Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture secretary, and Gov. Josh Shapiro recently visited the Rodale Institute in Kutztown to celebrate the institute’s Annual Organic Field Day.
The day celebrates Pennsylvania’s organic agriculture sector and is attended by legislators, farmers, gardeners, university faculty and students.
During field day, participants learned about the latest organic agriculture farming trials, research, and demonstration projects.
“Today’s conversation has focused on the growth of organic agriculture, but also the growth of the workforce needed to support this sector,” Redding said. “Through the Organic Center of Excellence, we can connect workforce development efforts with our business development efforts and continue to support anyone who wants to be in farming. Gov. Shapiro’s leadership is a bolt of energy into our work – and he sees even greater opportunity for Pennsylvania’s farmers and agriculture industry in organic through the creation of an Organic Center of Excellence.”
The Departments of Agriculture and Military and Veterans Affairs have invested $5.3 million into the Rodale Institute to support research and job training initiatives.
Annually, Pennsylvania’s agriculture sector contributes $132 billion to the state’s economy.
Shapiro and Redding also met with military veterans enrolled in the institute’s Veteran Farm Training program. The program offers veterans the opportunity to learn agricultural skills.