Olivia Gossett, 7, (who teaches children and grownups how to grow seedlings and sell them for a profit on her blog liviplants.wordpress.com) plants corn during the Food & Farming Career Fair for Veterans at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on Wednesday, June 30, 2010.
Currently more than 250,000 U.S. veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are without work. The rate of unemployment for veterans ages 18 to 24 is reported to be as high as 30%. The Farmer-Veteran Coalition (FVC) is a non-profit started by American farmers to help these young men and women find work in agriculture while simultaneously addressing our nation’s critical need for new farmers and a safe food supply.
In conjunction with the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market and regional veteran service organizations, FVC is organizing its first Southern California Food and Farming Veteran Career Fair.
The fair connected veterans with jobs, training, and educational opportunities as well as assistance in starting their own food or farming business.
Veterans were introduced to opportunities that exist in regional farms, produce distribution companies, urban farming and school garden projects, landscaping and culinary arts. Employers were introduced to the hard-working, experienced, disciplined and reliable veterans at the onset of their careers.
The event was free for veterans and employers. On-site counseling was available. Many of the area’s top chefs served food provided by local farmers. Talks and presentations were held throughout the day by leaders in these fields.