Processing More than Food in Portland, Oregon

RefugeeWorks was on the road again in January and found out the Northwest is known for more than its Pinot Noir and rain. RefugeeWorks was invited to give a presentation at the Northwest Food Processors Association Expo. Along with Tara Wolfson from the Idaho state refugee office, Lana Whiteford from IRC Boise, and I presented to a room of H.R. representatives and hiring managers. The food processing industry is no stranger to the refugee population but there are still a plethora of companies who can benefit from these new Americans. One of the main issues that was stressed in our sessions and others that I attended was the importance if a solid training program for those wishing to enter into the industry. These courses are anywhere from 2-6 weeks in length. By working with local food processors and community colleges we can help create these courses for refugees and immigrants alike. In turn, we will be creating good jobs for our clients and preparing them to be successful.