LEAMINGTON, ON - In an effort to support the company’s Greenhouse Education Center (GEC), NatureFresh™ Farms is using social media power to help recruit college students to the company’s workforce.

Following the recent launch of WeAreTheGrower.com with its creative and digital partners, NatureFresh is looking to not only connect with college summer job seekers, but also resonate with them the opportunity to educate consumers about greenhouse-grown produce. The new initiative is in support of this summer’s #GreenInTheCity Tour. 

“Some may say that using social media is not unique, however we are focusing our strategic geo-targeted recruitment efforts towards specific college and universities that offer agriculture, agri-science, agri-business, health, and food marketing programs,” said Chris Veillon, Director of Marketing. 

College students looking for summer jobs in the industry will be able to get real life, hands-on consumer-facing experiences, thanks to NatureFresh’s recruitment program. As members of the GEC team, these students will get to travel throughout eastern North America attending community events, schools, summer camps and connecting with consumers at retail events, according to a press release. Equipped with the latest technology in smartphones, tablets, and video equipment, the new team members will be able to share their exploits on NatureFresh’s social media channels and new website/blog that will be launched later this spring. 

This is not exactly an internship, Veillon assures, explaining, “We have the opportunity to further invest in our industry by attracting and retaining students who want to have a career in the produce industry. The Greenhouse Education Center is an impactful and game-changing tool that we fully embrace which benefits the entire industry.”

The Center For Growing Talent by PMA says these opportunities are critical to university students and to their career path.

Alicia Calhoun, PMA’s Program Director adds, “When companies like NatureFresh™ create platforms to bridge the gap between educational institutions and real life work settings, it creates the opportunity to generate interest in our industry. Programs like these provide students with a chance to take their career plan for a test drive and industry a chance to gain access to bright, new talent.” 

Lead by the company’s Chef and Sensory Education Coordinator, Henry Furtado, NatureFresh provides the community with opportunities to participate in informational sessions at schools and community gathering. By now involving students from colleges and universities in the USA and Canada with the Greenhouse Education Center, NatureFresh™ is providing quality hands-on experiences to students to help them apply what they have learned in school to real-life customer interactions, the company says. 

“The Greenhouse Education Center internship that NatureFresh™ is offering is a great way for local college students to help connect fresh produce with consumers in a variety of cities throughout North America this summer,” commented Eric Richer, Ohio State University Extension, Agriculture and Natural Resources. “It seems to me that above and beyond educating about their company, the Greenhouse Education Center team will educate about the process of growing greenhouse vegetables and the value of those vegetables in our daily diet.”

Larry Zink, Industry Relations/Outreach Coordinator, Michigan State University, also shared his thoughts on the NatureFresh program, explaining, “Opportunities like what NatureFresh™ Farms is creating only enhance a student's education, they are being exposed to real word opportunities. These very unique opportunities are sometimes few and far between so we encourage students to take advantage as often as they can.”

NatureFresh™ Farms says it expects to complete all of its hiring for the Greenhouse Education Center by the end of March. To learn more about the program, please visit WeAreTheGrower.com.

NatureFresh™ Farms