What does a Produce Clerk do?
Produce Clerks generally work in farmers markets and the fresh produce sections of grocery and general merchandise retail stores. Produce Clerks stock fresh fruit and vegetable displays, inspect produce for damage and help customers find specific types of produce. A Produce Clerk is also responsible for ensuring the produce section remains clean and orderly during store hours. Some employees remain in the produce section throughout their shifts, while others may be required to perform additional Produce Clerk job duties such as ringing up orders at the cashier stand or assisting with shipments in the storeroom or loading dock.
Produce Clerk skills and qualifications
A successful Produce Clerk candidate should possess the specific skills and qualifications to effectively handle the duties required for the position:
-
Excellent customer service skills
-
Ability to stand for extended periods of time
-
Comfortable working in cold environments (refrigerated area of store)
-
Ability to lift boxes of produce (25 to 50 pounds)
-
Basic math skills
-
Willingness to work as part of a team
-
Strong communication skills
-
Strong understanding of hygiene and food safety
Produce Clerk experience requirements
The experience requirements for a Produce Clerk can vary from store to store, as some employers hire at entry level and offer in-house training, while others may prefer applicants with past experience. Some prerequisite requirements may include past experience with food handling, previous employment in a grocery store or food service environment, cashier experience and customer service experience.
Produce Clerk education and training requirements
Produce Clerks should generally possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent, unless you hire an individual who is of legal working age but still enrolled in high school. Produce Clerks are typically trained in areas that include produce identification, crisping and trimming produce, correctly storing and displaying produce, and quality control. Additional areas of training include hygiene and food safety, and entry-level hires may also be required to learn how to operate the grocery store, general merchandise store or farmers market cash register.
Produce Clerk salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Produce Clerk is $14.58 per hour. Exact salaries for Produce Clerk careers can vary, based on factors such as overall experience, geographical location and specific company salary policies.
Job description samples for similar positions
If this Produce Clerk job description isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, here are some similar positions to consider:
Produce Clerk job description FAQs
What qualities make a good Produce Clerk?
A good Produce Clerk should be an excellent communicator and exhibit an overall friendly demeanor when working with the public. Produce Clerks must perform a variety of tasks on any given shift, so organization skills and the ability to multitask are also important qualities to look for.
What is the difference between a Produce Clerk and Grocery Clerk?
In general, Produce Clerks work specifically in the produce areas of grocery stores, farmers markets and retail stores, while Grocery Clerks work in several areas. Produce Clerks are typically responsible for stocking produce and maintaining produce displays, while Grocery Clerks may rotate between multiple sections, depending on the needs of the store.
What should you look for in a Produce Clerk resume?
When reading an entry-level Produce Clerk candidate resume, a few things to look for may include basic math and comprehension skills and past customer service experience. When assessing a more experienced candidate’s resume, look for previous Produce Clerk experience, along with the start and end dates of each job.
How can you make your Produce Clerk job description stand out?
To make your job description stand out, consider using a catchy title and listing the perks that come with the position. Using title phrases such as ‘Hiring Immediately’ can help attract candidates who are ready to start right away, while listing perks sends the message that you appreciate your employees.
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.