Local Food Access Warehouse Packer

About The People’s Market

The People’s Market is a community-centered food business working to build a more equitable and sustainable local food system. We purchase fresh produce and other foods from small and regional farmers and distribute them directly to families throughout the Washington metropolitan area and Baltimore.

Our warehouse team plays an essential role in this mission. Packers ensure that every customer receives fresh, high-quality food and that every order is prepared accurately and with care.

Position Overview

• Location: 5028 46th Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20781
• Work Model: On-site
• Position Type: Part-time, W-2 employee
• Schedule: Fridays, approximately 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
• Compensation: $20 per hour
• Pay Frequency: Weekly

Hours may vary depending on order volume, holidays, special events, and operational needs.

Position Description

The People’s Market is seeking a dependable, efficient, and detail-oriented Warehouse Packer to support our weekly food-distribution operations.

Warehouse Packers inspect, weigh, label, organize, and pack fresh produce and grocery products for customer deliveries. This is an active, hands-on role that requires accuracy, physical stamina, good communication, and the ability to work efficiently as part of a team.

The ideal candidate takes pride in doing careful work, follows instructions consistently, maintains a clean workspace, and understands that every accurately packed order helps connect local farmers with the communities we serve.

Primary Responsibilities

• Arrive on time and prepared to work for each scheduled Friday shift.
• Wash and sanitize hands and work surfaces according to food-safety procedures.
• Inspect produce and grocery products for freshness, quality, and damage.
• Accurately weigh, label, sort, and organize products.
• Pack customer and driver orders according to order sheets and numerical route assignments.
• Double-check completed orders for accuracy and quality.
• Transport products safely to and from refrigerators, freezers, shelves, and packing stations.
• Handle produce carefully to prevent bruising, contamination, or other damage.
• Maintain clean, sanitary, and organized packing and storage areas.
• Break down, sort, and organize cardboard boxes and packing materials.
• Assist with staging completed orders for the delivery team.
• Communicate shortages, quality concerns, packing errors, and other issues to the supervisor promptly.
• Follow warehouse safety, sanitation, confidentiality, and food-handling procedures.
• Work cooperatively with warehouse staff, drivers, supervisors, and volunteers.
• Assist with other reasonable warehouse and distribution duties as assigned.

Physical Responsibilities

This is a physically demanding position. Employees must be able to:

• Stand and move throughout most of the shift.
• Regularly bend, reach, squat, push, pull, and carry products.
• Repeatedly lift and move boxes weighing approximately 30–50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Transport products between packing areas and refrigeration units.
• Perform repetitive packing, weighing, labeling, and sorting tasks.
• Work safely in areas with varying temperatures, including refrigerated storage spaces.

Required Qualifications

• Consistent Friday availability from approximately 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
• Dependable transportation to the Hyattsville worksite
• Strong punctuality and attendance
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions
• Careful attention to order details, quantities, labels, and product quality
• Ability to work efficiently without sacrificing accuracy
• Professional, respectful, and cooperative attitude
• Commitment to maintaining a clean and safe work environment
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Willingness to communicate promptly about delays, absences, mistakes, or operational concerns
• Genuine interest in food access, local agriculture, community service, or sustainable food systems

Previous warehouse, packing, inventory, grocery, food-service, fulfillment, farming, or logistics experience is helpful but not required.

Workplace Expectations

All team members are expected to demonstrate professionalism, respect, accountability, and reliability. Employees must arrive on time, ready to work, and maintain a positive and cooperative attitude throughout the shift.

Cleanliness, safety, consistency, teamwork, and attention to detail are essential to our operations. The People’s Market prohibits the use or possession of drugs or alcohol at the worksite and prohibits employees from reporting to work impaired.

The People’s Market is an equal-opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Opportunities for Growth

As The People’s Market grows, reliable and high-performing team members may be considered for additional paid responsibilities, including:

• Inventory management and product receiving
• Order staging and quality-control leadership
• Warehouse organization and logistics coordination
• Farmers markets, pop-up markets, and community events
• Farm pickups and food-distribution projects
• Training or supervising additional warehouse team members

Expanded responsibilities depend on organizational needs, performance, qualifications, and availability. Additional work is not guaranteed.

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