Securing the Future

Kristen Reid, vice president of MIXTEC Group, an agribusiness recruiting firm in Glendale, CA, says a key question to ask any Generation X or Y recruit is ‘What is important to you in a career/job?’ “All the research about the next generation of professionals

indicates they are interested in working for companies they can feel good about. We work hard to provide healthy, affordable, and safe food for the world—it’s a cause you can believe in,” she asserts.

Other research indicates younger workers seek a good work/life balance, which Reid believes is something the industry

needs to improve upon. “This means being more flexible with work hours and perhaps even work structures,” she explains. “We’re going to have to adapt to changing candidate demands to attract people to the industry.”

“Right now,” Meunier emphasizes, “there is such an important focus on eating healthy.” For job seekers, knowing the fresh produce industry is a significant part of this effort means that every worker contributing to the cause is “really making a difference in everyone’s lives.”

Recruitment
In the last several years, industry thinkers have created a few programs to try to encourage and nurture youth interest in agriculture. At the university level, Gordon described the Ontario Agricultural College’s ‘Reach Ahead’ program, created three years ago in response to reports that for every agriculture graduate in Ontario, there are three jobs available in the industry.

The program is designed to fill what Gordon calls the “leadership void” by holding events for juniors and seniors in high school. “Students come to various campuses and we educate them on industry opportunities.” Gordon says all funding for the program comes from the industry and university alumni, which he says shows that the need is out there.

In addition, Gordon says the University of Guelph is in the process of creating exchange programs with a number of institutions including New York’s Cornell University to give students a wider learning experience. “Our students can potentially spend a portion of their undergrad at institutions like Cornell and some from Cornell come to Guelph,” he explains. “I am a big fan of collaboration and don’t see us as competing with American universities, but as partnering to support the sector.”