Automatic apparatus for dispensing a food material such as pizza meat. The apparatus utilizes a rotatable valve for conveying a food material from a source thereof to an intermediate, or portioning, cylinder, to a main cylinder where it is introduced into a dispensing station which includes a reciprocatable knife plate. An air actuator is used to rotate the rotatable valve. Non-contact solid state sensors, and pneumatic control valves are employed to control the continuous movement of a food material through the apparatus.