Organic Produce and Marketing Internship

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Organic Produce and Marketing Internship Overview at Coveyou Scenic Farm in Michigan – 2019

Coveyou Scenic Farm is a 144 year old family farm in Northern Michigan that grows a wide array of certified organic vegetables on approximately 25 acres.

This Organic Produce and Marketing Internship is for people who are exploring more of the marketing as well as preparation of organic produce for sale…and not the growing and harvesting of produce in the field.  You will get a small exposure to how we transplant, grow, irrigate and harvest our produce in the fields including some time doing all those things.  We have focused this internship on what happens after the produce is harvested.  It’s ideal for a person who is highly organized, detailed oriented and enjoys the customer interaction of selling great produce!  The produce that is grown by others on the farm is washed, graded, sorted and packed for a range of orders from a CSA, three farm markets, restaurants, institutions, food coops,  schools or our own on farm market.  You have your hands in all of that.  This internship puts you right in the center of coordinating the harvests to coordinating where all the produce goes.  No two days are ever the same but yet a vast array of produce goes through your hands.  Training on all the latest food safety, organic labeling and GAP standards will become part of your working knowledge.  Additionally, multiple days a week you will represent our farm at the three Farmer’s Markets that we attend gaining skills in produce presentation, marketing and sales.

Organic Produce and Marketing Internship candidates need to truly enjoy talking and interacting with people, be detailed oriented and creative to continually adjust and improve market displays.  You need to be able to work the demanding challenges of lifting tubs and boxes of produce throughout the day in the produce prep area. 

Our farm and processing area uses sustainability and energy efficiency practices.  We have multiple on-farm conservation components: our geothermal walk-in vegetable cooler, geothermal run produce field heat removal system and market display system, our 18KW PV net metered electrical generation solar array, a new geothermal heated winter greens growing system.   

This 5th generation family farm has transitioned and diversified over the last 15 years to focus on growing for the local market.  In addition to our vegetable crops Coveyou Scenic Farm also grows spring flowers and bedding annuals /perennials in two greenhouses and potted garden mums, strawberries and pumpkins for U-pick, hayride tours in the fall and on farm produced evergreen Christmas wreaths and holiday decorations.  The farm has an additional 300 acres of uncultivated or woodlot area.

Organic Produce and Marketing Internship:

For 2019, we are seeking 3 hard-working interns to work between 3-6 months (April/June – August/November).   Lodging is provided in an on-farm house.  Meals will be prepared on your own, with unlimited organic produce that is grown on the farm.   A weekly stipend of $175 is also provided with a bonus of $25/week for staying the agreed to duration.  Interns work five and half days a week.  We also have a vacation day bonus plan based on the length of your stay.

The farm is located roughly 3 miles from downtown Petoskey, making biking or driving an easy option. This area of northern Michigan is usually bustling in the summer tourism season with numerous festivals, concerts, and other cultural/recreational opportunities. The region is known for its abundance of lakes, beaches, bike trails and extensive Lake Michigan coastline.  A car is not required but is generally very helpful.

Successful interns are generally self-motivated, hardworking, detailed oriented, have a positive disposition, work well with others, think creatively to solve problems and are good at working independently. Experience working on a farm is extremely helpful. This internship is not a classroom learning experience, and the ability to handle multiple tasks and manage time is very important.

We welcome applications for the Organic Produce and Marketing Internship from hard-working individuals from diverse backgrounds.  Anyone with a passion for agriculture and the physical ability to work the typical days of a farming life will be considered. 

Applicants are requested to send a resume along with an email or cover letter describing why you would like to take part in this internship that outlines your background, work experiences and passions that make you well suited for this internship.

For more information about the Organic Produce and Marketing Internship contact:

David Coveyou

Coveyou Scenic Farm Market

4160 US Highway 131

Petoskey, MI 49770

Coveyoufarm@gmail.com

Coveyouscenicfarm.com

231-347-4056

 

• Learn more about farming and food jobs and internships, or learn how to post a job, internship, or apprenticeship opportunity on beginningfarmers.org by going to https://www.beginningfarmers.org/internship-and-employment-opportunities/