Produce Department Associate

California Fresh Market - San Luis Obispo; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 2,066,000 - 2,480,000; Full time

Job summary

California Fresh Market - San Luis Obispo is seeking a Produce Associate to select, price, display, and promote fresh produce while maintaining cleanliness and quality across the department. You will handle receiving, merchandising, and customer service tasks, ensuring accurate pricing and inventory control.

The role requires at least 1 year of retail produce experience, knowledge of organic and conventional foods, and the ability to stand for long periods and work in cold conditions.

Qualifications

• Experience in retail produce and knowledge of organic/conventional items is expected.
• Strong customer service skills and ability to handle multiple tasks.
• Ability to maintain cleanliness, stock, and displays per department standards.

Responsibilities

• Select, price, display, and promote fresh produce to meet margins and sales goals.
• Maintain department cleanliness, temperature checks, and proper storage.
• Assist customers, handle special orders, and respond to feedback promptly.
• Perform receiving duties, rotate stock, and report issues to suppliers as needed.
• Support merchandising efforts and participate in inventories.

Skills

Retail experience

Produce knowledge

Customer service

Food safety

Multitasking

Job description

Description

A Produce Associate's job is to select, price, display, and promote fresh produce. A Produce Associate is also tasked with ensuring department cleanliness, price integrity, quality control, training, merchandising, and receiving.

Receiving

Check the load against the invoice for proper billing. Report overages and shortages to suppliers. Inspect all products for quality and condition. Identify products that are not acceptable, report to the supplier and request credit. Put load away in designated storage area, while maintaining proper rotation and cleanliness. Code date all product to assist in proper rotation.

Department Maintenance

Coordinate storage of items to be returned to suppliers. See that unsellable items are properly disposed of. Keep accurate shrinkage logs. Ensure that produce shelves, displays, aisles, prep & storage areas are in clean, orderly conditions, meeting all health department standards. Ensure trash is removed; sales floor and prep areas are swept and mopped daily. Perform daily cooler & sales floor temperature checks. Ensure freshness and quality through rotation of product throughout the department. Maintain a cleaning log for the sales floor and produce retail area. Have items marked down as needed to reduce losses. Perform equipment checks to ensure department equipment is in working order.

Merchandising

Plan attractive produce displays, using color and texture to enhance. Ensure displays are replenished, rotated, culled daily. Price produce to achieve margin and sales goals, while maintaining a competitive image. Ensure building and maintaining of in-store displays, according to established standards for appearance, variety and ease of shopping and stocking. Stock items as needed. Ensure accurate, up-to-date uniform department signs.

Customer Service

Assist customers produce questions in prompt friendly manner. Assist customers with special orders and oversee special orders system in the department to ensure customers receive their orders. Respond to produce department customer suggestions, comments & complaints in a reasonable manner. Always make our customers know that they are important and special, assist in any other department as needed. Answer & route phone calls.

Other Responsibilities

Perform other tasks assigned by management. Assist other customers in all departments, in prompt friendly courteous manager, referring them to other staff when necessary. Plan & participate in department inventories according to established policy. Maintain department logs, cleaning schedules, safety materials, and inventory documents.

Requirements

• At least 1+ years of experience in retail produce
• Knowledge of organic and commercial growing practices
• Knowledge of current trends in conventional & organic foods industry
• Demonstrates the ability to handle multiple demands
• Communications skills – clear directions, good listener
• Experience serving the public
• Ability to project friendly, outgoing personality
• Ability to lift heavy boxes frequently up to 40 pounds and occasionally buddy lift to 75 pounds
• Ability to stand for long periods
• Ability to work in cold, wet conditions
• Prolonged standing, walking, squatting, and/or bending
• Repetitive use - hand to finger motions, handle or feel objects, reach with hands and arms
• Must be able to adjust vision to both day and night lighting and be able to focus on distant and close-range projects
• Occasional high stress when dealing with systems/customers/staff
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as department manuals and reports
• Ability to prioritize work tasks, multi-task, and maintain focus
• Willingness to work weekends
• Regular, predictable attendance
• Willingness and ability to learn and grow to meet the changing requirements of the job
• Travel may be required
• Evening/night work may be required