Fresh Produce Packer

Career Guide

A Fresh Produce Packer prepares fruits and vegetables for shipment to stores, food service providers, and distribution centers. The role focuses on sorting, packing, labeling, and keeping products safe and high quality while meeting daily output targets.

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Key Responsibilities

Sort produce by size, ripeness, and quality
Remove damaged or spoiled items
Pack produce into trays, bags, boxes, or cartons
Weigh and count items to meet pack requirements
Label packages with product details and dates
Seal and stack finished cartons for shipment
Keep work areas clean and organized
Follow food safety and hygiene rules
Handle produce carefully to prevent bruising
Work with team leads to meet daily production goals
Report quality issues or equipment problems to a supervisor
Use basic tools such as scales and tape dispensers safely

Top Skills for Success

Attention to Detail

Time Management

Teamwork

Reliability

Communication

Physical Stamina

Manual Dexterity

Food Safety Awareness

Sanitation Practices

Quality Inspection

Sorting Accuracy

Packing Accuracy

Labeling Accuracy

Basic Math Skills

Safe Lifting Techniques

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Warehouse Associate Shipping and Receiving Clerk Order Picker

Production Worker

Transition Opportunities

Quality Control Technician

Line Lead

Warehouse Supervisor Food Safety Technician

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Food Safety CertificationEquipment Safety KnowledgeBasic Inventory HandlingQuality DocumentationPace and Throughput Awareness

Development SuggestionsAsk for on the job cross training in quality checks, labeling rules, and shipment staging. Complete a basic food safety course and practice consistent packing speed while keeping accuracy high.

Market Intelligence Report

Fresh Produce Packer is part of the Production Operations category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

See the market intelligence report

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUS$28,000 to US$35,000 per year

Mid LevelUS$32,000 to US$42,000 per year

Senior LevelUS$38,000 to US$50,000 per year

Growth Trend

Stable demand, with seasonal peaks. Hiring is strongest in regions with large farms, packing houses, and distribution centers.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Fresh produce packing housesFarm cooperativesGrocery distribution centersFood service distributorsCold storage facilitiesProduce importers and exporters

Industry Sectors

AgricultureFood packingFood distributionWarehousing and logisticsCold chain operations

Recommended Next Steps

Update your resume with measurable details such as cartons packed per hour and error rate

Get a basic food safety credential offered by your employer or local training providers

Ask to learn additional stations such as sorting, labeling, and pallet building

Request feedback from a team lead on speed and accuracy targets

Apply for roles such as line lead assistant or quality checker after steady performance for several months