Seeking to bolster careers in the state’s organic farming industry, the Shapiro Administration has announced a $350,000 grant for the development of a first-in-Pennsylvania apprenticeship program with the help of a local nonprofit.
The Kutztown-based Rodale Institute, an agricultural research and education nonprofit, plans to create an earn-as-you-learn registered apprenticeship program and develop a diverse pipeline of highly skilled professionals to serve the certified organic industry throughout the state.
The goal is to help those seeking in-demand careers as organic compliance inspectors in the agriculture industry.
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited the Rodale Institute this week to announce the grant and the Shapiro Administration’s support for workforce development projects that create family-sustaining jobs and support Pennsylvania businesses.
“Apprenticeship programs offer pathways to stable careers and family-sustaining wages without the crippling burden of debt. It’s also one of the best ways for employers to create customized education programs to ensure they have the talent pipeline they need to grow and be successful in a global economy,” Walker said.
Walker noted that the U.S. Department of Agriculture ranks Pennsylvania third in the nation for organic commodity sales which exceeded $60 billion in 2022, according to a study by the Organic Trade Association.
“Getting organic products to the consumers who want them and will pay top dollar requires significant investment,” Redding said. “That’s not just investing in the practices that earn products the USDA Certified Organic label, but in workers who have the skills and know-how to achieve that high standard.”
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that, on average, apprentices earn a starting wage of $80,000 per year after graduation and are on track to earn $300,000 more over their careers compared to workers who do not graduate from an apprenticeship program.
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