The Produce Aggregator Program (PAP) is designed for one purpose - to help participants become successful agricultural produce aggregators. It is different from, but complementary to, the Aquaculture Enterprise Program (AEP) and the Agricultural Microentrepreneur Program (AMP) which teach participants how to grow aquaculture and agricultural products, respectively. Undervalued as it often is, the function of the typical aggregator is viewed as transactional, and predominantly domiciled in the post-harvest domain. In practice, aggregators play an invaluable role up and down the agricultural supply chain by providing supportive services to farmers and processors alike in both the forward and the reverse directions of the transaction path.
This program is specifically designed to support those looking at pursuing careers as professional aggregators. It also provides programmatic support to those that might be seeking to pursue this career later in life. These include mid to senior-level working professionals, retirees, and those seeking secondary sources of income. The goal of the program is to help individuals who have no experience (but significant interest) to learn what they need to know to become successful produce aggregators. Led by highly experienced instructors and practitioners, the program emphasizes hands-on, practical learning. Furthermore, the program provides students access to an affiliate offtaker, ensuring that they are able to practice and succeed in their new field of endeavor. The 6-month Certificate in Produce Aggregation provides significant training in both domestic as well as export market entry, with the latter drawing heavily from the International Trade & Export Development program also offered by IDMANN Institute.