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Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Farm & Market Assistant

13 Acre Orchard
Little Walden, Essex

Posted: 24 Apr 2025

Deadline: 31 May 2025

Compensation: £26,000 per year + performance bonus

Paid Full-time

Job description

Farm & Market Assistant – Mushrooms, Apple Juice & Farmers Markets

Full-time | £26,000/year + performance bonus | Based in Essex with weekly London markets

13 Acre Orchard is a regenerative farm growing fruit, raising chickens, and producing cold-pressed apple juice — all with care, transparency, and sustainability at the core. We also grow gourmet mushrooms and sell our produce weekly at London farmers markets.

We’re looking for a versatile, driven, and reliable team member to join us and grow with us. This is a hands-on, active role that blends food production, market sales, and farm work. No two days are the same.

Key Responsibilities:

• Juice Production: Assist in pressing and bottling our apple juice to a high standard, ensuring cleanliness and food safety
• Mushroom Growing: Help manage and expand our gourmet mushroom production (training provided, passion preferred!)
• Driving to Markets: Drive our van into London (clean license required), set up stalls, and return produce/equipment
• Selling at Markets: Represent the farm at weekly markets — share what we do, build customer relationships, and sell our produce
• General Farm Support: Assist with harvesting, packing, and other seasonal farm tasks

What We're Looking For:

• Confident driver with good knowledge of or comfort navigating London (clean UK license)
• Strong timekeeping skills — markets require early starts and punctual set-up
• Friendly, professional, and passionate about talking to customers and sharing what we do
• Physically fit – juice pressing and market equipment can be heavy
• A clean, safety-conscious approach — particularly important for food handling
• Interest in mushroom cultivation, regenerative farming, and small-scale food systems
• A team player who’s happy to muck in and adapt to what’s needed day-to-day
• Good communication skills and the ability to share the farm’s values with the public

What We Offer:

• Full training in mushroom growing, juice making, and market operations
• Opportunities to shape and expand parts of the business
• A fair, supportive work environment on a growing regenerative farm
• Bonus opportunities based on market performance
• Staff discount on farm produce

Location & Hours

• Based on the farm in Essex, with weekly travel to London
• Some early starts, weekend work, and seasonal variation
• Full-time role, weekends are required for this role

Application information

Please email info@13acreorchard.com with:

• A brief introduction cover letter
• Any relevant experience (farming, sales, food production, or similar)
• Why you’d like to join 13 Acre Orchard
• A copy of your CV

Applicants will be considered as they apply, so please do apply as soon as you can

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