We spoke with the LEAF Project Founder and Executive Director Heidi Witmer about how our Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship program complements the meaningful work LEAF is doing and why she wants to engage youth leaders in the food system.

Dining restrictions during the pandemic have taken a tremendous toll on the U.S. restaurant industry. The National Restaurant Association estimates that $240 billion and 2.5 million jobs were lost during 2020, and over 100,000 businesses closed permanently. These losses rippled up the supply chain, stranding farmers with unprecedented amounts of unsold and wasted food.  An […]

In December of 2020, Jessica White became the second certified Journey Dairy Grazier in the state of Pennsylvania by graduating from Pasa’s Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program. Over the course of her apprenticeship at host farm Camphill Village Kimberton Hills in Chester County, Jessica not only fulfilled the required 3,700 hours of on-the-job training and 300 […]

We’re proud to announce the first three graduates of our Diversified Vegetable Apprenticeship program! This formal, paid apprenticeship program, registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, pairs beginning farmers with established farmers to provide a guided pathway toward managing or starting a vegetable farm. Graduating apprentices have completed at least 2,700 hours of […]