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Second Harvest Culinary Training Program

The Second Harvest Culinary Training Program provides qualified, at-risk and economically disadvantaged adults with the culinary and life skills training needed to pursue a sustainable career in the food industry.

Students enrolled in the program gain valuable “hands-on” experience learning in our production kitchen assisting in contract meal prep and catered events during their lab time with our team of award-winning chefs. The life skills component of our program prepares students for work-readiness, focusing on the importance of appropriate work behaviors, resumes and interviewing techniques, as well as household budgeting, stress relief, and time management.

Our 14-week program is provided at no charge and designed to assist our students with barriers that would prevent them from achieving success while enrolled, such as lack of food, housing, transportation, childcare, and medical and mental health needs. Students attend classes Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The curriculum is divided into three (four-week) tiers covering food safety and sanitation, knife skills, and the basic culinary foundations needed to successfully obtain an entry-level position in any food service establishment across the country. While enrolled, students experience every aspect of the food service industry, from inventory and cost control, staffing and training, to production in a high-volume kitchen through banquet and catering operations, while developing a recipe portfolio they can use during job interviews. In addition, students hone their interview skills through on-site job fairs and mock interview opportunities. Our job placement assistance program helps guide students on the path to gainful employment as they approach graduation.

We’ve also designed our Culinary Training Program to complement the two- and four-year formal culinary programs in the area, should students wish to continue with their culinary education.

Our social services program tracks students’ progress and milestones after graduation for one year, and assists them with GED placement, college applications and continued job placement assistance.