Welcome to the first edition of the FaBseed, a monthly newsletter designed to engage high schools in exploring the careers of Wisconsin's food and beverage industry from farm to factory to fork.
The next generation of talent that will feed and quench the world is sitting in your classroom and they have the opportunity to be a part of something big. This is your invitation to show them the breadth of companies and the career-based-learning opportunities they offer at FaB's Farm to Factory to Fork Career Discovery. Students can also learn about the colleges and universities offering food and beverage industry career pathways.
Wisconsin is home to
over 2,100 food, beverage, and ingredient manufacturers. From farm to factory to fork, Wisconsin's food and beverage industry generates
over $104 billion dollars in economic activity.
Wisconsin is well known for its beer, brats, and cheese production, but did you know our prowess expands the globe?
WHAT'S YOUR FOOD STORY?
MEET GINA BALKE, FaB'S DIRECTOR OF TALENT.
Gina's food story started when she was in high school.
She realized she liked working with people while taking an introduction to psychology course her senior year. While in college, majoring in psychology, she learned about Human Resources. After college she worked for Goodwill Industries, helping dislocated workers with interviewing skills and resume development. She noticed that many of the food and beverage manufacturers were always looking for talent.
She was then hired into Human Resources for
Ocean Spray Cranberries. While Gina worked 13 years at Ocean Spray, she represented her company on
FaB Wisconsin's Talent Forum and earned the opportunity and recognition that came with being a Forum co-chair.
In 2019, Gina left Ocean Spray to join the FaB Wisconsin team full-time as Director of Talent. She works with food and beverage companies in collaboration with colleges, universities, and high schools to raise visibility of the career making possibilities of the industry and the career pathways that are available and/or needed.
"I
wish I had known about the career opportunities in food and beverage manufacturing at a younger age."