Company description

Sunshine River Farms is a mixed vegetable and fruit farm located in Whitefish, Montana. Our farm is located northwest of Whitefish, less than 20 minutes from downtown, with one side of the property bordering the Stillwater River. The property is 40 acres but the growing area of orchard and vegetable production area is approx 3 acres (with room to expand in the future). Infrastructure includes a 60’x30’ heated greenhouse, an 80’x34’ high tunnel, a 21’x100’ caterpillar tunnel and indoor wash and pack room (including walk-in fridge). The orchard and vegetable field is fenced to protect from animal pressure. There’s also a barn on the property which includes a tool and equipment storage room. We farm with a BCS tractor and a Toolcat utility vehicle but otherwise rely on hand tools for much of the work

Our vision is to cultivate a thriving farm that regenerates the land, nourishes the community, and celebrates biodiversity through sustainable, no-till practices. We aim to produce abundant fruits, vegetables and eggs while sharing knowledge, fostering connection, and giving back through education, collaboration, and local food donations. Rooted in harmony with nature, our farm will be a living model of ecological stewardship, community engagement, and resilient food systems.

This coming season will be our second year of vegetable production. We will be offering CSA shares, going to farmers markets, and distributing food through local wholesalers, restaurants, non profits and the local food bank network. We grow a large and growing variety of veggies. Some of our main crops include cut salad greens, leafy greens (salad mixes, kale, arugula), tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, garlic, squash, corn, and herbs, among many more!

Significant work has been done this past season and we’re looking for motivated individuals excited about helping to start a farming business. We currently have horses and chickens on property, with eggs hopefully becoming a larger part of our operation as time goes on. There will be opportunities to help in shared maintenance and care for the animals throughout the season.

Job description

We are seeking motivated and reliable individual(s) to join our farm team for the 2026 growing season. Work at Sunshine River Farm is varied and dynamic, and we’re looking for individuals who bring enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, and a positive, can-do attitude. Employees will be responsible for (but not limited to) assisting with planting, harvesting, weeding, washing, sorting, and packing vegetables. Employees will be responsible for working both independently and as part of the team to keep operations running efficiently. They will report to our Farm Manager for harvest, post harvest and field related activities.

Seasonal; Full-time Positions April - October with an average of 40-45hrs/week. Part-Time Positions April/May-October with an average of 25hrs/week

Key Responsibilities

-Learn to grow and harvest 20+ varieties of vegetables with care
-Participate in post-harvest activities such as washing, sorting, and packing produce for distribution.
-Perform weeding and crop maintenance tasks to support healthy plant growth throughout the season, this includes hand weeding.
-Assist with transplanting and installation of row cover for crop protection.
-Maintain crops in High Tunnels
-Collaborate with team members and work independently to maintain an organized, productive, and positive work environment.
-Assist in Farmers Market duties (packing, setting up, distribution/customer service)
-Infrastructure and building maintenance

Skills Required

-Strong work ethic and willingness to learn new tasks
-Effective communication and ability to follow verbal instructions
-Physical stamina to perform repetitive and sometimes strenuous tasks outdoors
-Ability to adapt to changing schedules and environments
-Attention to detail in harvesting, sorting, and preparing vegetables
-Ability to work efficiently both independently and as part of a team
-Interest in sustainable agriculture and organic farming practices
-Dependability and punctuality
-One-year manual labor or related experience

Applicant Qualifications

We are looking for someone who is prepared to learn as they go and be flexible regarding duties. We intend to run the farm as a cooperative where everyone pitches in where needed for the common goal of growing high-quality food and regenerating the soil and environment.

-Farm experience preferred (not required)
-A hard worker who can work in all weather conditions - we experience snow, wind, rain, heat and smoke during our season.
-A clear communicator who is willing to share their ideas and is also comfortable with following instructions. Our work is diverse, especially over the long season, but some tasks can get monotonous and repetitive.
-A strong worth ethic is a must and personal motivation that will help you push through a task until it is done is the key to success on our team.

We work together and individually. The right fit person needs to be comfortable asking clarifying questions to understand a task and be ready to problem solve if a challenge presents itself. In our second season, you will find yourself at times learning along with us as we figure out the best systems for our farm or try out new farming practices.

Compensation/Hours

Vegetables will be made to employees at no cost when available.

Full-time positions will work 40-45 hours/week with weekend availability preferred (not required), hours may change depending on the season. The schedule will likely be Monday-Friday. Our end times flex depending on what we need to accomplish and the season (earlier starts in mid summer). Farmers Market takes place Tuesday evening in Whitefish from 5 - 7:30pm in the summer.

Part time positions will work 8-25 hours/week with weekend availability preferred (not required). The schedule will likely be largely on weekdays.

We expect our farm crew to work hard and also to take care of their personal needs. We take informal breaks and lunch as the demands of the day or our bodies require it. The crew is responsible for their own meals, although we will look to get into communal lunches as much as possible. Any shift over 5 hours, farm crew is expected to take at least 30 minutes for lunch (unpaid).

Getting to Work

No onsite housing is currently available for seasonal employees. There are housing and rental opportunities in the town of Whitefish, Kalispell and surrounding area. The farm is out of town, and it is expected you have transportation and are able to get to work before our start time to ensure you are ready to work at the indicated start time.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, varies DOE, $17.00 - $20.00

Application instructions

Deadline

July 31, 2026