The third is homeland security, which will be offered through a series of online courses beginning in the next couple of months, said the institute’s director, Tom Grothouse.

As a former American Airlines manager working in Miami on Sept. 11, 2001, Grothouse experienced the necessity of raising awareness for tighter security measures in agriculture. American owned two of the four airplanes involved in the 9/11 attacks.

“American and United airlines were the only airlines attacked that day, but the entire industry was shut down for 21 days,” he said.

The lesson for agriculture: “It doesn’t matter who gets attacked, the entire industry will suffer.”

The institute is part of the PSC Corporate College, which offers nondegree courses that train workers and managers on important business-related skills. This is the first program in Florida focusing on workforce technical training in agriculture, the state’s second-largest industry, Grothouse said.

Ben Albritton, a member of the institute’s advisory committee, agreed the programs fill unmet needs, particularly i

What we’re finding in agriculture is we have to stay on top of agricultural advances, particularly in food processing and packaging,” said Albritton, a Wauchula grower, former chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission and Republican candidate for Florida House District 66, which covers Hardee and parts of Highlands and Polk. “This is hugely visionary.”

The online security courses will offer training for everyone from management to workers on recognizing and monitoring security risks, Grothouse said. They will deal with businesses along the entire food chain from the farm and ranch through processing/packing companies to the supermarket.

Although the U.S. has avoided a major terrorist attack to its food chain, the fact is a small vial of a lethal chemical, such as the nerve toxin ricin, could be introduced anywhere along the chain, injuring thousands directly and, like 9/11, affecting whole industries, he said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has identified three foods – juice, water and milk – that are particularly vulnerable, Grothouse said.

The food security training “really fits well in Polk County because it has so many (citrus juice) processing and packing plants,” Albritton noted.

The institute is planning a homeland security summit for Oct. 1 in Winter Haven featuring experts from the federal government, law enforcement and corporate security, Grothouse said.

The advisory panel also recommended the need for more technical training in agricultural safety and water management.

“They’re constant needs, and they’re growing needs,” said Albritton, 

The three water management courses this week will deal with water-use permitting, water management and an introduction to a state program call FARMS, or Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems, Grothouse said. The other three classes will deal with occupational safety regulations, equipment safety and respiratory protection for farm workers involved in chemical spraying.

All six cost just $60

All six cost just $60 per person for about four hours of classroom time. In its first year, the institute hopes to offer more than 20 other similar classes serving more than 300 workers, Grothouse said. It hopes eventually to develop a mobile classroom that can travel the entire state.

“I expect it to be successful,” Albritton said.

[ Kevin Bouffard can be reached at kevin.bouffard@theledger.com or at 863-422-6800. Read more on Florida citrus on his Facebook page, Florida Citrus Witness. ]

per person for about four hours of classroom time. In its first year, the institute hopes to offer more than 20 other similar classes serving more than 300 workers, Grothouse said. It hopes eventually to develop a mobile classroom that can travel the entire state.

“I expect it to be successful,” Albritton said.

[ Kevin Bouffard can be reached at kevin.bouffard@theledger.com or at 863-422-6800. Read more on Florida citrus on his Facebook page, Florida Citrus Witness. ]