Produce Associate - Part-Time

Mustard Seed Market and Cafe - Montrose; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Mustard Seed Market and Cafe - Montrose in Akron, OH is seeking a Produce Specialist to deliver outstanding customer service and maintain high-quality produce displays. You will manage stock levels, rotate products using FIFO, and keep signage accurate while supporting merchandising standards.

The role requires basic knife skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work in a fast-paced retail environment. Training on safety and sanitation will be provided as part of onboarding.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required; ServSafe Level 1 cert required (can be obtained during employment).
• Front-facing retail experience preferred.
• Food handling or service experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides customers with prompt and courteous service and assistance.
• Greets customers as they enter the store through the department.
• Inspect products for quality and resolve signs of spoilage or damage.
• Ensure produce area is clean, sanitized, and well-presented at all times.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Verbal Communication Skills

Problem Solve

Initiative

Stacking skills

Spatial Reasoning

Attention to Detail

Teamwork

Knife skills

Work Independently

Merchandising Ability

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

ServSafe Food Handler Level 1 Certificate

Tools

Knives

Push Carts

Scale

Box Cutter

Food Processor

Wrapping Machine

Job description

Job Summary

Provides excellent customer service to all customers. Maintain consistent quality of products, stock levels, rotation (FIFO), merchandising, and pricing signage of products of merchandise and products in produce area. Unloads, washes, trims, and stores produce from shipments. Learn and understand the various aspects of produce department products.

Responsibilities

• Provides customers with prompt and courteous service and assistance
• Greets customers as they enter the store through the department
• Inspect products for quality ensuring any signs of spoilage, damage, or unwanted additions are resolved
• Ensure produce environment is clean, sanitized, and presentable at all times; ensuring debris, trash, and other foreign materials are removed timely
• Condition department according to produce leadership policy and direction including but not limited to: rearranging equipment, deep cleaning surfaces, reorienting displays, re-signing products
• Maintain appropriate stock levels according to business needs at the direction of produce leadership
• Rotate products according to First In First Out methodology
• Arranges and rearranges displays in line with company presentation and display standards for produce department
• Addresses pricing and signage issues timely, ensuring produce leadership is notified of any issues and discrepancies
• Wash products according to produce department washing categories at instruction of leadership
• Trim and prepare products according to produce policy and daily needs
• Unload shipments according to inventory and dispersing as instructed according to department needs
• Ensure that backstock is properly rotated according to FIFO methodology
• Learn and understand the taste, preparation, differences, uses, ripeness, and other aspects of products within the produce department
• Other duties as assigned

Working Conditions

Works in a non-smoking store environment that has daily exposure to wet, cold and freezing conditions. Additional environmental factors include odors, noise, and textures. This position works with raw produce materials that may include ice, dirt, insects, rot, and mold. This position uses chemicals, sharp equipment, and hot equipment. The workspace requires constant self-awareness and comfortability navigating tight spaces.

Equipment Operated

• Knives
• General/Misc. Kitchen Equipment
• Push Carts
• U-Boats
• Scanning Gun
• Wet-Wall Components
• Box Cutter
• Scale
• Compactor
• Pressure Washer
• Pricing Gun
• Printing Scale
• Manual Pallet
• Floral Cutter
• Bailer
• Garden Hose
• Food Processor
• Wrapping Machine

Requirements

Education And Experience (E = Essential D = Desired)

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required
• ServSafe Food Handler Level 1 Certificate is required (can be obtained during employment)
• Previous experience in a front-facing retail environment is preferred
• Previous experience with food handling or service is preferred
• Experience with food prep is plus

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Interpersonal Skills
• Ability to Problem Solve
• How and when to take initiative
• Stacking skills
• Spatial Reasoning
• Verbal Communication Skills
• Ability to work independently
• Knife skills
• Strong Attention to Detail
• Ability to work with a team
• Merchandising Ability

Physical Requirements

• Hearing (Auditory)
• Reading
• Reaching
• Lifting and Carrying 60 lbs.
• Climbing (Stepladder)
• Bending
• Grasping
• Standing
• Sight or Peripheral Vision
• Operating Equipment
• Pushing/Pulling Cart
• Walking
• Crouching
• Communicating (Verbal)
• Writing
• Phone handling
• Knife Handling