California Ag Is Big and It Has Changed One in five Valley adults - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

• One in five Valley adults is employed in

agriculture

• $45 billion industry
• Jobs are now more high-tech, specialized,

and innovative

• Require higher-level skills than a decade ago

California Ag Is Big and It Has Changed

• Students graduate high school

without the skills or training to compete in the job market

• Fewer than 20% of students go on

to college

• Youth unemployment in the Central

Valley hovers near 37%

Hundreds of Skilled Jobs Remain Unfilled

What Wonderful Agriculture Career Prep Does for Valley Youth

• Increases college-going rate
• Prepares students for skilled

jobs and management careers

• Average starting salary $35K -

50K

Skilled Jobs Available with 2-Year Degree – Right Out of High School

Major

Plant Science

Crop or Spray Technician, Irrigation Manager, Pest Control Field Scout

Mechanics

Machine Operator, Equipment Mechanic, Electrician, Packing Technician

Business Management

General Administrator, Accountant, Clerk, Analyst, Supervisor

Our Model Creates a Strong Partnership

WO WONDERFUL AG AGRICULTURE CO COMP MPANI NIES HI HIGH H SC SCHOOLS CO COMMUNI MMUNITY CO COLLEGES

How It Works

• Students take first college course before

starting high school.

• Students continue to take college courses

each semester of high school, and every summer throughout high school.

• Students participate in fieldtrips and work-

based learning experiences each year.

• Students earn a technical certificate and an

AS or AS-T degree by the summer following the senior year.

Wonderful Agriculture Career Prep Participants

High Schools and Middle Schools Community Colleges Ag Business Partners

2014 Sanger High School Avenal High School Wonderful Academy 2015 Wasco High School Reedley Middle College Washington Union High School 2016 Mendota High School

Bakersfield College Reedley College West Hills College POM Wonderful Wonderful Citrus Wonderful Orchards Wonderful Pistachios and Almonds Olam International

Enrollment

3 High Schools 199 Freshman Students

2014- 2015

6 High Schools

503 Freshman/ Sophomore Students

6 Middle Schools 850 Middle School Students

2015- 2016

7 High Schools

825 Freshman/ Sophomore/ Junior Students

7 Middle Schools 1,000 Middle School Students

2016- 2017

Wonderful Agriculture Career Prep provides:

• Guest speakers, summer camps, and

tours of orchard, production and packing facilities

• Participation in industry conventions
• Job shadowing and industry mentorships
• Guaranteed paid internships at The

Wonderful Company

• Skilled jobs at one of our companies

More Information

Rebecca Farley

Senior Director Wonderful Agriculture Career Prep Rebecca.Farley@wonderful.com Wonderful.com