Produce Clerk (Part-time)

New Pioneer Food Co-op; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 24,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Paid time off

Staff discounts

Retirement plan options

Job summary

New Pioneer Food Co-op in Iowa City is seeking a friendly Produce Clerk to support daily department operations and create a fresh, welcoming produce experience for customers.

You will stock displays, assist customers, handle product preparation, and maintain signage and cleanliness with a focus on quality, freshness, and teamwork.

This is a part-time, non-exempt role with 18-28 hours per week, offering competitive pay and opportunities to grow within a cooperative community.

Qualifications

• Customer service experience preferred in retail or food service.
• Team oriented with strong communication and reliability.
• Knowledge of food safety practices a plus.
• Experience in grocery/produce helpful.

Responsibilities

• Provide friendly, welcoming customer service throughout the department and store.
• Stock displays, racks, bins, and coolers fully and attractively to convey abundance, quality, and freshness.
• Cull displays throughout shifts, removing low quality product following established quality and shrink procedures.
• Trim, wash, bundle, and prepare produce following department standards and priorities.
• Maintain accurate, clean signage, labels, and pricing across the department.
• Support receiving, rotation, and back stock organization while checking for quality and damage.
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and sanitation across displays, coolers, and workspaces.
• Assist customers with product questions, selection guidance, samples, special orders, and carry outs.
• Work collaboratively with team members across departments to support daily operations.

Skills

Customer service

Team player

Food safety

Retail experience

Communication

Reliability

Lift up to 50 lbs

Job description

Description

Starting Hourly Rate: $15.00, based on experience, interview, and skills test

Location: Operations – Iowa City

Reports to: Produce Team Leader

Employment Type: Part Time 18-28 hours/weekly, 20-24 preferred, Non-Exempt

About New Pioneer Food Co-op

New Pioneer Food Co-op is a community owned, value driven local food marketplace rooted in cooperation, sustainability, and shared success. We exist to strengthen the local food system while creating welcoming spaces for staff, members, and partners to thrive.

About the Role

The Produce Clerk supports daily department operations while helping create a fresh, abundant, and welcoming produce experience for every customer.

This role works across multiple areas of the department including stocking, culling, product preparation, receiving support, customer assistance, and maintaining clean and shopper ready displays and workspaces.

Produce Clerks play an important role in upholding the quality, freshness, and presentation standards our customers count on while supporting the overall success of the store team.

Requirements

What You Will Do

• Provide friendly, welcoming, and helpful customer service throughout the department and store


• Stock displays, racks, bins, and coolers fully and attractively to convey abundance, quality, and freshness


• Cull displays throughout shifts, removing low quality product following established quality and shrink procedures


• Trim, wash, bundle, and prepare produce following department standards and priorities


• Maintain accurate, clean signage, labels, and pricing across the department


• Support receiving, rotation, and back stock organization while checking for quality and damage


• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and sanitation across displays, coolers, and workspaces


• Assist customers with product questions, selection guidance, samples, special orders, and carry outs


• Work collaboratively with team members across departments to support daily operations

What Success Looks Like

• Customers experience a fresh, abundant, and welcoming produce department every day


• Displays, coolers, and shelves remain fully stocked, rotated, and quality checked


• Product preparation, signage, and presentation standards are consistently maintained


• Tasks are completed consistently with attention to detail, food safety, and quality


• Team members contribute positively to department culture and operational flow

What You’ll Bring

• Produce, grocery, retail, or food service experience preferred


• Positive attitude and willingness to support multiple areas of the department and store


• Ability to work in a fast paced and team oriented environment


• Strong communication and reliability


• Interest in natural, organic, and local foods preferred


• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds regularly and work in cool, damp conditions


• Flexible availability including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays

Compensation & Benefits

This position offers competitive hourly pay aligned with market benchmarks for similar cooperative retail roles, along with benefits that may include medical, dental, vision, paid time off, staff discounts, and retirement plan options for eligible team members.

Why Join New Pioneer

At New Pioneer, every role contributes to a shared mission of building stronger communities through food, service, and cooperation.

As a Produce Clerk, you help create the fresh, vibrant, and dependable produce experience our shoppers count on every day.