Plant It Forward

Food Safety Internship Description

Background & Mission 

Plant It Forward Farms (PIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to empower resettled refugees to operate sustainable urban farming businesses in Houston, Texas. We are dedicated to enabling our network of skilled farmers to earn a living through dignified, meaningful work and to providing our community with farm-fresh produce.

Farmers in our program are trained in entrepreneurship skills and bio-intensive vegetable production methods, then placed on urban plots where they grow and sell produce. Key markets include PIFF’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, sales to local restaurants, and local farmers’ markets.

 

Job Overview

The Food Safety Intern(s) is responsible for working with PIFF Program Managers to document PIFF’s food safety practices and create a formal food safety plan. The food safety plan will cover on-farm practices as well as post-harvest washing and packaging. The completed food safety plan will codify PIFF’s Standard Operation Procedures related to food safety, and will be used by PIFF to ensure compliance with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.

 

Key Job Duties

  • Document PIFF’s food safety practices
  • Research best-practices for meeting FSMA standards, as needed
  • If changes in current practices are needed, assist PIFF Program Managers to implement those changes on the farms and at the wash/pack facility.

Qualifications

  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Competitive applicants will have knowledge of small farm food safety practices through work experience and/or coursework
  • Strong work ethic & attention to detail
  • Multicultural experience and/or strong interest in working in a cross-cultural setting
  • Ability to work independently, flexibly, and with a team

 

Hours

15+ hrs/wk. Flexible scheduling, Monday–Friday.

 

Compensation: All PIFF internships are unpaid. Students are encouraged to seek funding through their campus career centers, or other university/college funding programs.

 

Reporting Relationships: Food Safety Interns report to Farm Manager

 

Preferred Start Date: May 15 (flexible).

 

Applications Due By: April 15. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis.

 

APPLY: Email cover letter / motivation statement and resume to internships@plant-it-forward.org