Company description

Medical science is increasingly recognizing and advocating for proper nutrition as the means of preventing and controlling certain health issues like obesity, heart disease, and high blood pressure. According to statistics from the 2018 NYC Community Health Report, the areas where Harvest Home operates farmers' markets have higher rates of diet-related chronic diseases than the rest of NYC. High Blood pressure: 36& vs 28%; Diabetes: 15% vs 11%; Obesity: 30% vs 24%. 

Increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetable on a daily basis is essential for improving health in these communities, however, it can often be expensive and difficult to find. Our programs are designed not only to make FRESH, LOCALLY-GROWN fruits and vegetable accessible and affordable, but to introduce our shoppers to easy, mouth-watering, and delicious ways to add them to their diets. We think that our programs entice consumers to eat a healthy diet, rather than preach “healthy” to them.

Job description

Program Overview
The Harvest Home Eating for Good Health Community Education Program (EFGH) is designed to educate community residents at farmers' markets throughout NYC on nutrition and food literacy. A primary goal of the project is to create educated, health-conscious consumers of all ages. We achieve this by facilitating increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, a proven preventative measure, among communities that suffer from disproportionately high rates of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.

Position Overview
Community Chefs will work as part of a team of 2 in the preparation and delivery of nutrition and cooking workshops at farmers markets from June-October 2019 and attend monthly meetings on Monday afternoons. The Community Chef will report to the Program Coordinator and be responsible for implementing interactive cooking demonstrations using weekly recipes that feature local and seasonal produce. Community Chefs will be required to attend a paid 3-day training in June (6/10, 6/11, 6/14) and commit to working a minimum of 3 days per week (plus monthly Monday afternoon meetings) for the duration of the season. Community Chefs’ hours depend upon and coincide with market schedules. This offers a great hands-on learning experience for those interested in working with health and wellness improvement in NYC, particularly in under-served communities, in addition to, valuable networking opportunities.

Responsibilities
• Prepare for and implement interactive cooking demonstrations as part of nutrition education workshops in accordance with program curriculum at assigned locations throughout NYC
• Arrive ON TIME and READY TO WORK
• Assist with and ensure proper set-up and breakdown of cooking equipment and educational materials
• Maintain food safety, including cleaning and sanitation of all cooking equipment used in cooking demonstrations
• Follow curriculum and ensure integrity and fidelity of programming as demonstrated during training
• Collect data and administer surveys to participants
• Communicate daily with Program Coordinator to ensure smooth operations
• Market and promote program at farmers markets to ensure minimum required level of participation is achieved
• Maintain and encourage environmentally sustainable practices at workshop sites
• Attend monthly meetings at Harvest Home offices in Harlem (Monday afternoons)

Preferred Qualifications and Skills
• Basic knife skills and ability to execute basic cooking techniques
• Experience or training in nutrition or culinary arts
• Patience for some change in routine (ie: unreliable weather)
• Reliable, punctual, and dependable
• Ability to work in multi-cultural settings with diverse populations
• Flexibility to adapt recipes to reflect the food culture of communities served
• Excited to work outdoors and does not shy away from the heat/cold or wind/rain (we cannot emphasize this enough!)
• ServSafe certification or successful completion of the NYC Food Protection course (prior to June 2019)
• Commitment to a minimum of 3 days per week, in addition to monthly meetings on Monday afternoons
• Willingness to travel throughout NYC
• Ability to speak other languages is a plus! (Spanish, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Bengali, Russian)



 

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $15/hr +

Application instructions

Deadline

May 31, 2019

Attachment

click here to download the attached document.