NatureSweet launches pilot program for ag workers to earn college degrees
In what it says is an ongoing quest to transform the lives of agricultural workers in North America, NatureSweet has kicked off an educational initiative that’s giving agricultural workers an opportunity to obtain their bachelor’s degree, according to a release.
Thirty agricultural workers from NatureSweet’s facility in Zapotlán, Mexico, have been selected to be a part of a pilot program that will allow them to earn a degree in agriculture. The program is called “Unleashing Your Power,” and a majority of the costs associated with obtaining the degree are being paid for by NatureSweet, the release said.
“The agriculture industry hasn’t always been fair to ag workers and NatureSweet is changing that,” NatureSweet President and CEO Rodolfo Spielmann said in the release. “Many of our associates never imagined they would be on the path to earning a college degree given their circumstances, but as a company we strongly believe that our choices define the future and not the circumstances around us. Our bachelor’s degree program will undoubtedly provide them with more opportunities to transform their lives and become our future leaders.”
Through a partnership with Tecnológico de Tlajomulco, NatureSweet associates began the journey to obtain their bachelor’s degrees in February of this year. The group takes classes on weekends and is expected to graduate in 2028. The youngest associate in the inaugural class of the bachelor’s program is 24 years old and the oldest is 45.
In 2005, San Antonio-based NatureSweet began offering educational programs that have helped associates earn their elementary, middle school and high school diplomas. Through these programs and with the addition of the “Unleashing Your Power” bachelor’s degree program, the company says it expects to affect about 2,000 lives through education in 2023.
NatureSweet’s success in sustainability was recently featured in a case study by the International Fresh Produce Association.
NatureSweet, a Fair Trade- and EFI-certified company, says it is committed to transforming the lives of agricultural workers in North America through education, better pay and access to health care.
