Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/969549
agricultural breadbasket of the world," Wilkinson says. Indeed, agriculture is a major indus- try for California. With 76,400 farms and ranches statewide, agriculture is a $54 billion industry that generates at least $100 billion in related economic activity, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. A 2015 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Purdue University estimates that nearly 60,000 jobs in the agriculture, food, renewable resources, and environm ent field s are available ever y year nationwide, yet only 35,000 g r a d u a t e s w i t h a g r i c u l t u r e - r e l a t e d d e g r e e s a r e a v a i l a b l e t o f i l l t h e m . Careers include food scientists, inspec- tors and engineers. In Avenal, which claims to be the "Pis- tachio Capital of the World," the school has partnered with the Wonderful Com- pany — the world's largest grower of tree nuts and America's largest citrus grower — for its Wonderful Ag Prep program, which of fers dual enrollment in West Huron Middle School's Pete Alvarado. Counselor Janine Wagner at Coalinga High. Coalinga High School's Tom Lucero with drama students during their rehearsal of Grease. instruction to provide English learners with a rich foundation using the Sobrato Early Academic Language Model, which incorporates units on farm crops, the p ower of th e sun , d air y farmin g and other aspects of students' everyday lives so curriculum is relatable, and students feel proud of what their families do. It has boosted achievement, she says. At Avenal High School , w here Amy Wi l kinson t each es c ommunications, many students are the children of farm- workers. " They call Kings County the Karrie Madrigal with Isai Pacheco and Juan Montes at Huron Middle School. 28 cta.org Feature