ORGANIC JOBS AND CAREERS

Posted by Leroy A. Brown, Organic Consultant, Organic Farmer, Author on 26th May 2015

As the organic sector continues its phenomenal growth, more opportunities are becoming available. Some of these favourable conditions are jobs and careers. With the help of the book – Why Organic Farming Is Great For Canada by Leroy A. Brown, a few of these jobs and careers are as follows:

ORGANIC FARMER - This is the most important profession in the organic sector. This is a skill-oriented profession that involves knowing and following the organic standards; acquiring land and building the soil’s fertility; sourcing organic, heirloom, non-gmo and/or untreated seeds and seedlings; saving seeds, seeding, transporting, weeding, harvesting, greenhouse duties, cleaning and packing produce, ensuring quality, record keeping, customer service, irrigating, small tools and machinery repairing and maintenance, bookkeeping, ensuring the farm operation is sustainable both environmentally and financially, and so on.

Typical salary range is $32,000 to $121,000.

GOVERNMENT FOOD INSPECTOR- This involves inspecting and certifying slaughterhouses, meat, fish, etc.; analysing samples in a laboratory; capturing live animals in the field to test for diseases; inspecting ships’ holds for residue cargo or insects; accrediting nurseries and greenhouses for export of plant products, and so on.

Typical salary range is $39,550 to $97,522.

ORGANIC INSPECTOR/ACCREDITED CERTIFYING AGENT – This involves inspecting farms, businesses, etc. to ensure organic standards are being followed; evaluating qualifications for certification; conducting annual reviews of entities that have been certified; offering guidance in correcting deficiencies with the parties they serve, and so on.

Typical salary range is $27,000 to $80,000.

ORGANIC FARM WORKER - This involves following organic procedures, seeding, transporting, weeding, harvesting, greenhouse duties, cleaning and packing produce, ensuring quality, record keeping, customer service, irrigating, small tools and machinery repairing and maintenance, bookkeeping, and so on.

Typical salary range is $21,600 to $70,000.

ORGANIC PRODUCTS BUSINESS MANAGER - This involves representing organic brands in various categories such as grocery, perishable, personal care and supplements. It also includes supporting and managing sales personnel, creating promotional programs, communicating with vendors, conducting product reviews, growing sales for products, and so on.

Typical salary range is $40,000 to $56,000.

ORGANIC CHEF - This involves being involved in overall kitchen operation; preparing various dishes on menu; ensuring ingredients used are organic; following food handlers standards and others to prevent food contamination, spoilage, poisoning, and safety hazard; cooking, cleaning, washing, and so on.

Typical salary range is $34,000 to $55,000.

ORGANIC RETAILER - This involves sourcing certified organic products; selling organic products to consumers; marketing, promoting and advertising organic products; conducting research to determine target market(s); ensuring consistent supply of organic products, creatively arranging merchandise; educating customers about products, and so on.

Typical salary range is $23,000 to $50,000.

Some organizations and websites where you may find volunteer opportunities and jobs are as follows:

Cariporter Inc

CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmers inTraining) farms

Natural and Organic Industry Jobs and Careers

Planet Friendly

SOIL (Stewards of Irreplaceable Lands)