Company description

Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture is on a mission to cultivate vibrant regional food systems that build the health of our land, food, and communities, from the farm forward. 

Founded in 2010, Arcadia has four distinct programs: Sustainable Mixed-Crop Farming, Veteran Farmer Training, Youth Farm Education and the Mobile Market. All farm production and education programming takes place at Arcadia’s Alexandria, VA site, while the Mobile Market is based in Hyattsville, MD and serves Washington, D.C. 

Arcadia's Mobile Market was established in 2012 to improve access to local farm fresh food to the most underserved areas in Washington, DC. The Mobile Market offers local food grown on Arcadia’s farm and sourced from several local farms to offer a wide selection of produce, meat, eggs and more. The Mobile Market is the leading provider of direct-to-consumer local food access in Wards 7 and 8. The Market is open to everyone, and food assistance recipients are incentivized to shop at the market through Arcadia’s matching program, doubling the value of SNAP, WIC and Senior FMNP. Market sites are chosen for customer accessibility and convenience, including schools, libraries, recreation centers and senior wellness centers. 2025 will be the Mobile Market’s 14th season. 

Our programmatic goals: 

1. Make high-quality, local food convenient, affordable and consistently available for all DC residents. 

2. Create opportunities for market-goers, staff and local farmers to forge direct connections and build community around food. 

3. Support community driven food access and community ownership of long term solutions. 

At Arcadia we cultivate not only food but the hearts, minds, and health of our community. We embrace regenerative farming practices to honor the land and promote its vital long-term health. We foster an environment that supports open communication and positive collaboration. As Arcadians we take an innovative approach to proactively solving problems in and out of the workplace. We believe in creating a workplace where everyone is respected, valued, and feels inspired to contribute their skills and perspectives. 

These are our values. They shape and inform everything we do. 

HOLISTIC. In everything we do we ask: Have we considered the whole? Are there unforeseen consequences of this action? Are we leaving anything or anyone out? EQUITABLE. Does everyone have a seat at the table? Are we gathering all the wisdom we can from our community? 

ACTION. Arcadia has a bias for action; we innovate and iterate. Are we doing everything within our power, capacity, and resources to bring about the change our community wants to see? 

LAND. The land we are on is sacred, historically and ecologically. Are we honoring it? TRUST. Are we living up to our promises? Are we sharing our resources and building trust with our communities?

HARMONY. Are we creating harmony between the people, land, and the food system and our community? Are we all doing our individual parts, and do those parts harmonize to create something bigger and better than what we can do alone?  

If you are passionate about creating an equitable, sustainable food system and are eager to collaborate and contribute in an organization and farm that values holistic practices, equity and harmony, we encourage you to apply 

Arcadia does not discriminate in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment on account of race, age, color, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, or religion or otherwise as may be prohibited by federal and state law.

Job description

Arcadia is hiring seasonal, part-time market staff. Arcadia is a growing organization, and the right candidate will have the opportunity to grow with us and become an integral part of the Mobile Market program.

The Mobile Market season runs mid-May through mid-December 2025. We operate at eight market locations in total, Tuesday through Saturday as well as operating shifts at our warehouse in Hyattsville, Md. Shifts will include a combination of weekday mornings, afternoons, evenings, and Saturdays.  Priority will be given to candidates able to commit 3 shifts weekly, including Saturdays. 

Reports to: Mobile Market Director 

Market Team Members will oversee program implementation, from market preparation to operation and record keeping, all while embracing the HEALTH of the program and setting the tone for each market. Staff are encouraged to bring their strengths to market, supporting them as community gathering spaces for accessing local fresh food, learning, sharing and relationship-building. Staff will have the skills in strategic problem-solving, working as a cohesive team, taking initiative, being organized and reliable, and performing in a fast-paced environment with competing demands. 

The right candidate will be able to combine a passion for building a strong, local and sustainable food system with the practical skills and responsibilities listed below:  

● Communicating with the team to get the job done accurately and effectively 
● Setting market space layouts/designs to support positive customer experiences

● Maintaining market inventory and product quality standards 

● Overseeing market experience, building rapport with community members 

● Monitoring and documenting product demand, soliciting customer feedback 

● Conducting transactions, ensuring proper processing of different tenders 

● Reconciling all transactions at end of market day 

● Supporting at-market needs of volunteers and partner organizations

● De-escalating/resolving conflicts at market 

● Maintaining health and safety protocols including COVID-19 protocols  

 

Requirements 

● Maintain reliable transportation to and from headquarters in Hyattsville, MD

● Able to lift up to 40 pounds repeatedly throughout the work day 

● Ability to stand for 6+ hours during the assigned shifts 

● Able to work outdoors in varying and sometimes difficult weather conditions

● Strong communication and interpersonal skills (prompt and clear communication in all forms) 

Preferred Qualifications 

● Valid Driver’s License with clean driving record and at least two years driving experience 

● Comfortable driving refrigerated-style trucks from headquarters to market and back (will receive training and must pass a defensive driving course) 

● Knowledge of food inequity in DC and a passion for community-centered food access

● Experience working in the food industry (farming, restaurant, grocery, etc.)

● Spanish/Second language proficiency 

● Ideal candidates would be familiar with or local to our Market locations in Wards 2, 5, 7 & 8 

Compensation 

● $20/hour Market Associates, with opportunity for bonuses 

● Staff Discounts on Mobile Market items 

 

Compensation

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

Application instructions

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Deadline

no deadline