Southeast Produce Council Debuts Newest Scholarship Program, Fresh Chefs Scholarship; Stanley Trout Comments
MILLEN, GA - I do love reporting on new steps taken in our industry, especially when it comes to fostering education for our budding future leaders. The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) is one of the same minds, as it recently announced its newest scholarship program: SEPC Fresh Chefs.
“Many produce professionals begin their career in the culinary segment of our industry, and we felt that this scholarship offering was a complementary addition to our portfolio of other successful programs,” stated Stanley Trout, Southeast Foodservice Promotion Director for Idaho Potato Commission and Board Member and Foodservice Committee Chairman for SEPC. “It also reinforces our mission to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables to support young chefs as they become champions in their field, striving to promote fresh produce.”
This innovative program is now open to any full-time college or secondary education student pursuing a degree in culinary arts or restaurant management. Each recipient of the SEPC Fresh Chefs Scholarship will receive one of three $1,500 scholarships toward their educational goals for the upcoming year.
In addition to the scholarship funds, noted the release, each recipient will also be invited to attend the association’s upcoming Southern Innovations event, held on September 22–24, 2022. SEPC will cover hotel and travel expenses to the event and will also provide an SEPC Fresh Chefs' jacket for each recipient.
While at the event, scholarship recipients will be able to dip their toes, so to speak, into the foodservice realm. Recipients will be able to network with hundreds of produce industry grower/shipper members, as well as the nation’s leading retailers and foodservice distributors.
To bring this program to life, SEPC has partnered with CAFÉ (Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education), which will be in charge of distributing the program to member schools.
With funds going to support education in our industry’s youths, we here at ANUK can’t wait to see what innovations our future holds.
