Specialty Vegetable Packer

Greater Sandusky Partnership; Sandusky (OH); On-site; USD 17,000 - 19,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chef’s Garden in Ohio is seeking a Specialty Vegetable Packer to join our Packing Room team. You will assist in washing, cleaning, packaging, and preparing orders for daily deliveries, ensuring quality and accuracy before shipment.

We offer a hands-on role in a cool, controlled environment, with a focus on food safety, HACCP compliance, and teamwork. Prior packing or farm-fresh produce experience is a plus, but we provide on-the-job training.

Qualifications

• Experience in food packing operations.
• HACCP and food safety procedures knowledge is a plus.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and stand for extended periods.
• Good teamwork and reliability in a Packing Room.

Responsibilities

• Assist in sorting, cleaning, and packing orders for daily deliveries.
• Ensure orders are accurate and of high quality before shipping.
• Check product in, track lot numbers, and maintain proper labeling.
• Maintain appropriate temperature and protect products during packing.
• Follow Food Safety policies and sanitize utensils and equipment.
• Support other Packing areas as needed and keep the workspace clean.

Skills

Quality control

Packing & prep

Food safety

Teamwork

Job description

Over the last 40 years, we’ve worked hard to build The Chef’s Garden. It’s a unique niche - home to creativity, innovation, a commitment to excellence, and some of the best produce in the world.

What started as a small family farm has grown to include many more people - still family nonetheless. We’re humbled that you’d consider joining us in the work that we do.

A Specialty Vegetable Packer is responsible for fulfilling orders and preparing them for shipment. Their duties include washing, cleaning, and prepping products, performing quality control assessments, and assembling items securely in the right packaging.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• To assist as a member of the Packing Room team in the sorting and cleaning of incoming product and in the packing of orders for the day's deliveries and, as the last person to see the product before it is shipped, be certain that orders are error-free, of the best possible quality and go out in a timely manner.
• Assist in checking-in incoming produce (from shippers, market, field…) – give a lot number and date the product and put it away as soon as it arrives, judge product quality, and grade accordingly. Work products when needed.
• Fill orders for the current day's delivery accurately with quality product, noting substitutions and shorts when necessary. Prioritize orders.
• Properly pack orders to ensure no damage to the product and maintain the appropriate temperature.
• Assist in the cleaning, trimming, sorting, and packing of fruits and vegetables, including running the cleaning machines for certain items.
• Cross-train and learn the proper procedures for all areas of the Packing Room. Assist in other Packing areas (Tomato, Lettuce, Petites, and Micro Packing) as needed.
• Follow specific Food Safety and HACCP procedures, including, but not limited to, temperature measurements, cleaning schedule and procedures, proper product labeling with lot numbers, tracking of lot numbers for incoming produce.
• Keep all utensils (scissors, knives, thermometers, etc.) cleaned and sanitized according to all Food Safety policies and standards.
• At end of shift, clean Packing Room, fill supplies and remove trash to dumpster or to employee shelves.
• Perform any other duties necessary to meet job responsibilities.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. and stand for extended periods of time.
• Work in a temperature controlled packing facility (38 degrees) to maintain product freshness
• Exposure to water and moisture; must be comfortable working in a cool, wet environment
• Approach your role in ways that align with the core values of The Chef’s Garden.
  • Service-mentality: People always come first
  • Do things the right way: Commit to the extra step, minute, or method that leads to excellence
  • Commit to Quality: Care about the work that you do
• Help others where necessary and ask for help when needed.
• Develop an understanding of the way that your role contributes to the larger mission of The Chef’s Garden:
  • To grow exceptional vegetables, care for each other and the land, and inspire a vegetable-forward future