The process of bringing foods from the field to the table involves everything from developing farming techniques to managing interstate commerce. Training in the culinary arts may assist in any phase of the cultivation, processing or trade of America's favorite foods. As experts in the field change the way we think about food preparation, the reach of the industry grows increasingly broader.

The culinary experts behind Allrecipies.com are changing how U.S. households use technology to put dinner on the table.

According to a survey administered by the internet market research company ComScore, a total of 1.5 billion Americans used food websites in 2009 to plan for meals, and almost 50 percent of respondents with smart phones used the device while grocery shopping.

A similar survey on Allrecipes.com found that about one in five members of the website's online community moved a computer into their kitchen, of whom 86 percent reported surfing the internet for recipe while preparing a meal.

"Our emphasis at Allrecipes is always about using technology to simplify the lives of our community so they can fit home cooking into their increasingly busy schedules," said Lisa Sharples, the company's president.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many culinary training programs include courses on nutrition, menu planning, portion control as well as purchasing and inventory methods.