The Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market will begin its second season this June, bringing locally-grown food to areas in our community of low income and/or low access to fresh food.  Shoppers will find a variety of seasonal produce at the market, as well as other food staples such as eggs, meat, dairy products, bread, maple syrup and honey. 

All products are locally sourced, and payment is on a tiered/sliding scale to make shopping at the market affordable for all.  Customers can choose to pay either retail price, pay 50% off the retail price, or pay nothing at all (using the market as a food pantry). The market will also accept SNAP/HIP as a payment option and will accept Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons (WIC and Senior coupons).

We strive to make shopping at the market a stigma-free, welcoming experience. 

MISSION 

The mission of the Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market is to bridge the gap between local food producers and community members by making fresh, healthy, local food accessible for all.

VISION

We envision an equitable and integrated food system where everyone is working together to support regional agriculture and food access in the community. 

WHO

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission joins with Berkshire Bounty, Berkshire Grown, and the Southern Berkshires Rural Health Network and partners Berkshire United Way and Community Health Programs in this collaboration. 

Each partner addresses a distinct aspect of food production, storage, purchase, and distribution.

Overview:

The Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market (BMFM) is a collaborative food access program with the mission of bringing fresh, local food to low-income and low access communities across Berkshire County. We work with local farmers to offer a variety of locally grown seasonal produce, eggs, meat, dairy products, bread, and other food items.

The aim of the program is to:

• support local farmers and food producers by providing a wholesale revenue stream for their products,
• lessen food insecurity and improve equitable access to local, healthy food options (especially for those in remote and rural areas),
• mitigate the stigma of using EBT/SNAP benefits and food pantries.
• improve community resiliency by diminishing our reliance on long-distance food chains.

In 2024 we plan to operate the Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market at approximately six locations across the county weekly from June through October. We are hiring 2-3 market coordinators to cover these 6 market locations.

The Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market Coordinator is the on-site lead at the markets, coordinating the market logistics with site hosts, shoppers, market ambassadors and volunteers. This is a seasonal, part-time position requiring 1-3 days/week, with on-site work at Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market sites during the market season (June through October, with start date in late May).

Responsibilities:

• Manage the Market Ambassador & Volunteers at each market site;
• Ensure quality control of all products before, during and after market;
• Set up efficient and engaging merchandise layout of market, ensuring all items and prices are properly displayed and shoppers can move around with ease and comfort;
• Responsible for properly cashing out shoppers on Point-of-Sale system, weighing, bagging and ringing in items, ensuring accuracy and a stigma-free shopping experience;
• Responsible for on-site money management;
• Set up iPad, Point of Sale System, SNAP/EBT terminals, ensuring all devices are charged;
• Responsible for electronic equipment care, maintenance, secure storage and charging;
• Ensure market vehicles are fueled/charged;
• Ensure vehicles, bins and coolers are cleaned;
• Follow best practices for creating an inclusive, stigma-free and welcoming market for shoppers from diverse backgrounds;
• Help distribute marketing communication strategies/tactics to recruit, inform and retain shoppers across all payment categories and market locations;
• Take photos and videos during the market for social media.

Market Days and Times: (*Tentative- some details are being finalized)

South/Central County market sites:

1. Monterey, Tuesday, 1:00-4:00
2. Pittsfield at 18 Degrees, Wednesdays, 3-5:30pm
3. Pittsfield, 2nd Street, Thursdays, 3-5:30pm
4. Becket, Friday 3-6pm

(The markets will close earlier in October, as it gets dark earlier.)

North County market sites:

1. North Adams, Thursdays, 12-2pm
2. Adams, Fridays, 11am-1pm

A day in the life of the Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market Coordinator:

• Pick up the market vehicle from charging site

(For South/Central County markets: Simon’s Rock Athletic Center, Great Barrington

For North County Markets, BCAC in Pittsfield);

• Load the vehicle at the cold storage site

(For South/Central County markets: 190 North Plain Road, Great Barrington.

For North County Markets: 71 Hospital Ave., North Adams);

• Drive market van to market site;
• Pick up any food items at farms enroute, as needed;
• Arrive to market 1.5 hours prior to market start time, work with volunteers to unload vehicle;
• Set up tents/tables, signage, etc., creating a visually pleasing display of market items;
• Act as primary cashier for market, with assistance from a volunteer, operating the Point-of-Sale system and cash register;
• Oversee the activities of volunteers and Market Ambassador, providing guidance and instruction where needed;
• At the end of market, pack up leftover food and market supplies, reload vehicle with help of volunteers;
• Return leftover food to cooler site, and vehicle to parking/charging site, ensuring everything is fueled/charged for the following day/market.

The Mobile Market Coordinator positions report to the BMFM Program Manager and to Berkshire Grown’s Executive Director or Berkshire Bounty’s Executive Director, as well as working closely with the Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market Ambassadors, volunteers and other community partners.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Experience working with local agriculture (first-hand knowledge of local food and farmers markets producers a plus);
• Demonstrated understanding of local food and farming landscape in the Berkshires; (previous experience in work related to food insecurity for low income and low access areas of the community a plus);
• Competency managing inventory and Point of Sale System (Square);
• Customer service and cashier experience;
• Ability to take initiative while also working as a team player;
• Excellent communications skills;
• Commitment to actively working to develop racial equity and food justice in the local food and agriculture sectors of the Berkshires;
• Bilingual Spanish speaker a plus.

Expectations:

• Operating a farmers’ market is physically demanding; must be able to lift up to 50 lbs repeatedly, climb in/out of cargo van or truck for loading and unloading, stand for extended periods of time;
• Some markets require work into the early evening.
• The applicant must have an active driver’s license and a good driving record;
• The applicant must reside within (or close to) Berkshire County, MA;
• Some travel throughout Berkshire County is required for meeting, site visits, conferences, etc. (Staff are compensated for mileage at the Federal Mileage Reimbursement rate).
• Use of personal cell phone for communication with market staff and volunteers, as well as for photos/videos may be required.

Compensation:

This is a non-exempt hourly position, with a competitive pay range of $20-22/hour.