Seasonal Garden Center Associate- May through Mid-June

Valley Natural Foods • Burnsville, MN

15d • Onsite

About The Position

Do you love plants, fresh air, and helping people cultivate their gardens? Valley Natural Foods is looking for a Seasonal Garden Center Associate to join our team May through June 15, 2025! This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working outdoors, engaging with the community, and sharing knowledge about plants, soil, and sustainable gardening.

Why You’ll Love Working Here:
Competitive pay and benefits
A supportive, welcoming workplace rooted in sustainability and cooperation
Employee discounts on plants, groceries, and eco-friendly products
Opportunities to expand your gardening knowledge and skills
A fun, hands-on seasonal role where you can make an impact in your local food and gardening community
What You’ll Do:

Assist customers in selecting plants, soil, seeds, and gardening supplies
Provide friendly, knowledgeable service and answer gardening-related questions
Maintain the health and appearance of plants, ensuring they are well-watered and cared for
Restock and organize displays, keeping the garden center tidy and inviting
Operate the cash register and handle transactions as needed
Support the co-op’s mission of sustainability and local food systems
What We’re Looking For:

A passion for plants, gardening, and eco-friendly growing practices
Some experience in a garden center, nursery, or plant-related retail (preferred but not required!)
Friendly, customer-focused attitude with great communication skills
Ability to work on your feet, lift up to 50 pounds, and enjoy being outdoors in all kinds of weather
Team player who thrives in a community-oriented environment
Availability for flexible hours (10:00AM-6:00PM), including weekends, May through June 15, 2025
Approximately 20-24 hours a week
Valley Natural Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer: We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Requirements

• A passion for plants, gardening, and eco-friendly growing practices
• Friendly, customer-focused attitude with great communication skills
• Ability to work on your feet, lift up to 50 pounds, and enjoy being outdoors in all kinds of weather
• Team player who thrives in a community-oriented environment
• Availability for flexible hours (10:00AM-6:00PM), including weekends, May through June 15, 2025
• Approximately 20-24 hours a week
• Excellent time management, organizational and communication (oral, aural, and written) skills
• Detail oriented and able to multi-task and remain flexible to the changing needs of the business
• Regular, predictable attendance
• Ability to lift/push/pull/carry up to 30 pounds frequently; 30-50+ pounds occasionally
• Manual dexterity with ability to reach, grasp and utilize hands, wrists, and fingers for extended periods of time
• Close-to-mid-range visual acuity to operate cash registers and focus on and/or read data and words on a computer monitor for extended periods of time
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time
• Ability to work safely in a partially enclosed outdoor environment
• Ability to kneel, crouch, and bend occasionally required

Nice To Haves

• Some experience in a garden center, nursery, or plant-related retail (preferred but not required!)
• Previous organic gardening/plant sales experience
• Previous customer service and cashier experience
• Familiarity with natural foods, grocery industry or cooperatives

Responsibilities

• Assist customers in selecting plants, soil, seeds, and gardening supplies
• Provide friendly, knowledgeable service and answer gardening-related questions
• Maintain the health and appearance of plants, ensuring they are well-watered and cared for
• Restock and organize displays, keeping the garden center tidy and inviting
• Operate the cash register and handle transactions as needed
• Support the co-op’s mission of sustainability and local food systems

Benefits

• Competitive pay and benefits
• A supportive, welcoming workplace rooted in sustainability and cooperation
• Employee discounts on plants, groceries, and eco-friendly products
• Opportunities to expand your gardening knowledge and skills
• A fun, hands-on seasonal role where you can make an impact in your local food and gardening community

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees