SPRINGDALE, Ark. (May 29, 2007)­The American Culinary Federation, headquartered in St. Augustine, Fla., announces it has formally chartered the Northwest Arkansas Chefs Association (NWACA) as its newest chapter.  Formation of the northwest Arkansas chapter was approved in April by central regional vice president David Russell, CEC, AAC.  The group will be led in its inaugural year by Pamela Lewis, senior corporate chef for Tyson Foods, Inc.  Lewis will have overall responsibility for membership and professional development for the chapter, as well as representing northwest Arkansas at the ACF national convention in Orlando later this year. 
 
The American Culinary Federation is the nation’s premier professional chef’s organization.  It has more than 18,000 members in 240 chapters across the United States and is recognized as the authority on cooking in America.  The group’s mission is to make a positive difference for chefs through education, apprenticeship and certification. 

Tyson Foods, Inc. [NYSE: TSN], founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products, which are marketed under the “Powered by Tyson®” strategy.  Tyson Foods is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves, providing products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 80 countries. The company has approximately 107,000 Team Members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.