Seasonal Farmstand Site Staff

Description

Organization Information 

GrowNYC is a 54-year-old environmental nonprofit organization helping more than 3 million New Yorkers by providing essential services and taking action to make NYC a livable city, one where every person can enjoy a healthier, more sustainable life. GrowNYC Programs include: 

• Our network of Greenmarkets, Farmstands, and the work of GrowNYC Wholesale ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the freshest, healthiest local food. 
• We blanket the five boroughs with resources like food scrap and clothing collections to make waste reduction, recycling, and composting easy for all. 
• We build and support community and school gardens through volunteer days, technical assistance, training, grants, and more. 
• We provide 70,000 children each year with programs that provide meaningful interactions with the natural environment. 

About Farmstand

GrowNYC Farmstand is part of a network of food access retail sites operated by GrowNYC, along with Greenmarket sites. Through Farmstand, GrowNYC sells fresh, affordable food in neighborhoods throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. The food sold at Farmstand is grown by farmers in the Northeast and transparently sourced through GrowNYC Wholesale. 

Seasonal Farmstand Site Staff

The Farmstand Site Staff will help sell fruits, vegetables, and other products outdoors throughout New York City with leadership and guidance from a Farmstand Site Lead. Please note that some shifts require driving and, therefore, a driver’s license. The Farmstand Staff positions are seasonal, part-time, or full-time, depending on the availability of applicants and program needs. Each Farmstand site is typically staffed by 2-4 Site Staff and 1 Site Lead.

Requirements

Responsibilities (include, but are not limited to)

Staff Duties/Responsibilities:

Operations 

• Set up and break down the Farmstand, carrying equipment and cases/bags of produce weighing up to 50lbs, folding tables and tents, standing for up to 8 hours per shift, and performing other physical labor 
• Daily market operations— product display, merchandising, sales, customer service, inventorying, and site clean up according to schedule
• Answer customer questions about products, including sourcing, farming practices, and food preparation 
• Attend meetings with supervisors, regular ongoing trainings, and departmental outings 
• De-escalate conflict at the Farmstand between customers and the public as it arises 

Food Access 

• Educate customers regarding food access and nutrition incentive programs
• Perform debit/credit, cash, EBT, and other nutrition benefit transactions 

Promotions and Outreach 

• Provide exceptional customer service to Farmstand customers
• Conduct cooking demonstrations and onsite promotional events (varies by site) 
• Post informative and engaging content to GrowNYC social media channels
• With support from the Administrative Manager, develop and maintain relationships with customers, community leaders, city employees, and local businesses. 
• Perform outreach in the local community to promote Farmstand and the use of SNAP/EBT 

Driver Duties/Responsibilities:

• Safely operate a van on NYC roads and highways, distributing market equipment to Farmstand sites (may include multiple sites)
• Report vehicle issues to Supervisor and/or Fleet Administrator immediately as they arise
• Complete the pre/post trip vehicle inspection forms for every driving shift
• Complete onboarding and ongoing training on GrowNYC vehicle policies and safe driving
• Complete the weekly dry goods inventory spreadsheet
• Along with the rest of the team, drivers should take the lead on maintaining a well-organized van
• Fill up gas tank as needed
• Park the van in a legal street location which often requires parallel parking. Use Slack van channels to communicate the van location at the end of the shift. Parking location can vary throughout the season based on a van plan
• Drop off donations at designated locations
• Follow all procedures for incidents and accidents and comply with the Vehicle Collision SOP 

Required Qualifications

• Willing to work every scheduled shift throughout the season (June through November), including weekends and holidays 
• An early riser who enjoys working outdoors in all weather conditions 
• Experience working in retail and/or customer service
• Willing to work weekdays and weekends
• Enjoy talking and working with people of all backgrounds
• Comfortable working with the pu