California Dairies in Visalia has launched an apprenticeship program that will help the food processor fill key positions.

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The program operates under California’s Department of Apprenticeship Standards, a component of the Department of Industrial Relations. Three tracks have been developed: maintenance and engineering; QA and food safety; and plant management.

The apprentice will work full-time and go to school, and the state waives the tuition. Each apprentice will have to complete four years of on-the-job training and either two or four years of school at College of the Sequoias, and then can transfer to Fresno State to earn a degree – tuition free.

“The perfect candidate is a high school graduate who needs to work but can’t afford college – and wants to stay in the area,” explained Lowell Richardson, senior vice president of human resources for California Dairies. “With this partnership between COS and the state, we can begin to develop a pipeline of people ready to move into higher positions.”

The goal is to have as many as six student-employees in the program at one time. The jobs California Dairies is looking to fill offer hourly pay that ranges from about $23 per hour to nearly $38 per hour.

For information on how to establish an apprenticeship program, contact Corinna Pereira, 368-8933 or cpereira@dir.ca.gov.