The Association for New Canadians is cooking up a new training program designed to help train newcomers in the culinary arts.

Over the next three years, The Cook to Connect program will provide three classes of immigrant students with six months of hands-on training in culinary skills and industry-specific language.

Then, those same students will get another six months of work experience in what’s being called a “cloud kitchen” that will offer catering services and food delivery.

The program will be based out of the St. John’s Farmers’ Market and is funded by the Future Skills Centre’s Shock-Proofing Initiative.

The first students will graduate from the program next March. A tentative start date has been set for next Monday. More information can be found on the Association for New Canadians website.