The Sustainable Food Systems certificate provides students with career skills in the agriculture and food-service industry. This program will allow students to pursue professional certification as a Qualified Food Operator and Commercial Pesticide Applicator. Students will learn the fundamentals of food safety, fruit and vegetable production, integrated pest management, and associated food service issues. This certificate combines the resources of two strong, viable NVCC programs (Horticulture and Hospitality) and will provide students with career skills in both the agriculture and food-service industry. To earn this certificate, Horticulture students must take one additional class in Hospitality; Hospitality students may choose from several Horticulture courses. Graduates will be qualified to work in a variety of positions associated with local food processing facilities, which include farm-table operations, agricultural enterprises, and wholesale food distribution centers.

Other relevant employment opportunities include nursery worker, nursery manager, farm workers, farm managers, food service supervisor, food science technician and pesticide handlers among others. Data was collected from the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the CT Department of Labor.