The Farmers Market Specialist for the project, “A Fresh Look at Your Farmers Market,” is responsible for delivering high quality technical assistance and outreach services to farmers markets and recipients of SNAP benefits in Texas. This supports Texas Center for Local Food (TCLF) goals to increase sales of Texas-grown fruits and vegetables by people who use SNAP benefits.
This position is full-time, remote, and requires occasional travel within Texas. Weekly schedule is flexible; some weekend hours required. The successful candidate will live in South or Southeast Texas, or have plans to relocate.
Activities and Responsibilities
● Provide direct technical assistance to approximately 50 Texas farmers markets to support their acceptance of SNAP benefits and increase in SNAP sales for markets already accepting SNAP.
● Engage with farmers market organizers, vendors, and support staff, collaborating to plan, develop, and apply education and outreach strategies, activities, and materials that support purchase of Texas-grown fruits and vegetables at farmers markets.
● Coordinate and facilitate farmers market operator network development and engagement through Facebook group, email listserv, monthly virtual meetups, and other platforms.
● Recruit new farmers markets to begin accepting SNAP.
● Collaborate with agencies serving recipients of SNAP benefits to plan, develop, and apply education and outreach activities and materials that support purchase of Texas grown fruits and vegetables at farmers markets.
● Outreach, coordinate, and collaborate with local organizations around each farmers market that provide support services to recipients of SNAP benefits; catalyze community interest among SNAP recipients for farmers market purchasing.
● Create outreach materials in English and Spanish; translate English outreach materials to Spanish.
● Evaluate the satisfaction of TCLF services by all customers served (recipients of SNAP benefits, farmers market vendors/organizers, local organizations).
● Monitor farmers market needs and performance; gather data on participation in training courses, SNAP sales, and other data required for program evaluation and improvement.
● Gather data through engagement with individuals using SNAP benefits who shop at farmers markets and those who do not yet shop at farmers markets.
● Prepare and store materials in a well-organized format to support reusability by others and present at conferences and events.
● Be a positive role model for others, supporting the mission of TCLF.
● Use effective communication to present information accurately and clearly, verbally and in writing.
● Work as a member of the farmers market services team to develop solutions and processes that support the project goals and KPIs.
● Perform on-site farmers market visits working the market day at the SNAP booth at least twice annually.
● Attend, present, and facilitate regularly scheduled meetings virtually and in-person (when necessary).
● Participate in planning, promoting, and presenting at the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association annual in-person conference and other conferences.
● Follow all policies and procedures of the Texas Center for Local Food, our clients, and collaborators.
● Be a reliable team player to the whole TCLF team; keep others informed about progress and challenges, take lessons from successes and setbacks, respond to others ideas and feedback, engage in group tasks and assist others, encourage the team and celebrate their successes, assess your contributions and seek ways to improve.
● Other duties as assigned.
● Speak and write fluent Spanish; native speaker and South Texas cultural fluency preferred.
● Must live in Texas, preferable South or Southeast Texas or be willing to relocate.
● At least 2 years of college with GPA of 3.0 or higher or commensurate experience.
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
● Ability to take initiative, determine a plan of action, and operate towards outcomes.
● At least 1 year of experience with local food systems as a grower, community gardener, farmers market staff, vendor, volunteer, or board member, or other local food systems experience.
● At least 1 year experience building trusting relationships with lower-income families through outreach, marketing, community health, food access, or USDA Nutrition assistance programs, or at least 1 year lived experience as a recipient of SNAP benefits or other nutrition assistance.
● Customer service orientation, willingness to engage with customers and community, ability to work cooperatively with people whose lived experience is different from your own, demonstrate an eagerness to serve.
● Experience in direct customer service and problem solving.
● Familiarity with SNAP acceptance procedures and processes.
● Intermediate level knowledge of office technology (MS-Word, Excel), web, email, etc.
● At least intermediate level experience using, creating content for social media: Facebook and Instagram, NextDoor.
● Valid driver's license, current vehicle liability insurance, and reliable transportation.
Benefits include 5 weeks paid time off including holidays, health care reimbursement, stipend for the use of your mobile phone and your personal computer, and travel allowance. An Apple computer and phone are required.
