Company description
Back4Farm is a small, woman-owned, certified naturally grown fruit and vegetable farm in Copake, NY in the beautiful Hudson River Valley. The farm has about an acre and a quarter of diverse crops including blueberries, strawberries peaches, rhubarb, elderberries, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, asparagus and chestnuts, with additional land available for planting. It has been in operation for 10 years and sells to restaurants locally and in New York City, CSAs, farmers markets and retail groceries. We are no-till (although we have a tractor) and follow holistic and bio generative principles in taking care of the soil, pollinators and plants. My partner and I, who are both 72, have been managing the farm with various part-time farm assistants and are looking to transition to a longer-term relationship with someone who could take over running the farm. We would like to hear from people who have both farming experience and experience running a business and who could make a commitment for 3 to 5 years, and possibly longer.
The infrastructure at Back4Farm includes a small barn, small greenhouse, drip irrigation systems for several of the crop beds with underground piping, hydrants and hoses available for the rest, electricity to the small barn, exclusionary netting for the blueberries, strawberries and elderberries, and deer fencing around the other crops. Housing is not available on site, but there are apartments and houses available to rent in several towns near the farm.
Job description
The qualifications and experience are listed below, and you must be able to commit to working through the end of September. Depending on your experience, this season we would consider turning over the management with your compensation based solely on revenue from the crops sold or providing some training and paying between $18 to $24 an hour DOE for a limited period (no more than 30 days). At the end of the first season, our hope would be to reach an agreement for a period of between 3 and 5 years during which you would take over operation of the farm and would be compensated by whatever the farm produced.
At least two seasons' prior experience with perennials and annuals on a farm, nursery, orchard or similar environment
Entrepreneurial experience and demonstrated abilities in planning, budgeting, administration, supervision of others, marketing, sales, business development and customer relationship management
Strong problem-solving skills
Ability to communicated effectively and respectfully with a wide range of people including co-workers, contractors, suppliers, customers and potential customers
Experience with accounting software, digital marketing and social media
Capable of performing physical labor that includes lifting 50 pounds, kneeling and squatting and working in all types of weather
Possesses good coordination and manual dexterity for harvesting small crops, comfortable with 12-foot ladders
Not color blind. Being able to see red is very important since the ripeness of many of the crops we grow is determined by how red they are
Driver's license required to fulfill duties and personal vehicle needed
Experience operating farm equipment, tools and machinery
Knowledge of and support for safety and sanitary guidelines applicable to food production
Compensation
this position is: hourly, varies DOE, $18.00 - $24.00
Application instructions
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Deadline
June 15, 2026