Job Description

About Gourmet’s Delight Mushrooms

Gourmet’s Delight Mushrooms is a certified organic, family-owned and operated mushroom farm located in Eden, Wisconsin. We specialize in growing premium white button, crimini, and portabella mushrooms for local and regional markets. With decades of expertise and a commitment to sustainable agriculture, we take pride in delivering high-quality mushrooms while fostering a collaborative and hands-on work environment. Gourmet's Delight Mushrooms is one of only two remaining commercial-scale mushroom farms growing agaricus bisporus in the state of Wisconsin, and it has been in business continuously since 1980.

Position Overview

The Operations Apprentice will work alongside the farm’s management team, including the owners, to learn all aspects of organic mushroom production and daily farm operations. This mid-level role is ideal for individuals eager to gain hands-on agricultural experience, improve operational skills, and contribute to the success of an established family farm. The right individual will take direction and constructive criticism well in order to eventually be a self-starting employee. Spanish speaking ability a plus!  We strongly encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and underrepresented groups.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with daily mushroom production tasks, including compost substrate preparation (mostly watering hay bales), spawning, casing, harvesting, packaging, and packaging prep (making/folding boxes). 

• Eventually learn and support the operation of climate-controlled growing rooms and monitoring systems.

• Help maintain organic certification and food processing facility certification standards by following cleaning, sanitation, and record keeping practices.

• Operate forklift and skid steer loader frequently under minimal supervision. Ability to use skid steer loader or willingness to learn. 

• Participate in routine maintenance of facilities and equipment. Help unload semi-trucks of inputs (peat moss, hay bales, chicken manure, etc.). 

• Adhere to all food safety and workplace safety protocols.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; agricultural or technical coursework is a plus. Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in horticulture, botany, and/or conservation a plus. 

• Strong interest in sustainable farming and food production, ideally someone who is specifically interested in growing produce and understands the basic business/industry expectations and standard operating procedures. 

• Ability to perform physical tasks, including lifting 30-50 lbs repeatedly, standing most of the time on concrete, walking, twisting, climbing, and working in varying conditions. This is a job for those who wear Red Wings to work, not wingtips. ;) Everyone from the owner to part-time harvesters washes floors, hauls hoses, and cleans various work stations throughout the day. 

• Ability to climb, stand, and work on ladders with confidence.

• Reliable, punctual, and eager to learn in a hands-on environment.

• Ability to switch tasks quickly with little lag. Efficiency, while maintaining high safety standards, is key in this business.

• The desire to help run and maintain a facility that puts out thousands of pounds of food each week and taking pride in that work.

• Basic mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills required.

• Strong mental math capabilities required, specifically for making casing material, helping to make compose substrate, and retrieving orders.

• Previous farm, greenhouse, or production experience is beneficial but not required. A strong candidate for this job might be someone who has high-volume food service experience (think Jimmy John’s or a busy frozen custard and burgers joint) with an observant eye for detail and efficiency. A background in logistics, supply chain management, or warehouse management would be beneficial.

Training & Growth Opportunities

• Comprehensive training in organic mushroom production techniques.

• Exposure to food safety standards, quality control processes, and farm business operations.

• Opportunity to advance into specialized role or management position based on performance.

• Comprehensive fork lift certification, skid steer loader operation training, and ergonomics training on a continual basis.

Salary & Benefits

• Competitive starting salary with negotiable time off and paid qualifying sick time.

• Health insurance offered, though we are only able to offer a high-deductible, Health Savings Account-eligible plan at this time.

• SIMPLE IRA

• The benefit of working for a family-owned and operated business that is not controlled by external forces like a private equity firm or larger umbrella corporation. The owners of Gourmet's Delight Mushrooms are actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the farm and know, understand, and help troubleshoot all existing operations and challenges.

Job Tags

Part time, Apprenticeship, Local area,

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