Assistant Grower

Join our team in Hixton, WI.

Superior Fresh is an industry-leading aquaponics facility specializing in organic leafy greens and Atlantic salmon. Our Wisconsin facility is situated on a private 800-acre Native Restoration Preserve nestled in the picturesque Coulee Region. Our state-of-the-art, land-based recirculation aquaculture system is the first in the United States to raise Atlantic salmon. In conjunction with salmon, Superior Fresh grows the highest quality organic produce in an ultramodern 13-acre hydroponics greenhouse. At Superior Fresh, we produce the freshest, healthiest food available year-round, while maintaining the highest sustainability standards.

The Assistant Grower will manage commercial scale organic deep water culture raft systems to produce lettuce and leafy greens. This position will also perform tasks necessary to monitoring and management of insect pests and plant pathogens in a glass greenhouse environment in accordance with best practices of integrated pest management.

Primary Job Functions

• Optimize growing strategies to achieve high quality, high yield, high performance crops of leafy greens.
• Own and administer our Integrated Pest Management program, ensuring the most cost effective and impactful strategies are utilized on an ongoing basis to ensure crop success. Handle and apply organic pesticides and sanitizing chemicals to crops or work surfaces.
• Maintain all pest management and pesticide application records according to organic certification, worker safety, and SQF food safety program requirements, moving to digital where possible.
• Monitor and manage surveys of pest control, plant health, etc. and prepare reports as requested by management.
• Support plant health initiatives including the maintenance and application of chemicals, elements, nmacro and micro nutrients. Ensure proper training is created and deployed for all employees. Conduct inventories of all items.
• Maintain accurate inventory of treatments, schedule of delivery of treatments and beneficials, and ensure maintenance of all equipment used for crop care.
• Develop and maintain SOP’s related to all IPM processes.
• Continually update the team on new IPM technologies, equipment, and processes to constantly improve.
• Justify budget and economic management for IPM, including calculations of economic thresholds.
• Complete various forms of data collection of trials, research, cleaning logs and other important records.
• Initiate and carry out projects that improve efficiencies and reduce operating costs.
• Support general housekeeping functions including removal of insects, pool cleaning and general facility cleanliness.

Secondary Job Functions

• Maintain reliable attendance.
• Actively participate in meetings, training and education.
• Assist with training other employees and providing backup.
• Complete other assignments and special projects as requested.

Education:

· High School Diploma or equivalent, Required

· Bachelor’s degree, Preferred

Experience:

· 2+ years in Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Plant Science or another related field, preferred.

· 1+ year of organic hydroponics experience, desired.

· 1+ year of greenhouse environmental-control systems, desired.

Licenses or Certifications

· Food safety, GAP, HACCP, etc., preferred.

· Pesticide Applicator license

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

· Knowledge in plant physiology and pathology.

· Working knowledge of techniques used for the production and culture of leafy greens and fruiting vegetables.

· Identification of insect pests using a variety of tools from hand scopes to microscopy.

· Excellent oral and written communication skills.

· Excellent interpersonal skills.

· Maintain confidentiality.

· Handle multiple projects simultaneously within established time constraints.

· Ability to perform under strong demands in a fast-paced environment.

· Respond professionally in situations with difficult employee/vendor/customer issues or inquiries.

· Able to work independently as well as in a team environment.

· Proficient computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office Suite, Email, and Internet.

Physical Effort & Work Environment

· Must be able to effectively communicate in written and spoken means in order to perform the requirements of the position.

· Must be able to remain standing for long periods of time, move about from one area of the workplace to another, and balance on narrow footings.

· Able to perform repetitive tasks with both hands to include handling plants, keyboarding, handwriting, using hand tools and operate equipment.

· Work environment varies from general office and shop conditions where there are many individuals working in a shared space, to extreme temperatures (35-100⁰+F), humidity, wet/damp conditions, and loud noise from the equipment/machinery involved in harvesting and packing produce on the farm.

Schedule Expectations

• Primary hours to be first shift, modified as needed to match against IPM crop care schedule.
• Will include some evenings, weekends.
• Flexible and willing to work extended hours, when necessary.
• On-call shifts as needed over weekends, nights, and holidays to respond to system alarms, on rotation with other members of Grow Team

The company reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Relocation assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Holidays
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• Do you now or in the future require visa sponsorship to continue working in the United States?

Experience:

• organic greenhouse: 1 year (Preferred)
• greenhouse environmental-control systems (e.g. PRIVA): 1 year (Preferred)
• Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Pathology or related: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: In person