct production, trade, or sale of spices. These members must be based in or doing business in the United States. Active members are classified as either Brokers and Agents or Importers, Traders, Processors, Growers, or Distributors.
Associate Membership
Associate Members of ASTA are individuals, firms, and corporations that are affiliated with the U.S. spice industry who do not otherwise qualify for Active Membership. Associate Members receive all of the same membership benefits as Active Members, but these members are unable to serve as voting members at our annual meeting or on the board.
Retailer Membership
Retailer Members of ASTA are individuals, firms, and corporations that are primarily engaged in the retail sale of food, including spices or seasonings, directly to consumers and who are not otherwise engaged in the growing, processing, manufacturing, blending, or wholesale trade of spices and seasonings. These members must be based in or doing business in the United States.
Answering your ASTA membership questions
Your membership category is determined by your type of business.
Active Members are generally brokers, agents, importers, traders, processors, blenders, growers, or distributors of spices. Businesses that are either based in or do business in the United States and are directly involved in the various aspects of the spice/seasoning production or trade are eligible for Active Membership.
Associate Members are entities that are affiliated with the U.S. spice industry in some other way. For example, Associate members may provide laboratory, warehousing, or transportation services or sell packaging to spice distributors. Associate members also include CPG and food service companies that use spices in finished food products, as well as NGOs, research institutions, and other organizations that have an interest in the spice trade.
Retailer Members are individuals or entities who sell food, including spices and seasonings, directly to consumers. Retailer members must be based in or doing business in the United States.
Annual membership dues vary according to your member category. Brokers and agents pay a flat fee of $4,200 for the first income producer and an additional fee of $1,050 for each additional income producer. Dues for Importers, Traders, Processors, Growers, or Distributors are assessed on the number of pounds of spices sold to or purchased in the United States and range from $3,120 - $100,000 annually.
Associate Members pay a single, flat fee for membership of $2,500 per year. Retailer Members pay an introductory flat fee of $10,000 for membership.
All membership applications are subject to a non-refundable $250 application fee. Learn more about our fees.
To join ASTA, you need to complete a membership application and submit a non-refundable $250 application fee. You’ll also need to provide two references along with your application. It typically takes 10-15 days to process your application for membership. Learn more about how to join ASTA and download your membership application here.
ASTA members have access to an extensive resource library. Our resource library includes analytical methods, crop reports, technical presentations, sample contracts, guidance documents, and white papers. ASTA also offers ongoing education, newsletters, and programs that help our members run their businesses more effectively and efficiently. Our online member directory, which features searchable company profiles, individual contacts, and custom demographics, is available exclusively to ASTA members.
ASTA staff will determine eligibility for each member category. During the application process, ASTA will review publicly available information such as your company’s website and annual report to determine membership eligibility. Each applicant is also required to provide two references within the spice industry.
In instances where a company qualifies for more than one type of membership, ASTA policy states that they will be required to join ASTA in the category with the highest level of annual dues.
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Need answers to your questions or more info about joining ASTA? We're here to help.
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