Leamington, ON (March 2nd, 2016) – NatureFresh™ Farms is employing the power of social media to launch a recruitment drive to support the company’s Greenhouse Education Center (GEC). NatureFresh recently launched WeAreTheGrower.com with its creative & digital partners to not only connect with college summer job seekers but also resonate with them the opportunity to educate consumers about greenhouse grown produce. The initiative is in support of this summers #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 & universities that offer agriculture, agri-science, agri-business, health, and food marketing programs”, said Chris Veillon, Director of Marketing. The recruitment drive is to attract college students looking for summer jobs in the industry to get real life, hands-on consumer facing experiences. As members of the GEC team, students will get to travel throughout eastern North America attending community events, schools, summer camps and connecting with consumers at retail events. Team members will be equipped with the latest technology in smartphones, tablets, and video equipment to share their exploits on NatureFresh’s social media channels and new website/blog that will be launched later this spring. One applicant noted in their application that this was a summer job of a lifetime.

While some colleges are calling the employment opportunities internships, NatureFresh™ sees the opportunity in a different light. “We have the opportunity to further invest in our industry by attracting & 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”, said Veillon.

“The Center For Growing Talent by PMA knows how critical internships are to university students and their career path”, said Alicia Calhoun, Program Director. “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”, explained Calhoun.

NatureFresh continues to create positive learning experiences in the community throughout the year at a grass roots level by conducting informational sessions at schools & community gatherings that are lead by the company’s Chef & Sensory Education Coordinator Henry Furtado. By now involving students from colleges & universities in the USA & 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 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 & 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. This creates a direct connection between the product and its benefits”, said Richer.

“Opportunities like what NatureFresh™ Farms is creating only enhance a students 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”, commented Larry Zink, Industry Relations/Outreach Coordinator, Michigan State University.

NatureFresh™ Farms 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.