The Food Production industry includes careers in agriculture – growing and harvesting plants and raising animals for food – and food manufacturing, turning ingredients into finished food products to be sold to the consumer or wholesale buyer. From apples and beef to yogurt and tortillas, New York produces a lot of food.

Did you know?

23% of New York State is farm land.

Agriculture and food manufacturing are both highly mechanized industries. While many people worry that machines have replaced human workers, people are still needed to design, operate and repair the machines, drive and maintain the vehicles, design shipping schedules, and much more.

Training certifications common in Construction and Engineering are in demand in Food Production. HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) technicians repair refrigerated storage systems and trucks. Electricians work on complex automated manufacturing equipment. Mechanics repair and maintain the many vehicles involved in farming and transporting crops and food products. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills are a critical part of today’s Food Production industry.

Learning about the Food Production industry while practicing academic skills

The CareerKit in Food Production contains graphs, texts and videos that students interpret to both understand the industry and strengthen their academic skills.

In career narrative activities, students first select, then predict, read narratives, develop questions from question stems, and finally answer questions about career narratives based on the experience of Food Production workers in the field. They employ a number of reading strategies to strengthen their reading skills while learning about careers in Food Production.

They also use more official sources of information and practice website navigation skills as they explore career databases, CareerZone, Career Cruising, the Occupational Outlook Handbook and AG Explorer.

What are your ideas for incorporating activities on the Food Production sector into your classes? Leave a comment below.