Turner Farm is a diversified organic seaside farm on the island of North Haven in the Penobscot Bay of Maine, twelve miles off the coast of Rockland. We grow small scale, high value, Certified Organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers, using passive solar hoop houses and heated greenhouses. We raise pigs in the woods and maintain a small herd of beef cattle and a flock of laying hens in rotation on our hilly pastures. We serve the communities of North Haven, Vinalhaven, and Rockland with fresh organic produce available at our Farm Stand, the Farmers’ Market, area grocery stores and food co-ops, and featured at several popular restaurants. Throughout the summer, produce is also featured in our weekly barn suppers and in the many events hosted in our stunning post and beam barn. Wedding ceremonies are held on our beach with reception and dancing in the barn. We welcome visitors to explore the farm on their own and offer the opportunity to stay in our Guest House overlooking the farm and the Fox Island thorofare. In the fall, we also offer an inter-island CSA for families on North Haven and Vinalhaven and host community events throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall. We are a dynamic and diverse business gearing up for a great 2020 season.

Overall Job Description

The Farm Stand Lead will be responsible for leading and growing the Farm Stand, located in the lower level of the Turner Farm barn. These responsibilities include: inventory, stocking, coordinating staffing and following proper food safety protocols to ensure all produce and deli items look and taste their best. This leader will seek to grow interest, activity and sales with creative marketing efforts and communications, and will seek to make the Farm Stand successful and well-executed with organized systems and logistics, happy guests, and well-managed staff, in coordination with Event Manager and farming staff. In partnership with the Event Manager, the Farm Stand Lead will be responsible for overall care, cleanliness, state licensing, and systems of the Farm Stand. Part of this role includes developing flower sales, value-added products, deli items and potential lunch offerings thru the Farm Stand in coordination with low-key events and activities intended to bring more people out to the farm. In addition to the leadership role within the Farm Stand, this position will also work with farmers and crew with farming tasks throughout the season, including harvesting, washing and packing produce in addition to field work. Position runs from May through September and includes on-farm housing.

Job Duties

• Provide oversight and management of farm stand (includes some build-out and re-thinking layout and systems) in partnership with Event Manager & Assistant Farm Manger.
• Advertise Farm Stand events and specials.
• Work with Event Manager and Front of House Lead to recruit staff and maintain schedule, ensuring good communication and overlap with Barn Supper and other TF event staff (high cross-over potential).
• Quality control of all products -- working to sell fresh products only and keep farm products fresh.
• A strong sense of aesthetics and the ability to create visually appealing farm stand displays and printed materials.
• Oversee farm stand POS system and support, daily cash outs, and farm stand budget.
• Order supplies, resale items and grocery items. Maintain inventory and cost control measures. Popular re-sale items include products from other area farms, including whole chickens, honey and cheeses. We strive to feature the farms, fishermen and women, and all the good food our area has to offer.
• Organize all current TF merch (hats, shirts, bags, etc) and work on 2020 plan for new gear to sell in farm stand (have inventory of merchandise on hand). Ensure good mix of products are available for sale by June.
• Communicate regularly with Assistant Manager on produce availability for farm stand.
• Help with creative ideas for value added product opportunities, donations to on-island groups, etc. if farm production is in abundance or has an excess of produce. This is especially important during season transitions, i.e. before summer residents/tourists are on-island in the summer and when they leave in the fall. Farm is seeking as little waste as possible.
• Explore opportunities for daily deli items and lunch offerings.
• Key partners include Event Manager, Head Chef, and Assistant Farm Manager.

Farming Tasks

• Depending on sales schedule, perform field work alongside crew and managers to ensure farm production is meeting goals. We anticipate a shift in hours over the season, with more field work performed in May and June, less in July and August at the height of the Farm Stand selling season, and more field work again in September.