Program Assistant - Produce Rx

About Us 

Vancouver Farmers Market's (VFM) mission is to build healthy communities through placemaking, increased access to healthy food, youth education, and supporting a thriving small business community. Since its founding in 1990, VFM has become a hallmark of Vancouver, supporting over 290 small businesses, welcoming more than 500,00 shoppers annually, and generating a local economic impact exceeding $28 million.

About Produce Prescription  

The Produce Prescription Program supports local agriculture while increasing food security and reducing the risk of diet-related and chronic illness for patients at local healthcare clinics. Clinicians screen patients for food insecurity and enroll those managing chronic or diet-related health conditions into the program. Patients receive a free weekly delivery of fresh, seasonal produce sourced directly from local farmers, brought straight to their door. Each delivery includes multilingual nutrition education materials in English, Spanish, and Russian, featuring recipes, storage tips, and preparation ideas tailored to that week's produce.

About this Position 

The Program Assistant will work directly with the Produce Prescription Lead to support the day-to-day logistics of the program. Responsibilities include picking up produce orders from farmers on market day, tracking and managing inventory, sorting and organizing produce, and working alongside staff and volunteers to pack and prepare produce for home delivery. The ideal candidate is organized, reliable, and passionate about local food, farmers markets, and increasing access to fresh produce.

Status: Part-time,  Hourly, Seasonal, Non-Exempt, 4 hours per week

Compensation: $18 per hour 

Schedule: Saturdays,
July-October 10am - 2pm 

Reports to: Program Manager 

Duties & Responsibilities

• Pick up produce orders from farmers at the market and ensure proper documentation/record keeping. 
• Take inventory, sort, and organize produce for packing. 
• Work with Produce Prescription Lead and volunteers to prep and pack produce boxes for delivery. 
• Work with our delivery contractor to facilitate produce pickup for home delivery. 
• Provide excellent customer service to all farmers and delivery drivers.
• Ensure proper cleaning and sanitation of program equipment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Strong organizational skills. 
• Ability to work independently and with a team towards a common goal. 
• Ability to clearly communicate with staff, volunteers, farmers, and delivery drivers in a kind and professional manner. 
• Basic understanding of food safety and ability to obtain Washington Food Handlers Card. 

Physical Demands 

• Repetitive lifting and/or carrying 50lb bins of produce safely including up and down stairs. 
• Frequent standing and walking. 
• Frequent bending, twisting, and reaching. 
• Ability to work on Saturdays. 
• Ability to work in variable weather conditions. 

Additional Desired Skills & Experience 

• Preference will be given to candidates who are Bilingual in English and Spanish. 
• Preference will be given to candidates who can commit to working every Saturday July-October. 
• Preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated knowledge and understanding of community food systems, farmers markets, and the impact of food access initiatives on underserved populations. 

The Vancouver Farmers Market is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all qualified individuals in accordance with the law without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military status, political opinion, sex, national origin, familial status, mental and physical disability, gender identity, source of income, disability or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law in all personnel actions including recruitment, evaluation, selection, promotion, compensation, training, and termination. Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. VFM is committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization and we strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications as described or if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for or perform job duties.