Vegetable Packer Position Overview
Vegetable packers may work in supermarkets, farmers’ markets, or with vegetable suppliers.
Typically, their work involves packing and shipping vegetables. However, this is not all that they do.
In order to ensure that the right packing is done, there is a lot that a packer needs to do.
Vegetable Packer Requirements
To be considered eligible to work as a vegetable packer, you do not need more than a high school diploma or a GED. However, some skills are required. These would include knowledge of assembling packages, planning product placement in containers, and inspecting containers.
Since vegetables are sensitive items, they need to be handled with a lot of care. For instance, a vegetable which is not packed properly can rot or get damaged during transit.
As a vegetable packer, it is imperative that you understand the various ways in which vegetables are packed and stored. Loading and offloading vegetables from trucks and vans will also be part of your work.
It seems that the work of a vegetable or fruit packer is not complicated. However, it can be quite complex.
Here are some duties associated with this work:
Vegetable Packer Job Description
• Receive orders in order to understand packing instructions and timelines.
• Check vegetable stacks to determine freshness.
• Choose the right type of packing materials for each type of vegetable.
• Wrap or pack vegetables in paper or plastic
• Pick vegetables according to provided instructions, and place them in the containers.
• Place seals or labels on individual vegetable items.
• Ensure that any infestation, such as pest visibility is taken notice of.
• Assemble food product containers in a proper way.
• Minimize breakage and spoilage by stacking vegetables in a proper way.
• Ensure that containers are properly packed, lest they damage the vegetables inside.
• Inspect containers prior to placing vegetables in them, in order to ensure that they are clean and undamaged.
• Seal containers in a proper way, and ensure that they are labeled appropriately.
• Stack and arrange containers in a safe manner.
• Help in loading and unloading containers to and from delivery trucks.
• Count containers and make lists.
• Prepare associated paperwork and documentation.
• Keep track of fruit and carton inventory.
• Remove defective products and place them in predetermined areas.
• Count all loaded and offloaded items.
• Review packing lists.
• Ensure that documents are shipped along with vegetable containers.
• Provide dispatch information to recipients.
• Acquire and record information on delays and deliveries to clients.