User:MosheHalberstam/sandbox

The Association of Food Industries, Inc. (AFI) is a nonprofit trade association established in 1906 in New York State. It advocates for members involved in various sectors of the food industry, such as importers of nuts, agricultural products, processed foods, and their overseas suppliers; importers and marketers of olive oil; packers and dealers of honey; and companies that provide services to the food industry.

AFI Specifications
AFI develops and maintains the American Food Institute Specifications (AFI specs), a set of standards aimed at ensuring the quality and safety of food products, and to facilitate international trade in these products. The AFI specs encompass a wide array of food products and detail the requirements for size, color, texture, flavor, and nutritional content. They also outline requirements for the processing and packaging of food products.

Membership
AFI members are entities involved in the trade of a variety of food products such as pasta, olive oil, nuts, dried fruit, canned seafood, olives, canned fruit, edible seeds, canned vegetables, frozen fruit, juice concentrate, honey, frozen vegetables, spices, tomato products, wine, and frozen seafood.

Associate members include banks, insurance brokers, laboratories, customs brokers, shipping lines, foreign exchange/global payment providers, warehouses, freight forwarders, computer software providers, trucking companies, logistics providers, attorneys, accountants, foreign promotion agencies, and consulates.

Standards Review and Updates
AFI specs are periodically updated to reflect changes in the food industry. These standards are reviewed by a panel of experts to ensure their scientific validity and practicality.

Benefits and Adoption
Although voluntary, many businesses opt to adhere to the AFI specs as a means of ensuring the quality and safety of their products. The specifications are used globally, aiding international trade. They also potentially decrease costs by providing a set of standards to follow, which can help avoid recalls and other problems associated with subpar food quality. The AFI specs can also potentially boost consumer confidence in food products by reassuring them of the safety and quality of these items.