Assistant Produce Manager

The Assistant Produce Manager supports the Produce Manager in leading daily department operations, maintaining high standards for freshness, quality, merchandising, food safety, and customer service. This position helps coordinate stocking and preparation, manage inventory, develop associates, control shrink, and ensure the department remains fresh, full, clean, and visually appealing.

• Assist the Produce Manager with the overall operation and performance of the Produce Department.


• Provide leadership, direction, and support to produce associates throughout the workday.


• Help train, coach, and develop associates on department procedures, product knowledge, food safety, merchandising, and customer service.


• Coordinate daily stocking, preparation, culling, and merchandising activities based on sales and business needs.


• Ensure fruits, vegetables, packaged produce, and other department products meet established standards for freshness, quality, and appearance.


• Maintain attractive, full, and properly merchandised displays throughout the department.


• Regularly inspect products and remove items that are damaged, overripe, spoiled, or do not meet quality standards.


• Monitor product rotation and ensure older inventory is prioritized appropriately.


• Assist with inventory management, ordering, receiving, backstock organization, and product availability.


• Monitor out-of-stocks and take appropriate action to maintain strong in-stock conditions.


• Ensure advertised, promotional, and seasonal products are properly stocked, signed, and merchandised.


• Assist with preparation and packaging of fresh-cut fruit, vegetables, and other department products as applicable.


• Provide friendly, knowledgeable service and assist customers with product selections, availability, and general product questions.


• Maintain department cleanliness and ensure display areas, coolers, preparation areas, storage areas, and equipment meet sanitation standards.


• Ensure associates follow food safety, personal hygiene, temperature control, and safe product-handling procedures.


• Promote safe working practices and immediately address potential safety hazards.


• Assist with associate scheduling and daily work assignments based on business needs.


• Help monitor labor and productivity while maintaining appropriate customer service and stocking coverage.


• Support department sales, profitability, shrink, inventory, and operational goals.


• Conduct department walks and identify opportunities related to freshness, merchandising, cleanliness, pricing, rotation, and in-stock conditions.


• Assist with opening and closing responsibilities as assigned.


• Take responsibility for department operations in the Produce Manager's absence.


• Partner with store leadership and other departments to support overall store priorities and events.


• Perform additional duties as assigned based on business needs.

• Lead by example and maintain a positive, professional attitude.


• Provide associates with clear expectations, priorities, and daily assignments.


• Coach associates on customer service, productivity, product quality, food safety, merchandising, and department procedures.


• Recognize strong performance and provide appropriate feedback when improvement is needed.


• Encourage teamwork, accountability, and effective communication throughout the department.


• Maintain a strong sense of urgency while balancing stocking, merchandising, freshness, sanitation, and customer service.


• Monitor department conditions throughout the day and address opportunities promptly.


• Help create an environment where associates feel supported, respected, and accountable.


• Support the Produce Manager in developing a knowledgeable, dependable, and customer-focused team.

• Greet and assist customers in a friendly and professional manner.


• Provide knowledgeable assistance regarding produce selection, availability, quality, and general product information.


• Help customers locate products and identify alternatives when requested items are unavailable.


• Respond professionally to customer questions or concerns and work toward timely solutions.


• Maintain well-stocked and organized displays that make products easy for customers to locate and shop.


• Monitor department conditions during busy periods and ensure customer service remains a priority.


• Maintain department standards that reflect freshness, quality, cleanliness, and strong presentation.

• Regularly inspect produce for freshness, quality, condition, and appearance.


• Cull products that are damaged, spoiled, overripe, or otherwise below department standards.


• Ensure proper rotation of merchandise to maintain freshness and reduce shrink.


• Monitor refrigerated displays and storage areas to help protect product quality.


• Handle delicate products carefully to minimize bruising and damage.


• Maintain appropriate product levels without overstocking displays in ways that could negatively affect quality.


• Reinforce proper handling procedures with associates throughout the department.


• Take immediate action when product quality concerns are identified.

• Assist with daily ordering and inventory management based on sales, seasonal demand, promotions, and current stock levels.


• Help receive and inspect incoming merchandise for quality and accuracy.


• Maintain organized backroom, cooler, and storage areas.


• Monitor backstock and ensure product is moved to the sales floor efficiently.


• Maintain displays according to department merchandising standards.


• Ensure promotional and seasonal displays are properly built, stocked, signed, and maintained.


• Verify products are correctly priced, labeled, and signed.


• Monitor fast-selling items and adjust stocking priorities as necessary.


• Support inventory and shrink-control efforts by minimizing product loss and unnecessary waste.

• Follow and reinforce established food safety and sanitation procedures.


• Ensure proper product rotation, date management, storage, and temperature control.


• Maintain clean and sanitary preparation areas, cutting surfaces, sinks, equipment, coolers, displays, and storage areas.


• Reinforce proper handwashing, glove use, personal hygiene, and safe food-handling practices.


• Ensure fresh-cut and prepared products are handled, packaged, labeled, and stored appropriately.


• Monitor department cleaning responsibilities and ensure sanitation tasks are completed throughout the day.


• Immediately communicate food safety, sanitation, temperature, pest, or equipment concerns to appropriate leadership.

• Follow established safety procedures when using department equipment and tools.


• Reinforce safe lifting, stocking, cutting, preparation, and product-handling practices.


• Ensure equipment is operated only by appropriately trained associates.


• Maintain clean, organized aisles and work areas to help prevent slips, trips, and other hazards.


• Immediately address spills, damaged products, or unsafe conditions.


• Report damaged or malfunctioning equipment to appropriate leadership.

• Strong customer service and communication skills.


• Ability to lead, coach, and motivate a team.


• Strong organizational and time-management skills.


• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.


• Working knowledge of produce operations, merchandising, freshness standards, inventory, and food safety practices.


• Strong attention to product quality, freshness, presentation, and detail.


• Ability to recognize product quality issues and take appropriate corrective action.


• Ability to safely operate applicable department equipment after appropriate training.


• Ability to work collaboratively with associates and store leadership.


• Dependable, flexible, and able to work effectively with limited supervision.


• Willingness to learn new processes and take on increased leadership responsibilities.

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.


• Ability to bend, reach, lift, carry, push, and pull merchandise, carts, equipment, or supplies as required.


• Ability to perform repetitive stocking, rotating, trimming, preparing, and merchandising activities.


• Ability to work in refrigerated and cooler environments when necessary.


• Ability to safely handle cases and displays of fresh produce throughout the workday.


• Ability to move throughout the department frequently to monitor product conditions and assist customers.


• Must be available to work a flexible schedule based on business needs, which may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.