Assistant Grower

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Company Overview

Who is Costa Farms? We’re one of the world’s largest horticultural growers—but without an ego to match our acreage. Our headquarters are in Miami, Florida, where we were founded in 1961. Costa Farms started on just 30 acres, and over the last 60 years, we’ve grown to more than 5,000 acres around the world. We have farms in North and South Carolina, Central and South Florida, and the Dominican Republic, plus an office in China. Costa Farms now employs nearly 6,000 people: engineers, marketers, accountants/analysts, human resources professionals, and of course, growers and plant scientists!

Here at Costa Farms, we live by the values of H3: being Humble, staying Hungry, and always Hustling. The team rallies to the mission of being a lean, green, growing machine dedicated to enriching the world by bringing plants into everyone’s life.

True to that mission, we grow more than 1,500 plant varieties. Driven by the spirit of innovation, the team is always testing new plants and developing new solutions to make it easier for retailers and plant parents to enjoy plants. We’re also continuously testing different ways of growing our plants to increase quality and improve their ecological footprint as one aspect of our many sustainability efforts.

We cultivate plants, as well as a winning culture. Join the team, and you’ll find opportunities to learn and grow. You’ll collaborate with other driven, determined people who together keep Costa Farms an industry leader. You’ll support and be supported by a team that cares about each other, our customers, our consumers, and our community.

You’ll also find right away that Costa Farms is committed to providing a diverse environment. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, military status, marital status or veteran status, or any other group status protected by federal, state, or local law.

DESCRIPTION

The Assistant Grower – Young Plants at Costa Farms is a hands-on, detail-oriented individual passionate about horticulture, crop quality, and team collaboration. As part of the Young Plants growing operation, they are responsible for managing and executing the daily tasks of growing and maintaining high-quality plug and propagation products on time, at a reasonable cost, and to the required quality specifications as directed by the Managing Grower / Grower.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Understand and implement irrigation, chemical application, and fertilization protocols as directed by the Managing Grower / Grower; effectively provide direction and supervision to team members executing these tasks.
• Monitor crops for and identify common growth, health, insect, and disease challenges; relay any quality or pest issues to the Grower / Managing Grower.
• Evaluate crop protection needs; help supervise and participate in pest management including IPM programs and protocol; assist in writing orders for pesticide and biological applications as needed; review scouting reports weekly and collaborate with the Grower / Managing Grower and IPM Manager to develop action plans.
• Collect tissue, water, and soil samples for standard nutrition and pathology analysis; take basic in-house measurements related to nutrition and environmental monitoring.
• Follow, execute, and maintain records of crop activities, pesticide applications, and growth records on bench cards or other requested methods.
• Work closely with the Grower / Managing Grower to schedule and monitor operational task quality and efficiency; assist with assigning standard and ad-hoc operational tasks. Successfully attain a passing grade on the 5 Levels of Moisture Management Training at the first available session after being hired.
• Upkeep and maintain the fertigation system and related infrastructure used daily; relay any major infrastructure or equipment issues to the Grower / Managing Grower.
• Assist in training new employees in growing techniques and activities; share responsibility with the Grower / Managing Grower in enforcing workplace organization (WPO) and safety standards in respective work areas.

Additional Responsibilities

• Help conduct trials and experiments to evaluate possible improvements to crops.
• Weekend work flexibility is required; hours may vary based on seasonal demand and business needs.
• Effectively and accurately perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture or a related field is preferred.
• Familiarity with proper moisture management techniques and nutrient management testing procedures.
• Ability to identify common crop insect and disease problems, observe crop stress signs, and react accordingly.
• Ability to accurately follow instructions and effectively communicate with team members and management; English/Spanish bilingual preferred.
• Ability to calculate amounts, proportions, percentages, and volumes related to fertilizers, chemicals, and water; apply basic mathematical and algebraic principles for such calculations.
• Possess a pesticide applicator’s license or be willing and able to enroll in the program.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex data to diverse audiences.
• Ability to learn and use a variety of computer software, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and other operational tools.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple tasks and requests simultaneously.
• Foster positive working relationships and work independently as well as part of a team; focus on planning, organizing, and attention to detail.

Physical Demands

Medium Work: Lifting up to 50 lbs; regularly exerting physical effort to carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects as part of daily growing operations.

Work Environment:

Mixed Indoor and Outdoor Environment: This position operates primarily outdoors and in greenhouses, with indoor time for administrative tasks and record-keeping. The ability to work in high-heat, high-humidity greenhouse conditions (up to and over 100&degree;F) with a significant amount of moisture present is required.

SKILLS

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to effectively relay crop status, pest challenges, and operational needs to management and team members.
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a team-oriented environment and foster positive working relationships across departments.
• Accurately gather, record, and maintain crop data including bench cards, pesticide application logs, and growth records.
• Strong attention to detail, planning, and organizational skills; capable of identifying crop health challenges, evaluating options, and reacting appropriately.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and adapt to changing priorities and seasonal demands.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team; possess familiarity with moisture management, nutrient management, and general growing procedures.
• Proficient or willing to learn a variety of computer software including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and other operational tools used for crop management and reporting.

COMPETENCIES

• Crop Quality & Attention to Detail
• Team Collaboration & Communication
• Initiative & Continuous Improvement
• Safety Awareness & Compliance

Here at Costa Farms, we're proud to offer not only a competitive wage, but also some really great benefits:

• Company 401(k) with employer matching contributions
• Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, and Dependent Care
• Telehealth - Medical and Mental Health Care
• Medical Insurance
• GAP Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Supplemental Insurance (AFLAC)
• Legal/ID Theft Protection plans
• Professional development opportunities
• Challenging and exciting work environment
• Costa Farms Scholarship
• Employee discounts on plants

Costa Farms headquarters in Miami, FL also has:

• On-site gym with showers
• A subsidized on-site cafeteria, a designated quiet room, and indoor recreational activities are provided.
• Love Where You Work activities throughout the year

All applicants must be work-authorized.

Costa Farms will not sponsor any visa for this position.

After applying, connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and your go-to social platforms to stay updated on exciting developments at Costa Farms and build relationships with fellow plant enthusiasts on our team. Come Grow with Us™!