Napa Gets $500K To Recruit, Train New Farmworkers

NAPA COUNTY, CA — Napa County has received $500,000 in federal grant funding to support specialty crop growers and help train the next generation of farmers. Rep. Mike Thompson announced the financial boost this week, courtesy of a federal program to aid growers and make specialty crops more competitive.

"Our region has a strong tradition of agriculture made possible by the farmworkers who work every day to grow world-class products," Thompson said in a statement. "The funding from the federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program will help to recruit and retain farmworkers and provide current farmworkers with the training and education they need to build a successful career in the fields and beyond."

Napa County will use the funds to recruit more young and beginner farmers, with an eye for members of disadvantaged or underrepresented groups, including women and veterans. A new workforce training program will help farmworkers develop and maintain their technical skills.

Other strategies include a new year-round apprenticeship program, and efforts to attract more young people to winegrape careers through the Fields of Opportunity youth mentorship program.