Experienced Fruit and Vegetable Grower

Ray of Sunshine Farm; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Ray of Sunshine Farm in Almaden Valley, San Jose, seeks an experienced grower focused on fruit and vegetable production. You will independently manage a diverse mix of crops from planning through harvest, collaborating with a small team.

The role emphasizes organic/no-spray methods, soil fertility, and irrigation setup and maintenance, with a hands-on approach to ensure year-round production and quality harvests.

Qualifications

• 3+ years hands-on experience growing vegetables across diverse crops.
• Experience with organic or no-spray growing methods.
• Experience managing irrigation systems.
• Experience with crop planning and succession planting.
• Market garden experience is a strong plus.
• Team player with good communication for a small crew.
• Comfortable with physical outdoor work in all seasons.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute crop rotations and succession planting across a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to keep something in production year-round.
• Manage organic, no-spray growing practices, including soil fertility and pest management using organic-approved methods.
• Set up, maintain, and manage irrigation for all growing areas.
• Monitor crop health and adjust practices as needed across a diverse planting mix.
• Harvest and sort at peak ripeness aligned to farmstand open hours.
• Coordinate with the rest of the farm team and help with sales/pack-wash if needed.

Skills

Vegetable farming

No-spray farming

Irrigation management

Crop planning

Market gardening

Team player

Outdoor work

Job description

About the Farm

Ray of Sunshine Farm is a natural farm and farmstand in Almaden Valley, San Jose, raising mixed livestock and growing produce, fruits, and hands‑on farm education classes for kids. We’re looking for an experienced grower to join the team on the fruit and vegetable growing side of the operation.

The Role

This position is focused entirely on fruit and vegetable production — you won’t be responsible for livestock, farm classes, or farmstand operations, unless you are interested! We’re looking for someone who can independently manage a diverse mix of crops from planning through harvest.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute crop rotations and succession planting across a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to keep something in production year‑round
• Manage organic, no‑spray growing practices, including soil fertility and pest management using organic‑approved methods
• Set up, maintain, and manage irrigation for all growing areas
• Monitor crop health and adjust practices as needed across a diverse planting mix
• Harvest and sort at peak ripeness aligned to farmstand open hours
• Coordinate with the rest of the farm team — we’re a small, close‑knit operation and expect to hire a separate team member to help with farmstand sales and pack/wash duties, so being a strong collaborator matters. (If you’re also comfortable helping with sales or pack/wash yourself, that’s a real plus, though not required.)

What you bring

• Minimum 3 years of hands‑on experience growing vegetables, ideally across a wide variety of crops rather than a single specialty
• Experience with organic or no‑spray growing methods
• Experience managing irrigation systems
• Experience with crop planning and succession planting
• Market garden experience is a strong plus
• A team player who communicates well and works well with others on a small farm crew
• Comfortable with physical outdoor work in all seasons

Compensation: $30/hour, depending on experience Schedule: Full‑time, 40 hours/week, flexible schedule. Start date flexible — aiming for before February 2027.