KUTZTOWN – The Shapiro Administration announced a $350,000 grant for the development of a first-in-PA apprenticeship program that will offer opportunity to Pennsylvanians seeking careers as organic compliance inspectors in the agriculture industry. The Rodale Institute, an agricultural research and education nonprofit in Berks County and dedicated to advancing regenerative organic agriculture, plans to create an earn-as-you-learn registered apprenticeship program and develop a pipeline of highly skilled professionals to serve the certified organic industry throughout the state. The program will be supported by the PA Department of Labor & Industry’s Apprenticeship and Training Office, which is responsible for guiding and promoting the expansion and compliance of all registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs in the state. The USDA ranks PA third in the nation for organic commodity sales which exceeded $60 billion in 2022.
