Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs

🌾 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵. For years, Berenice Sierra worked seasonal agricultural jobs to support her family. As a mother of two in Madera, she knew the challenges of long hours, unstable work, and uncertainty. But Berenice wanted a more stable future for herself and her children.

With support from Central Valley Opportunity Center, Inc. (CVOC), she enrolled in the General Business Occupations training program. Over 19 weeks, she learned Microsoft Office, Excel, basic math, English, and clerical office skills.

Balancing school, family, and daily life was not easy — but Berenice stayed committed.

On September 5, 2025, she completed the program. On October 30, 2025, she began working with Valley Home Solutions Inc. as a Customer Service Representative, earning $16.50 per hour.

Berenice’s journey shows what is possible when farm workers have access to education, training, and support.

🌱 From uncertainty to opportunity.
🌱 From survival to stability.
🌱 From the fields to a brighter future.

𝗔𝗙𝗢𝗣 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀: The National Farmworker Jobs Program provides a broad mix of occupational and vocational training designed to move farmworkers into stable, higher-paying jobs—both within and beyond agriculture. Here’s how farmworkers are building brighter futures:
🛠️ 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀
From healthcare to transportation to skilled trades, participants gain industry-recognized credentials that match local job demand:
-Healthcare (e.g., Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant)
-Transportation (e.g., Commercial Truck Driving)
-Skilled labor (e.g., forklift operation, clerical work)
💼 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻
With On-the-Job Training, participants get hired and trained at the same time—while employers receive support to invest in their workforce.
🔧 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
Apprenticeship-style programs combine classroom instruction with real work experience, helping workers transition smoothly into new careers.
📈 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗨𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀
Whether it’s digital literacy or technical training, NFJP helps workers move beyond low-wage agricultural jobs into growing industries.
💡 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀
For those ready to lead, training includes business planning, financial literacy, and building a successful small business.
🤝 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿-𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
Programs are tailored with employers to meet real workforce needs—often leading directly to a job upon completion.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆? 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁 — 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄.

Garrett, a dedicated farmworker youth, is turning determination into opportunity through the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP). Currently pursuing an associate’s degree in agriculture alongside a welding certificate at Ivy Tech Community College, Garrett is building stackable skills that bridge two critical industries. From crop production and soil management to advanced welding techniques, he’s creating a powerful path toward a stable, hands-on career. With support from NFJP and his Proteus, Indiana Career Coach, Miriam,

Garrett received assistance with tuition and essential tools—removing financial barriers and allowing him to focus on his education and training fully. Set to graduate in May 2026, Garrett has already earned the Dean’s Award and recognition as an Outstanding Student—a testament to his leadership, excellence, and drive. But Garrett’s journey doesn’t stop there. He’s committed to giving back and is planning to use his skills to strengthen local industries and support his community.

H𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.

🔊 ¡𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗮 𝗲𝗹 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿 𝗹𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗼́𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗮 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗷𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗼!
🔊 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀!

Hoy celebramos a las increíbles mujeres trabajadoras agrícolas que con su fuerza y dedicación contribuyen a alimentar al mundo. 🌸
De parte de todos nosotros en AFOP, ¡Feliz Día de las Madres! 💚

Today, we celebrate the incredible farmworker women who, through their strength and dedication, help feed the world. 🌸
From all of us at AFOP, Happy Mother’s Day! 💚

Did you know the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) helps provide housing for agricultural workers? Farmworker housing is a serious issue. Low wages often make it impossible to afford safe, stable homes near work, forcing many families into overcrowded or substandard conditions—sometimes without basic protections. In rural communities, limited housing options and zoning barriers only make things worse. That’s where NFJP steps in. By funding services that expand access to safe, sanitary temporary and permanent housing, NFJP supports migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families when they need it most.
It’s one more way NFJP is part of the solution.

¿Sabías que el Programa Nacional de Empleos Agrícolas (NFJP, por sus siglas en inglés) ayuda a proveer vivienda para los trabajadores agrícolas? La vivienda para los trabajadores agrícolas es un problema serio. Los bajos salarios a menudo hacen imposible costear hogares seguros y estables cerca del trabajo, obligando a muchas familias a vivir en condiciones de hacinamiento o viviendas inadecuadas, a veces sin protecciones básicas. En las comunidades rurales, las opciones limitadas de vivienda y las barreras de zonificación empeoran aún más la situación. Ahí es donde interviene el NFJP. Al financiar servicios que amplían el acceso a viviendas temporales y permanentes seguras y salubres, el NFJP apoya a los trabajadores agrícolas migrantes y de temporada, así como a sus familias, cuando más lo necesitan. Es una forma más en que el NFJP es parte de la solución.

Education is power—and access changes everything. 📚✨

Through NFJP, AFOP members help individuals, families & communities build brighter futures through:

🎓 High School Diploma completion
💼 Job Readiness Services
🗣️ ESOL classes for English learners
☀️ Health & safety training for farmworkers and growers

From workforce preparation, GEDs to occupational health & safety education, participants gain the knowledge, confidence, and tools they need to succeed.

When education meets empowerment, lives change.

NFJP practitioners go the distance—literally. They travel across entire service areas, showing up early mornings, late evenings, weekends—wherever farmworkers are. From labor camps to churches, they meet people where they are, connecting with those working toward a better life for themselves and their families.

That’s not just outreach.
That’s dedication.
That’s commitment.
That’s changing lives.