We're Hiring!

Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market Coordinator

 

Overview:

The Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market (BMFM) is a collaborative food access program with the mission of bringing fresh, healthy 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.

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This program has several objectives and stakeholders. 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.

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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:

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• 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 Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market 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.

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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.

 

How to apply:

 

Please email a cover letter, resume and three references to: jobs@berkshiregrown.org

In your cover letter, please list the number of markets you would like to work per week (up to 3) and which markets you would prefer to work, (taking into consideration the van pick up location for each market). We are hiring 2-3 Market Coordinators in total to cover the six mobile market sites. Each market day would be approximately 6-8 hours of work. We are accepting applications on a rolling basis, however applications received by March 31st will receive first consideration.

 

NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE.

 

Berkshire Grown’s Mission

Berkshire Grown’s motto is to Keep Farmers Farming! Berkshire Grown supports and promotes local agriculture as a vital part of the Berkshire community, economy, and landscape. We cultivate a county-wide food economy and bring community members together to ensure that our farms are viable businesses. For more information about Berkshire Grown, visit our website: berkshiregrown.org.

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Berkshire Grown is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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Berkshire Bounty’s Overview

Berkshire Bounty is a 501(c)(3) food recovery organization dedicated to collecting, purchasing and delivering nutritious food to emergency food distribution programs countywide. We build capacity, close gaps and improve the quality of food for the food insecure population. Using over 100 registered and active volunteers, Berkshire Bounty collects donated food through a network of 25 retailers and delivers that food to 29 distribution organizations that directly serve the community including food pantries, public schools and senior centers. We collect and deliver nutritious food six days per week and 12 months per year, creating a year-round predictability for all distribution organizations and the people they serve. Berkshire Bounty also operates a robust Food Purchase Program. Through this program, we use a significant percentage of donated funds to purchase nutritious food including meat, dairy, eggs, fresh produce and culturally appropriate items to build capacity and improve the quality of food choices at our partner distribution sites. In 2023, Berkshire Bounty collected over 411,000 lbs. of nutritious food, the equivalent of 342,500 meals for the local food insecure community.

 

Non-Discrimination Policy

Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market encourages candidates from all backgrounds to join our team. It does not discriminate on the basis of color, race, national origin, religion, gender, physical or mental disability, or age in any of its policies, procedures or practices. Nor does it discriminate against persons because they are disabled Veterans, or because of their mental condition, their ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, or citizenship within the limits imposed by law. This policy covers all employment practices, admission to volunteer opportunities, and client participation in any program BMFM offers to the public.