Farmers Market & Retail Sales Associate Farm Fresh RI's Harvest Kitchen Program

This is a Non-Exempt, Full-Time Hourly Position (40 hrs/wk).

Farm Fresh Rhode Island is seeking a Farmers Market & Retail Sales Leader to report directly to the Harvest Kitchen Program Director. This position plays a key role on the Harvest Kitchen farmers market team by supporting all farmers market activities with a focus on organizing back-end operations and retail sales onsite at markets. This position also plays a key role in the development of the Harvest Kitchen Cafe and youth job training program by managing the cafe and retail sales, supporting social media efforts, and assisting in the training of Harvest Kitchen students.

Harvest Kitchen (HK) is part of Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s initiative to increase the variety of value-added local farm products available, and part of the Farm Fresh RI mission to create a community-based food system. Started in 2010, Harvest Kitchen covers multiple facets of programming, including a 20-week culinary and job-readiness training program for youth that are involved with the RI Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF); and a sister production/training program that operates within the Rhode Island Training School. All products created by Harvest Kitchen use ingredients sourced from local farms. The program focuses on empowering youth to understand how their activities connect to the local food system while gaining the necessary skills and experiences to be able to pursue their personal and professional goals.

This role demands an ability to stay organized and readily jump back and forth between diverse task areas. Key position responsibilities will include maintaining positive relationships with customers and market vendors, posting and updating Harvest Kitchen social media, management of the Harvest Kitchen Cafe in the off-season, clear and responsive communication with the Harvest Kitchen Program Director either in person or via phone/text/email, and inventory monitoring and management. Successful candidates will have a passion for the local food system, the drive to help opportunity youth, be highly motivated, and be able to work autonomously with integrity, attention to detail, and enthusiasm.

Primary Responsibilities
Supplies and Inventory

  • Organize and prepare weekly market bin(s) and inventory.
  • Place and receive orders on the Market Mobile platform for products to sell at HK markets.
  • Complete and submit month-end inventory reports for Harvest Kitchen.
  • Maintain market supplies; ensure timely communication with supervisor regarding equipment repairs and supply orders.
  • Label cases of HK jarred products as needed.

Sales and Pricing Support

  • With support from supervisor, update Harvest Kitchen market sales sheets as new products are added.
  • Record sales transactions, balance market transactions, and prepare deposits at the end of each market.
  • Submit internal transfers for Harvest Kitchen products as needed.

Harvest Kitchen Retail Sales Table Lead

  • Lead the Farm Fresh RI Harvest Kitchen retail sales table, monitoring other HK staff and volunteers.
  • Assist with day-to-day operation troubleshooting for farmers market programs.
  • Following HK pictures and guidelines for markets setup, prepare a clean and inviting sales table that will facilitate the purchasing of products at all markets attended.
  • Support the development of Harvest Kitchen trainees in retail sales functions including customer service, merchandising, and cash handling.
  • Personally represent Farm Fresh RI and Harvest Kitchen at markets, understanding and informing about our mission and products.

Cafe and Training Support

  • Manage the HK Cafe during the off-season, making sure POS systems are up to date, opening and closing the register, taking inventory of retail items in the store.
  • Assist with social media efforts in collaboration with the Communications Director.
  • Assist in the training of HK students, both in the kitchen and in the retail aspect of the cafe.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed to Perform this Role

  • Available to work a flexible schedule on Mondays and/or Thursdays to place orders and Tuesdays, Thursdays, and/or Fridays to receive product and prepare market bins. Saturdays 7am-2pm a must.
  • Ability to build relationships with people from varied cultural, economic, educational, racial, and religious backgrounds
  • Ability to collaborate and work as part of a team
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills (patience, respect, transparency)
  • Self-starter and ability to maintain a self-motivating attitude
  • Passion for local food systems and social justice
  • Strong organizational skills with an ability to juggle and track multiple tasks
  • Basic math and accounting skills
  • Must hold and maintain a valid driver’s license and have access to reliable transportation to deliver products to and from farmers markets (business mileage will be reimbursed by Farm Fresh RI)
  • Retail sales experience is a plus, but not required.
  • Spanish speaking is a plus, but not required.

Physical Demands (Physical, Mental & Environmental)
The following capabilities are required in order to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue burden on the company are available to address the following requirements:

  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit/stand for long periods of time at a desk; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls on computers; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear in meetings and on the telephone or on the computer in an office or variable setting.
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
  • Employees must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
  • Ability to travel, which may include travel via car or bus.

Pay & Benefits

  • Full-time, Non-Exempt Position: 40 hours a week [Saturday mornings (7am-2pm) is required]
  • $18.00/hour plus mileage reimbursement
  • 15 days paid time off (PTO) and 14 paid company holidays
  • Monthly contributions to flexible health, dental, and life insurance plans
  • IRA matching contribution after two years of employment

How to Apply

  • Please send resume and cover letter to Sean Kontos: [email protected].
  • No phone calls or drop-ins please.

Organizational Information
Farm Fresh has grown briskly since achieving 501c3 nonprofit status in 2007 — to capture the public interest in locally grown food and translate it into sales for local and regional farmers and producers. Strongly mission-driven, Farm Fresh RI hosts a variety of programs to enhance the local food system, with particular attention on farm viability and low-income access to fresh food. Farm Fresh also operates a range of marketplace programs (retail, wholesale, processing, gleaning) that engage and connect local eaters with the farmers and food producers of Rhode Island and the New England region.

Mission: Farm Fresh Rhode Island is growing a local food system that values the environment, health, and quality of life of the farmers and eaters of New England.

Vision: A New England region abundant with diverse family farms and fertile soils, with locally and honestly produced foods and flavors at the heart of every dinner table.

Farm Fresh Rhode Island is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment for all employees. We encourage enquiries from candidates who will enrich and contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of our organization. Farm Fresh RI does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, or disability status in employment or programming. Farm Fresh Rhode Island is an Equal Opportunity Provider.