Job Purpose
The Farmer is responsible for overseeing all aspects of production, developing and executing the long-term farming strategy, providing organic expertise, and assisting in education at the farm. The Farmer will provide strategic leadership for the Field Supervisor and seasonal farm staff and maintain a safe, clean, and organized environment for staff and customers. The Farmer will be a steward to the land and facilities by fostering a productive organic farm that nurtures the surrounding ecosystem and the people who work at and visit the site.
Cascadian Farm® is one of the country's leading brands of organic foods. The story of Cascadian Farm begins over 40 years ago on a little stretch of land next to the Skagit River in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. Today Cascadian Farm has grown far beyond our original farm. Acquired by General Mills in 2000, Cascadian Farm sells cereals, bars, frozen fruits and vegetables, spreads, and juices.
The heart of our brand, our 28 acre organic Home Farm grows eleven acres of blueberries, one acre each of strawberries, raspberries, sweet corn, and pumpkins, as well as some hardy kiwis, and greenhouse peppers and tomatoes. The remainder of the land is planted in grassways. Located in a temperate rainforest zone, the Farm receives approximately 80 inches of rain a year with temperatures ranging from 25 – 50° F in the winter and 50 – 90° F in the summer. The Home Farm operates a farm and ice cream stand and serves the organic community through research and education.
Position Details
- Reports to Home Farm Site Director
- Location: Rockport, WA
- Travel: Limited
- Weekend & extended hours required during growing season
Major Job Responsibilities
Farm Production (80%)
Responsible for farm operations including yield, production schedules, equipment, and employee supervision.
o Develop and lead execution of long-term strategy for farming operations;
o Directly manage the Field Supervisor and indirectly the seasonal field staff;
o Perform basic maintenance and improvements on farm infrastructure, facilities, and equipment;
o Ensure necessary supplies and parts are available for farm production and equipment repair;
o Operate equipment including berry harvester, tractors, and tractor implements (for soil prep, planting, harvest, and field and road maintenance);
o Manage and oversee all irrigation needs and repairs;
o Maintain farm records related to production, organic certification, and human and food safety;
o Promote and maintain a safe, clean, and organized work environment for staff and customers; and
o Assist field crew in planting, weeding, pruning, and harvesting crops and fill in as needed.
Support overall operations as a member of the farm leadership team through active participation in meetings, progress reports, collaboration, and proactive communication with the team.
o Contribute to the farm business planning by providing expertise on farm enterprises including cropping systems, varieties, volumes, inputs, and capital investments;
o Facilitate a respectful, communicative, and team-oriented working environment; and
o Work with the farm leadership team to ensure all farm goals are met.
Responsible for maintaining organic integrity on the farm.
o Ensure operations comply with local, state, and federal regulations (including, but not limited to, Good Agricultural Practices, Washington State Department of Agriculture, and USDA National Organic Program);
o Holistically manage soil fertility (cover cropping, crop rotation, and manage compost program), nutrient cycling, promote biodiversity, and weed, pest, and disease management; and
o Maintain technical expertise in organic and sustainable farming practices and issues by keeping up with the latest scientific research and attending relevant farm conferences.
Interpretation, Education, and Outreach (20%)
Work with the Site Director to provide tours and organic farming education to visitors and brand customers;
- Assist with development of organic education resources for staff and visitors;
- Contribute farm and organic agriculture content to social media, website, and blog;
- Support and represent organic farming work with industry and partners in the organic community; and
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required with emphasis in organic or sustainable agriculture desired.
- At least two years of production management experience required (managing production schedule, managing staff, purchasing farm inputs, overseeing soil fertility, developing long-term strategy).
- Demonstrated experience with operating and maintaining machinery (berry harvester, tractor, tractor implements) and ability to make minor repairs to farm tools, equipment, and farm infrastructure.
- Experience in organic agriculture practices with an understanding of soil fertility, pest and weed management, and greenhouse management.
- Knowledge of current organic research and emerging trends in organic farming systems.
- Creative thinker and problem solver with the ability to innovate.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Willingness to participate in videos and social media to promote the farm, organic agriculture, and the brand.
- Must be able to comfortably lift 50lbs and perform work outdoors in all types of weather conditions.
- Conversational Spanish is strongly desired.
Competencies
- Passion and enthusiasm for organic farming and stewardship of natural resources
- Energizes & develops people
- Delivers outstanding results
- Integrity
- Willingness to be flexible and adapt to changing job requirements and priorities
- Highly motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and under time constraints
- Team player with positive attitude
- Ability to work with multiple, diverse stakeholders
Compensation
This is a full-time, year-round position offering a competitive salary and generous benefits package.
To Apply
Please visit our General Mills Careers website, create a profile, and formally apply to the position at:
Information about the farm is available at: http://www.cascadianfarm.com/our-farm/the-farm