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1 Page 1 of 5 Home Page Back Dictionary Thesaurus Help Tips Cite Article may be transmitted to your . Other transmissions are prohibited. Your address: Share NEW HORIZONS Sept./Oct. 2002, pp Copyright 2002, National Future Farmers of America Organization. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. A Future in Food 8 agricultural careers where you can work with food Food Engineer Using their knowledge of science and technology, food engineers develop new processing techniques for food products. Their efforts can extend the shelf life of grocery store items, add nutritional value to products or even change the flavor of a food so that it is more palatable to people of different cultures. Food engineers are also involved in the packaging and distribution of food products. EDUCATION: A four-year or master's degree in food science and technology or a related field is required. High school classes in agriculture and science are recommended. RELATED FFA PROGRAMS: Food science and technology SAE and CDE. SALARY: Ranges from $29,000 to $100,000. EMPLOYERS: Companies that produce packaged food products. MORE INFORMATION: Search for "food engineer" at the FFA ag career database: Food Inspector These professionals are the first step in ensuring the safety of the American food supply. Each year, they visually inspect millions of animal carcasses. They also verify the information on food labels by inspecting food-processing operations. For food imported to the U.S., food inspectors play a key role by making sure that foreign inspection standards meet U.S. standards. EDUCATION: A two-or four-year degree in agriculture, food science or a related field is required. High school classes in agriculture are recommended. evaluation CDEs.

2 Page 2 of 5 SALARY: Ranges from $29,000 to $50,000. EMPLOYERS: Government agencies. MORE INFORMATION: Search for "food inspector" at the FFA ag career database: Extension Home Economist With a wealth of resources at their fingertips, extension home economists help the general public with useful information about food. They provide information on such topics as proper food handling, food-freezing tips and nutrition. Extension home economists also advise families on how to serve the most nutritious meals possible. EDUCATION: Depending on the position, a four-year or master's degree is required in agricultural education, family and consumer science or a related field. High school classes in agriculture are recommended. RELATED FFA PROGRAMS: Food science SAE and CDE. SALARY: Ranges from $25,000 to $55,000. EMPLOYERS: Universities, extension offices. MORE INFORMATION: Search for "agricultural extension specialist" at the FFA ag career database: Chef Using recipes as a guide, chefs or head cooks prepare food for restaurants, hotels and food service operations. With careful use of kitchen equipment such as ovens, mixers and knives, chefs turn raw cooking ingredients into prepared meals. Chefs also help develop menus, supervise the kitchen staff and order food supplies for the kitchen. EDUCATION: A two-year degree in food science or culinary arts is increasingly being required. For finer restaurants, attendance at a culinary school is encouraged. High school classes in agriculture and home economics are recommended. RELATED FFA PROGRAMS: Food science and technology CDE and SAE. SALARY: Ranges from $8 per hour to $23 per hour. EMPLOYERS: Restaurants, hotels and food service operations. Food Processing Worker Bakers, butchers and fish cutters are just some of the job titles involved in food processing. These workers process large quantities of raw food products into finished goods ready for sale by grocers or wholesalers, restaurants and food service operations. Food processing workers are employed in a wide range of working environments--everywhere from factory assembly lines to grocery stores. EDUCATION: A high school education is required. Classes in agriculture are recommended.

3 Page 3 of 5 evaluation CDEs. SALARY: Ranges from $14,000 to $40,000. EMPLOYERS: Companies that produce packaged food products, bakeries, grocery stores, butcher shops. Dietitian Dietitians can be thought of as professionals who make informed decisions about what people should eat. In the health care industry, they teach patients how to prevent and treat illness by developing diets tailored for their individual needs. They also work in the food service industry, planning and overseeing the distribution of well-balanced meals for cafeterias, schools, restaurants, universities and airlines. EDUCATION: A four-year degree in nutritional science, dietetics or food science is required. High school classes in agriculture and home economics are recommended. RELATED FFA PROGRAMS: Food science CDE and SAE. SALARY: Ranges from $29,000 to $42,000. EMPLOYERS: Hospitals, nursing homes and food service operations. MORE INFORMATION: Search for "dietitian" at the FFA ag career database: Grocery Store Manager With thousands of food items on the shelves, dozens of employees and hundreds of daily customers, grocery store managers are paid to be quick thinkers and problem solvers. They are responsible for everything from hiring cashiers to tracking inventory to balancing the books at the end of the day. They also must be knowledgeable of food products and consumers' buying habits. EDUCATION: A four-year degree in business or liberal arts is increasingly becoming required for management positions. High school classes in agriculture and business are recommended. RELATED FFA PROGRAMS: Any food-related SAE or CDE will help prepare you (see a complete list). SALARY: Ranges from $17,000 to $52,000. EMPLOYERS: Grocery stores and other retail establishments that sell food. Quality Assurance Specialist With the responsibility of enforcing various laws and regulations, quality assurance specialists are employed by food manufacturers. They apply safety standards that let buyers and consumers know the quality of the products being produced. These professionals--who tend to specialize in specific areas, such as eggs, meat, fruit and vegetables--issue official grading certificates. EDUCATION: A high school education or two-year degree in agriculture or food science is required. High school classes in agriculture are recommended.

4 Page 4 of 5 evaluation and food science CDEs. SALARY: Ranges from $29,000 to $50,000. EMPLOYERS: Companies that produce packaged food products. MORE INFORMATION: Search for "quality assurance specialist" at the FFA ag career database: Read All About It! Check Your Library and the Internet for the Following Resources: General Careers "The American Almanac of Jobs and Salaries by John Wright" "Occupational Outlook Handbook" by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Agricultural Career Resources FFA Career Center The National FFA Organization agricultural careers database Occupational Outlook Handbook The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' career database Career Q&A New Horizons Answers Your Career Questions QUESTION: Elizabeth, an FFA member, posted the following question on the ffa.org career bulletin board: Exactly how many years does it take to become an agriculture teacher? I was just wondering because I really enjoy agriculture and being an agriculture teacher would be the best job for me. ANSWER: Elizabeth, The amount of college it takes to become an agriculture teacher varies depending on the state in which you plan to teach. At the minimum, you will need a four-year degree in agriculture or agricultural education. In some states, a master's degree is required, which involves one additional year of full-time schooling. You'll find more information at ffa.org, which has a special section devoted to students interested in teaching agriculture: Websites You'll find more careers and information at the websites hosted by university food science and nutrition departments. For links to departments in the U.S., visit Food Info Net: * * * Try This Website for Information on Culinary Schools and Careers:

5 Page 5 of 5 Citation : You can copy and paste this information into your own documents. "A Future in Food." New Horizons. Sept./Oct. 2002: SIRS Discoverer. Web. 19 Mar Home Page Current Events Spotlight of the Month World Almanac Encyclopedia Dictionary Thesaurus Help Tips Cite Workbooks Tutorial Research Topics Educator Resources Privacy Accessibility License Contact Copyright 2013 ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved.