Description Title: Farmer's Market Specialist / Farm Hand (seasonal) Dept: Farmstand/Field Hours: Farmer's Market is from June to Mid-October: Wednesdays and Saturdays 6:30 am - 1:30pm with Tuesdays & Fridays help with harvesting &pre-market organization, remaining hours would be spent working as a Farm Hand Report to: Farmer's Market Manager / Field Crew Manager Wage: $17.00 - $19.00 an hour depending on experience The West Tisbury Farmer's Market is an opportunity for Morning Glory Farm to connect with the island community and further showcase our fresh seasonal produce and products. Each week we build a stand/set up a tent and interact with our loyal customers. Throughout the day, we are not only selling produce, we are also re-stocking and refreshing our display. The Farmer's Market is a fast paced exciting work environment. It is a great working experience where you can learn more about farming, merchandising,and display. When not managing the Farmer's Market tasks, the Farmer's Market Specialist will be part of the Farm Hand crew responsible for the maintenance and harvest of all the varied crops within the departments of the Farm Hand crew. Responsibilities include everything from harvesting radishes to filling barns with hay, we are a highly diversified farm that picks produce directly for our own market daily. A seasonal peak of about 25 field hands will assist the experienced and knowledgeable Farmer in carrying out all farm-wide activities. Team members should have a strong work ethic and be ready to learn about the tools and trades of farming. With a great diversity of tasks, this is a great position for someone new to farming and/or manual labor. In our daily work, we are:
- Manage customer relationships, market booth set-up and break down, pack for the market which includes pick up and drop off of tent/tables/product from/to our location to the Market, market sales & handling of payment transactions.
- Ability and willingness to work across disciplines on the field crew.
- Perform field work including but not limited to seeding, transplanting, hand weeding, hoeing, moving irrigation, watering and harvesting.
- Willingness to work and preparation for working outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Daily use and safe-handling of farm equipment including tilers, wheelbarrows, tools and hand-tools such as shears and knives
- Ability to move quickly while supporting our very high quality standards. Food quality is very important to us.
- Performs other job duties as assigned.
Position Requirements Our ideal candidate:
- The Farmer's Market Specialist must be reliable, self-motivated, able to count back change and do basic math. Customer service skills are a plus.
- Is motivated with a desire for knowledge and a passion for farming and crops.
- Successful applicants will have the ability to take direction, show initiative, and work well in a team as well as independently.
- Previous farm experience and knowledge of food safety and sanitation are preferred.
- Able to perform physically demanding and repetitive tasks; able to lift 50+ lbs repeatedly and able to stand on your feet for long periods of time.
- U.S. driver's license required.
Please Note: J1 Visa students are not permitted to work in the fields, per federal guidelines.Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time Wage This position pays $17.00 - $19.00 per hour, depending on experience. Position Farmer's Market Specialist/Farm Field Hand (Seasonal) Exempt/Non-Exempt Exempt About the Organization Morning Glory Farm, started in 1975 by James and Deborah Athearn, grows about 65 acres of vegetables and small fruits on the island of Martha's Vineyard.Small successive plantings of a wide variety of crops supply the Farmstand from May through December.Crops include sweet corn, lettuce, carrots, beets, tomatoes, melons, potatoes, beans, squash, pumpkins, and more. Our herb garden supplies a full assortment of culinary herbs. We also raise four acres of cut flowers, and small plantings of strawberries, grapes, peaches, and beach plums.We keep beef cows on pasture in Chilmark for which we harvest 45 acres of hay and we also produce eggs, pork and fresh, pasture-raised chickens to sell in the Farmstand. Twenty-three acres of our vegetable fields are farmed using natural practices and only OMRI certified fertilizers and pesticides. We manage the rest of our land with a minimum of pesticides and with attention to the long-term health of the soil.The farm name grew from the vision of the sun rising over lush, green fields, cows with udders full of milk ambling past bountiful gardens and hedgerows lively with honeybees: true wealth of nature's glory.Each year we meet a new crew of farmers, bakers, cooks, and Farmstand staff who become part of the farm family. The farm has benefited from a variety of wonderful people who have endowed Morning Glory with their own special contributions.