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Organic Food Production Worker

Organically-grown food is differentiated from conventionally-grown produce in the manner in which it is planted, raised, harvested and processed. Since organic food places great emphasis on environmental conservation along with healthy food, chemical fertilizers and pesticides as well as growth hormones and genetic modifiers are either completely eliminated or strictly controlled in an organic farm.

The career outlook for an Organic Food Production Worker career is favorable. They make on average $25-$30 thousand a year.

Green Job

As an organic production worker, an individual takes part in a production system that maintains the health of ecosystems and of humanity. When compared to conventional methods of farming, organic farming remains to be the most eco-friendly since nature often takes its own course, with a little help from its friends.

Job Demands

In most ways, the demands placed on an organic food production worker are similar to those of a worker in a conventional farm. After all, the main objectives are to plant, harvest, handle and distribute food produce to the general public via the markets. However, an organic food production worker faces unique challenges on the job by virtue of the farming methods applied. These challenges include deeper knowledge of environment-friendly soil management, weed control and pest management, among other things.

Specifically, an organic food production worker must have basic knowledge of crop rotation and soil erosion, soil nutrition and compost preparation, biological pest and weed control, proper food harvesting and handling, safe usage of mechanical equipment and other related matters. Of course, there will be specialized jobs on an organic farm but it pays to know a little of each process in the production system.

Needless to say, heavy work involving manual and equipment-assisted labor is expected of an organic food production worker. The working hours may be flexible due to the variability of environmental conditions upon which organic agriculture rely on. Employee benefits in terms of retirement, health and housing vary especially when most organic farms are still on the small-scale, family-run level. Organic food production workers often earn minimum wage although other payment schemes are also adopted.

Job Qualifications

Loosely speaking, any individual with a passionate interest in organic agriculture can become an organic food production worker anywhere in the agricultural process - from planting to distributing the organic produce. However, it can be advantageous during job-hunting to possess theoretical knowledge through an agriculture-related degree as well as hands-on experience in organic farms. Of course, any and all experience in organic farms either as a volunteer or a paid worker counts. As such, high school students desiring to work in the organic farming industry must acquire experience as much as possible.

Being an organic food production worker demands a fit physical and mental condition. This is necessary to enable the individual to lift heavy things, operate light mechanical equipment and heavy machineries, climb ladders and trees, and perform other physical tasks, often in challenging conditions.

So, if you are an individual with a passion for growing food the organic way, in fit physical and mental condition, with the willingness to work hard and learn hard, then rewarding work as an organic food production worker is a possible option.

Organic Farm Resources