The city of Phoenix Office of Environmental Programs (OEP) is currently accepting applications for the new Urban Agriculture Fellowship Program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Phoenix Resilient Food System Initiative. The fellowship is designed to train the next generation of growers who will represent the future of farm entrepreneurship, innovation, and business ownership in Phoenix.
This is an exciting opportunity for up to nine Phoenix residents ages 18-24 to work with a local grower beginning January 2022. Each fellow will earn $15 per hour of work/apprenticeship for up to 20 hours per week for 50 weeks.
“These young adults are going to have an opportunity to study under some of the most talented growers in the state,” said Food Systems Program Manager Joe Rossell.
The Office of Environmental Programs recently interviewed 22 local growers about their needs and challenges, and a common theme among them was the difficulty of finding apprentices. Meanwhile, the average age of Arizona farmers is nearing 60 years.
“This program is a direct result of us asking those farmers what their needs are. Our goal is to get these young agriculture folks imbedded; they’re going to get exposed to all aspects of the farm — growing, distributing and selling food, and dealing with food waste,” Rossell said.
OEP is seeking passionate and diverse community members with an interest in becoming a future grower and willing to make a yearlong commitment to the fellowship program. The city has the capacity to match nine fellows with nine farms.
Learn more about the Urban Agriculture Fellowship Program and submit an application online. Applications are due at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021.
This program is made possible through funding received from the federal Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds.
