Summer Lettuce Project at JGTF
Meet the New Roots Farmers Sales Team
As staff approached the 2026 growing season overseeing New Roots program on our own, we faced a dilemma; we were short several members of our sales team staff. This year, after learning about similar models elsewhere, we decided to implement a Farmer Sales Team opportunity for farmers in training to build valuable skills while also supporting sales operations.
Each of the farmers on the Farmer Sales Team are paid a stipend for their role, as they help pack, move, and distribute farm shares and wholesale vegetable each week. Duties of the team members include accepting and inspecting produce from other farmers, finding extra produce when we have shortages for orders, packing and organizing CSA and wholesale boxes, and delivering and distributing CSA shares to customers. They also keep the washstand clean, safe, and ready to use for processing.
Mediatrice and Asende working in the washstand.
Farmers Mediatrice and Asende are two of six farmer sales team members. They are in charge of intaking the vegetables, verifying quantity and quality of the produce, and sorting it into either CSA or wholesale orders. But more than that, they maintain an ever positive atmosphere at the farm and in the washstand – while also maintaining the high standards we have for produce sales. They hold everyone around them accountable in the most gentle of ways, they will translate for their fellow farmers when needed, and they will share with you whatever it is they are growing or eating.
You can meet Mediatrice at the Thursday evening Juniper Gardens Training Farm CSA distribution. You can meet other farmer sales team members including Mauridi at Ruby Jean’s on Wednesday afternoons, Saw Phun at Black & Veatch Wednesday evening, and Mauridi again at Juniper Gardens afternoon distribution. Our distribution Thursday evenings at Crafted Fair Trade is generously supported by volunteers.
Ben and Saw Phun at Black & Veatch, Mauridi and CSA customer at Ruby Jean’s.
Rubingo processing garlic; Apuchu packaging onions and cabbage.
Our other sales team members, Farmers Rubingo and Apuchu, are busy behind the scenes making sure the washstand, sinks, totes, and coolers are fully cleaned and sanitized before we process and pack produce. We thank the entire Farmer Sales Team for really stepping up and supporting New Roots operations so well!
Joining the New Roots Farm Share CSA has so many benefits – you’re feeding yourself the freshest, locally grown veggies AND supporting New Roots farmers as they gain valuable business operation skills to grow their farm businesses. YOU can also help keep the operation running smoothly by volunteering to help the sales team!
