The Bread Bakers Guild of America, Pittsburgh, launched its Women of The Guild North American Tour 2008 this month. The series of Master Classes feature women bakers of the guild as instructors.

Fueled by two female bakers on Bread Bakers Guild Team USA 2008, who will compete in the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie, “World Cup of Baking,” in Paris this spring, the guild will highlight the many women who have shaped and changed the artisan baking industry.

The series will offer hands-on, lecture and demonstration bread baking classes where students will get an opportunity to learn from some of the best bakers in the industry. The classes will take place across the country throughout 2008.

Christy Timon of Clear Flour Bread, Brookline, Mass., kicked off the classes with Enriched Doughs with Practical Production Applications earlier this month and March 5. BBG Team USA 2008 members, Solveig Tofte and Dara Reimers, also are on the tour later in the year in their respective cities, Minneapolis and Providence, R.I.

For a complete schedule of the tour classes, visit www.bbga.org.