Northhampton News

Gov. Tom Wolf announced that $293,070 in funds through the Pennsylvania Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship Grant Program will be used to help the Pasa Sustainable Agriculture in training apprentices following a rising demand in locally grown vegetables.

According to a press release by Wolf, the Departments of Community and Economic Development and Agriculture held a press conference on August 30 to in Landisburg announcing the funds, which will be used to enhance the Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship and Diversified Vegetable Apprenticeship programs. Gov. Wolf took office, 82 pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs have been supported and $12 million has been invested.

“Through this funding, Pasa will be able to provide training for diversified vegetable apprentices and pre-apprentices across Pennsylvania,” said Wolf. “The invaluable skillset these apprentices and pre-apprentices learn helps keep agriculture at the forefront of the commonwealth’s economy. My administration is pleased to continue to support these programs.”

The funding will allow Pasa to partner with six farmer training programs in Pennsylvania to train five pre-apprentices each year for the next three years. The funding will also go toward five registered apprentices each year during the same time.

“Pennsylvania has a strong workforce, and it is due, in part, to programs like this one,” said Gwen Ross, director of Workforce Development Initiatives at DCED. “Continuing to invest in programs that provide training and develop our workforce is a key way to give Pennsylvania a competitive advantage.” 

Pasa was created by farmers in Pennsylvania in 1992 and helps with farmer training, research, creating policy, peer education and creating local food programs. 

“Pasa’s state-registered Diversified Vegetable Apprenticeship programs are major milestones in ushering in the next generation of Pennsylvania’s farmers,” said Dan Dalton, assistant director of Farmer Training and Development at Pasa. “Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship offers a first step to a career in agriculture. Graduates of the full apprenticeship will be able to clearly demonstrate their competencies, better positioning them for management-level positions, and accessing capital and land opportunities.”

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Special Assistant Sara Gligora said that consumer demand for locally grown food continues to increase, and growers need to have skilled workers who can adapt to new technologies in order to meet the demand.

“These apprenticeships are a solid investment in attracting good students and paying them while they learn the skills agriculture needs to keep feeding demand and feeding the world,” Gligora said.