ABE Agricultural Operations Management student Alex DiCairano poses for an aha Pure Foods marketing photo shoot.
aha Pure Foods
Alex DiCairano, Agricultural Operations Management Student
What was involved/what was your role during your internship?
For those who are unaware, aha Pure Foods is a plant-based foods company out of Gainesville, FL. Sharing their philosophy, “Food is Medicine”, aha provides products that are packed with medicinal properties targeting the immune system, gut health, blood sugar and more. At aha Pure Foods, I worked as a team member, researching and applying for product certification, assisted with sales, marketing trends, product development, and operations.
What was the best/your favorite part about completing this internship?
The best part of my internship experience would have to be the company’s culture and people. Everyone at the company was extremely welcoming and open. The environment at aha allowed for seamless collaboration and inspired a ton of creativity from its people. While aha is fairly established, it still contains a start-up environment. As an intern and later employee, I had a ton of free space to work in multiple departments allowing me to garner new skills and experiences.
What are the benefits of an internship?
One of the best things about internships is that it gives you a ton of experience and networking opportunities! Wherever you get an internship, find a mentor. Most of the time, people want you to succeed. Find someone who you can learn off of and connect to. Keeping these skills and connections will become extremely helpful to you later on.
Why would you recommend internships to other students?
I would definitely recommend students to get as many internships as they can. I have been extremely grateful to have interned with two other organizations as well, NiekAab Desal and TEDxGainesville. The experiences and knowledge that I have gained through my internships have propelled me and will help me as I enter graduate school next year for a master’s in business.