Lynn Summer Mobile Market Crew (July – September 2022)

by | Mar 1, 2022 | Jobs, Seasonal Jobs

Who We Are
Youth. Food. Community. Three important issues that intersect in one place: The Food Project. Here, we believe that food is a unique vehicle for creating personal and social change. Nothing else ties us so intimately to each other and the planet we share, affecting our health, the climate, culture, and poverty and privilege around the globe. If we — young and old from all walks of life — can unite to change the food system, we can change the world. From our urban and suburban farms to our community education programs, we aim to do just that by bringing together youth and adults from diverse backgrounds who work together to build local and sustainable food systems.

Since 1991, The Food Project has built a national model of engaging young people in personal and social change through sustainable agriculture. Each year, we work with more than 120 teenagers and nearly 2,000 volunteers to farm on 70 acres in eastern Massachusetts in the towns and cities of Wenham, Lincoln, Boston, and Lynn. We consider our hallmark to be our focus on identifying and transforming a new generation of leaders by placing teens in unusually responsible roles, with deeply meaningful work. In addition, we help others grow their own food and provide training resources based on all we have learned.

What We Seek
The Food Project is seeking seasonal, hourly mobile market distribution crew members to operate our mobile markets, help enforce Lynn Department of Public Health safety protocols at the Lynn Central Square Farmers’ Market, and assist with crop production and market prep on our Lynn Farm. This position will be mostly market-based: the primary tasks involve customer service and crowd management at market, and setting up and taking down the mobile market. Mobile market crew members will also work on market surveying and record keeping.

Core Responsibilities: 

Market & Distribution
The mobile market crew members will fully staff The Food Project’s mobile market stand at nine rotating sites throughout the city of Lynn each week. These markets are designed to offer fresh food to the community in a more targeted way than other distribution methods. The sites include senior housing and apartment complexes, among others.  These markets operate on a rotational schedule – odd and even weeks will have different schedule and location patterns.  

  • Pack the mobile market trailer at the Ingalls farm. Relocate and set up for market at 2-3 sites daily, including special measures to ensure social distancing/ COVID-19 safety.  At the end of the day, clean and sanitize all equipment at the Ingalls farm. 
  • Enforce the City of Lynn’s COVID-19 safety guidelines to operate a socially-distanced, touch-free market. Customers must stand 6 feet apart at all times, and only distribution staff are allowed to handle produce. 
  • Become familiar with the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), and advocate/ effectively explain the program to customers shopping with Electronic Benefits Transfers (EBT) cards. 
  • Select vegetables for customers and confidently and accurately process all types of transactions, including cash, credit, EBT/HIP, and farmers’ market coupons. 
  • Keep detailed records, track customers, cash transactions, product sales, etc., and update Salesforce database.
  • Follow COVID-19 safety protocols for PPE and proper sanitization. This includes wearing gloves and mask at all times during the market; sanitizing customers’ cards and point of sale equipment after every transaction. 

Organizational Health

  • Participate in 1:1 supervisory meeting with Community Programs Manager.
  • Participate in feedback processes: Real Talk, circles, etc.  
  • Be an active organizational team member: Department/team intersectional collaboration in respective work/communication as needed and requested

Qualifications
This position is ideal for an individual who is interested in both sustainable agriculture and youth engagement. It is well-suited for someone who is ready to be part of an agriculture team. Our farms are run in partnership with youth and community members, therefore a candidate must have a passion for teaching and leading others, particularly young people.

Experience working in diverse settings are strongly preferred. 

  • Being able to understand and/or speak Spanish is a plus, but not required 
  • Able to perform some labor intensive, agricultural tasks 
  • Able to lift at least 15 lbs. 
  • Excellent interpersonal communication skills and energy for engaging with other people 
  • Dependable, responsible, flexible and open to learning 
  • 21+ years of age 
  • Enthusiasm for working with teenagers
  • Team-oriented with a good sense of humor; able to work independently.
  • CPR and First Aid certified or willingness to be trained
  • Able to pass a CORI/SORI background check

    Location & Schedule
    This is a summer, seasonal, 8.5 hours per week position from July 5th– September 9th, 2022, with a fluctuating Monday through Friday work week

    We are hiring for two positions. 

    Compensation 
    The rate of pay is $16.00 per hour.

    Application Process
    Please send resume and cover letter via email to:  jobs@thefoodproject.org. In the subject line, write your name and the position for which you are applying with the region, e.g:. “Jordan Smith – Lynn Mobile Market Crew.” 

    We will review all submissions, identify viable candidates, and contact ONLY those individuals selected to continue in the application process (phone screening, interview with staff, interview with youth).  Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until position is filled.

    The Food Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to creating an inclusive organization. We actively seek a diverse pool of candidates for this position.