Company description

Cropsey Farm has been a staple of Rockland County since the late 1800s. Rockland Farm Alliance, a non-profit, was founded in the early 2000s to preserve farmland in Rockland County. Cropsey Community Farm is their main farming project and RFA’s office headquarters. Cropsey Farm has 12 tillable acres, about 4 of which are planted with certified organic, diversified vegetables and fruit in 2024. Cropsey sells through the Farm Market, a market-style CSA, and a few wholesale accounts, including the school district. All produce not sold is donated to local food pantries.

RFA also has a rapidly-growing environmental education program which includes the 8 week Jr Farmers Camp on the farm, school field trips, and farm educator visits to the local schools. While mostly separate, the Cropsey Farm crew and the RFA farm educators do occasionally work together on educational programming.

RFA also hosts several big events during the season, including the Twilight Dinner, Fall Festival, Holiday Market, and seasonal table-at-the-farm dinners.

All the RFA staff from the office, farm, and education teams share the office and have made it a goal to create a workplace environment of understanding and flexibility. In its current iteration, RFA’s managing staff are women and parents, open minded and family friendly. We work hard and hold the same high expectations of our staff but are not shy that we love our jobs and celebrate each other every day. We also have a dedicated breastfeeding-friendly certified space.

Job description

The Cropsey Farm Market is on the farm in the historic red barn on the hill. The barn was completely renovated in 2019, has 3 levels and electricity. We currently have 1 reach-in fridge unit and 2 reach-in freezer units. Our community knows the farm well but many of our customers say they haven’t been to the farm in years, even though they live next door. The Farm Market is how the community first interacts with the farm: by coming onto the property and interacting with the market staff!

The focus of the market is to sell Cropsey Farm produce, highlighting the super local, organic, and seasonal produce coming from our fields. Other products in stock are also as locally produced as possible, showing the range of high quality cooking products from our community.

We also have a curated section of vintage and antique items. This area is primarily managed by someone else, but the market manager will work with her on sales tracking.

The Farm Market Manager does more than just sell our products. You will be learning what our community wants to see in stock and events/activities to host. Maybe it's more plant sale options, more kids activities, more baked goods, gardening classes. You will work with the farm management team on plans to make it happen!

This position could be a hybrid position with the Farm Crew, Animal Staff, Education Team and/ or Office staff if you’re interested in more full time hours.

The Farm Market manager’s primary responsibilities include…

• Create relationships with our customers! Get them excited about our produce and events. The market manager is one of the most important faces of the farm!
• Communicate with Farm Manager about crops coming in that week.
• Work closely with Executive Director and Farm Manager on vision of the store.
• Take over all ordering from our wholesale suppliers.
• Research and find other local products to stock in the store (think coffee, baked goods, jams, etc etc).
• Create marketing materials such as recipe sheets and educational posters to hang in the store using Canva and Adobe.
• Manage our sales platform, Square, updating items, taxes, inventory, reports etc.
• Manage 1-2 part time market crew on weekends.
• Facilitate weekly U-picks (mostly flowers and pumpkins, but we hope to do more!)
• Understand the CSA Market Card and membership tracking.
• Create a welcoming shopping environment with product arrangement. Set up, break down, and make sales during market hours. Must be able to lift over 50 lbs and have an active drivers’ license.
• Learn and promote SNAP/FMNP programs. Submit FMNP checks for reimbursement before the deadline.
• Some record keeping for produce donations.
• Occasional work hours outside of normal market hours during events (planned and scheduled in advance).

Who are you? Or: Desired Skills and Qualifications

• Outgoing, people-person willing to extend patience and kindness to all who come to the farm.
• Someone excited to be part of a team who are building the foundation layers for the future of the farm!
• Retail experience and farming experience a plus! It's always been beneficial for someone with farm knowledge to chat with customers.
• A strong work ethic with a sharp eye for detail, efficiency, and creativity. We work hard and have fun doing it.
• Experience working with Square a plus.
• Team player. Clear and frequent communication is crucial.
• Able to perform physical labor. Must be able to lift 50lbs, kneel and bend, and be able to perform repetitive tasks. Our produce has to be moved from the walk-in coolers to the market for set-up and break-down every market day (with a farm truck)
• driving our farm truck between the farm store and our walk-in coolers is part of the job and requires a driver's license

Some Goals for the 2024 Market Season are:

• Apply to accept SNAP benefits
• Source grants for market expansion
• Expand the market set up by cleaning the upper barn and determining the best use of space

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $15-20/hr

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline