Program Content

The training program detail and length are varies each year, tailored to the participants needs and interest. In general, the program last for one to two weeks including:

- Tour of selected dried fruits (cranberry, cherry, blueberry, strawberry, etc) and nuts (pecan, almond, hazelnut, walnut, pistachio) orchards and processing facilities. On hands experience in terms of touching, tasting, and grading of the products are a part of the tour

- Seminar in a five star baking school featuring the use of the products in breads and pastries in western or California Style baking techniques.

- U.S. bakery production techniques, quality control, retail management and distribution training in an up-scale California bakery

Program Time Line

Since the program is tailor made according to participants needs and interest, the exact date, venue, and duration will be determine after the final interview. For the past few years, the program has always been in the September-November time frame depending on the fruits and nuts harvest time.

Conditions

- Participant must be a local citizen and not an expatriate or permanent resident of the country where this invitation is extended

- Participant must come from a company which manufacture bread/pastry, a bakery, or a culinary/pastry instructor of a culinary/tourism school

- Participant must be a managerial staff of a company and is directly involved in the day to day business in the production/purchasing and/or in quality assurance capacity and engage in the use of dried fruits and nuts in their respected position

- Participants must come from a company which has never sent their staff to the same Cochran Fellowship Program the previous year

- Participant must have a valid passport with more than 6 months validity and visa to visit United States

- While attending the training and the food products tour, the Cochran Middle Income Program will provide all food, lodging, training and in-country transportation. In addition, participants are responsible for arranging and paying for the international ticket from Indonesia - United States (designated locations of training/departures) - Indonesia. Participants in-country travel will be arranged and paid for by the Cochran Program.

Requirements

Document to be submitted:

- Company profile

- Letter of intention and purposed training

- Completely filled applications

- Signed conditions of Training

- 2 Letter of Recommendation from 2 supervisors

- Copy of passport

- 2 recent photograph (4X6)

Eligible candidates must submit all required documentation no later than, January 1, 2003 to:

U.S. Agricultural Trade Office

Only four participants will be selected based on their application and interviews. A invitation letter will be sent out by U.S. Agricultural Trade Office Jakarta to a selected candidates. These candidates will then be interviewed twice for a final selection.