CIFT has two industry-recognized credentials through
the Ohio Department of Education (ODE)

Established through ODE’s rigorous credential approval process in 2018, CIFT developed two recognized food industry credentials for Ohio’s high school students. Approved by ODE’s Business & Industry Panel, the CIFT Food Industry Certifications provides credentials to verify high school student expertise in the areas of agriculture, food and natural resources, bioscience, food science and safety, bioresearch and food marketing and research.

As these students enter the workforce, CIFT encourages companies to seek candidates who have acquired the credentials. There are more than 70,000 people working at nearly 1,400 food and beverage companies across Ohio. The industry ships more than $24 billion worth of products every year and Ohio consistently ranks among the highest output in the nation in dairy, fruits and vegetables, bakery, snacks, soft drinks, coffees, sauces, syrups and countless other food products. Such impressive facts make Ohio one of the nation’s leaders in food/beverage processing and agribusiness.