Farmers Market Attendant

Position Overview

• Location: Various Locations in DC, Maryland and Virginia Metropolitan Area
• Employment: Part-time W-2 position
• Hours: Approximately 20 hours per week
• Pay: $20 per hour
• Markets and Events: Primarily Thursdays through Saturdays
• Schedule: Varying daytime, evening, and weekend hours

Position Overview

The People’s Market is seeking a friendly, dependable, and community-minded Market Attendant to support our farmers markets, festivals, and community pop-up events. This position combines customer service, retail sales, merchandising, produce handling, inventory, and event support.

The Market Attendant helps create a welcoming and organized shopping experience while representing The People’s Market and our partner farms. The ideal candidate enjoys working with people, is interested in fresh and locally grown food, and is comfortable working in a fast-paced outdoor environment.

This is an active, hands-on position. Market Attendants must be prepared to lift products and equipment, stand for extended periods, set up and break down market displays, process customer purchases, and engage with customers throughout each event.

Primary Responsibilities

Market Setup and Merchandising

• Arrive on time and assist with unloading products, tables, tents, signs, displays, and equipment.
• Arrange produce and other products so the market looks clean, abundant, organized, and visually appealing.
• Display accurate product names, prices, farm names, and other required information.
• Make sure products are matched with the correct signs and prices.
• Highlight seasonal products, featured farms, culturally significant crops, and special promotions.
• Restock, rotate, and rearrange products throughout the market.
• Keep product displays, shopping areas, and checkout stations clean and easy to navigate.
• Protect products from heat, sunlight, rain, contamination, and damage.
• Remove and report products that do not meet quality standards.

Customer Service and Sales

• Welcome customers and create a positive, community-centered shopping experience.
• Explain available products, prices, varieties, farm sources, growing practices, flavors, storage methods, and common uses.
• Help customers understand the differences between similar products and produce varieties.
• Learn the weekly product offerings and promotions to provide accurate information.
• Make helpful suggestions about selecting, storing, and preparing produce.
• Encourage customers to try seasonal, unfamiliar, or culturally significant products.
• Answer questions honestly and seek assistance when information is unknown.
• Respond professionally to customer questions, complaints, and pricing concerns.
• Represent The People’s Market and its partner farms with enthusiasm, patience, and respect.

Checkout and Payment Processing

• Process customer purchases accurately using the designated point-of-sale system.
• Accept cash, cards, discounts, and other approved payment methods.
• Accurately weigh and price products sold by weight.
• Provide receipts and correct change when required.
• Keep the checkout area clean, organized, and secure.
• Report pricing, payment, or point-of-sale problems promptly.
• Protect confidential customer, sales, and operational information.

Inventory and Product Handling

• Assist with inventory counts before and after each market.
• Track products sold, damaged, donated, returned, or discarded.
• Handle produce carefully to prevent bruising, crushing, contamination, and unnecessary waste.
• Help maintain proper temperatures for refrigerated and temperature-sensitive products.
• Monitor product quality throughout the event.
• Report low inventory, damaged items, incorrect prices, or other discrepancies.
• Share customer feedback, frequently asked questions, and information about popular products with management.

Market Breakdown

• Pack remaining products, signs, displays, tables, tents, equipment, and supplies.
• Separate products according to refrigeration, storage, donation, or disposal requirements.
• Help load the market vehicle safely and efficiently.
• Collect trash and leave the event space clean and orderly.
• Confirm that company equipment and materials are accounted for before leaving.

Physical and Working Conditions

The Market Attendant must be able to:

• Stand and interact with customers for extended periods.
• Bend, reach, squat, push, pull, and move throughout the shift.
• Repeatedly lift and carry boxes or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Safely use carts, hand trucks, ramps, and other market equipment.
• Work outdoors in heat, cold, light rain, wind, and changing weather conditions.
• Work in refrigerated areas when necessary.
• Maintain energy, professionalism, and strong customer service during physically demanding shifts.

Required Qualifications

• Strong customer-service and verbal communication skills
• Dependable, punctual, and able to follow instructions
• Comfortable initiating conversations with customers
• Ability to learn and accurately explain products, prices, farms, and common uses
• Basic cash-handling and mathematical skills
• Ability to use a smartphone and point-of-sale system
• Strong organization and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Availability for varying daytime, evening, and weekend shifts
• Ability to perform the physical duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
• Interest in local agriculture, food access, community service, or sustainable food systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous farmers market, grocery, food-service, hospitality, retail, or customer-service experience
• Experience in or willingness to learn how to operate a company sprinter van
• Experience handling, displaying, or selling fresh produce
• Knowledge of seasonal produce and common crop varieties
• Experience with inventory counts and point-of-sale systems
• Experience setting up vendor booths, markets, or festival displays
• Spanish or other relevant language skills are welcomed but not required

Workplace Expectations

Market Attendants are visible representatives of The People’s Market and our partner farms. Employees must demonstrate professionalism, honesty, patience, accountability, and excellent customer service. Punctuality is essential because late arrivals may delay market setup and opening.

Employees must promptly communicate scheduling problems, customer concerns, inventory discrepancies, unsafe conditions, or other issues. Employees may not use or possess drugs or alcohol while working or report to work impaired.