Company description

Who We Are:

Food is the foundation of good health. Forty Acres Fresh Market (FAFM) is an independent, Black woman-owned grocery business offering high-quality, fresh food to people across Chicagoland. We are working to restore healthy food access so that people across Chicago neighborhoods can have a worthwhile grocery experience regardless of zip code.

Forty Acres Fresh Market opened its first brick and mortar store in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood in September 2025 and is looking for likeminded people to join our team.

Who You Are:

​Are you a dedicated grocery professional who believes everyone deserves an exceptional shopping experience regardless of ZIP code? Do you want to be part of building a business that acts as a catalyst for community change? Do you believe in the importance of making affordable fresh food accessible in every neighborhood?

If so, Forty Acres Fresh Market is the place for you. We are looking for an outgoing, experienced, detail-oriented, and results-driven Grocery & Front End Shift Lead who is eager to play an active role in the operations of the Center Store and Front End departments. This individual must have a friendly demeanor, enjoy engaging with customers, be skilled in supporting a team, possess excellent communication skills, and have a positive “Can Do” attitude. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, cash handling experience, and a willingness to work collaboratively with other departments. The ability to work with a diverse group of people is essential.

Job description

The Job:
Are you a dedicated grocery professional who loves fruits and veggies, has enthusiasm for people, and believes that high-quality produce should be easily accessible for everyone? Forty Acres Fresh Market (FAFM) is looking for an Associate to support the daily operations of our Produce & Floral Department, including the preparation of packaged cut fruit, and juices. The Produce Associate is responsible for providing outstanding customer service while working alongside the Produce/Floral Department Manager in various key operational areas. We are seeking a detail oriented person to help manage department inventory, margin, pricing integrity, and adherence to merchandising standards. As a FAFM team member, this Associate will exemplify Forty Acres’ values of Quality, Sustainability, Community Engagement, and Integrity.

Applicants must be 18 years of age, minimum.

Duties include but are not limited to:​

Model and provide exceptional customer service by addressing customer concerns and questions.
Ensure product quality by managing inventory, proper rotation, and culling for bad or out of date products.
Cut, weigh, juice, and package produce for ready made items
Follow and maintain procedures and processes that are implemented by the Produce Manager and Store Leadership to minimize department shrink.
Maintain safety, sanitation and regulatory standards, including proper handling and labeling of products.
Keep both floral and produce displays clean, organized, and visually appealing.
Other duties related to general store operations as assigned by management

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must be capable of providing and modeling exceptional customer service
• Excellent communication skills to effectively interact with customers, store leadership, and team members.
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to work independently or in groups.
• Ability to facilitate a positive work environment with outstanding teamwork and mutual respect.
• Effective communication skills (written and verbal)
• Weekend Availability
  

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated interest in food and culinary arts

Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities​

• Ability to manage time effectively, and prioritize tasks
  Must be detail oriented, self-motivated, and able to work independently or in groups.
  ​

Machines and Equipment Operated:

Sharp knives, wrappers, scales, compactors, garbage disposals, hand trucks, pallet jacks; etc.

Work Environment/ Physical Demands

• Must have the physical ability to stand for extended periods of time, bend, climb, balance, stoop to grasp objects, kneel, crouch, crawl, frequently push/pull up to 100 lbs., frequently lift and/or move loads up to 50 lbs., and occasionally lift 75 lbs.
• Must work with sharp knives, blending/juicing machines, and slicers
• Ability to enter the coolers and freezers thereby being subjected to and withstanding frequent temperature changes for extended periods of time.
• Occasional high stress when dealing with systems/customers/staff.
• Able to work a flexible schedule with various shifts, including weekends and holidays, as determined by the store/business needs and as required to ensure adequate store staffing, and ability to be reached as needed after hours.
• Must have a reliable source of transportation, as this role requires timeliness for opening shifts.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

​​​Job Type: Part-time

This position is Chicago-based

Compensation: $17.25/hour

Benefits:​

Up to 40 hours paid sick time annually
Up to 40 hours paid vacation time annually
10% in-store employee discount (excludes alcohol and Mabel’s Meals)​​​
​​​

Forty Acres Fresh Market is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Compensation

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

Application instructions

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Deadline

no deadline