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Job descriptions

Produce associate: job description, duties and pay

Produce associates keep a grocery store’s fruit and vegetable section fresh, full and good-looking. Here is what the job involves and what it pays.

Fresh vegetables neatly displayed in a supermarket produce section

What does a produce associate do?

A produce associate stocks, rotates and displays fresh fruit and vegetables in a grocery store. The job is part stocking, part quality control and part customer service: you keep displays full, take out anything damaged or past its best, and help shoppers find what they need.

It is a good first job in grocery and a common step toward produce lead or produce supervisor roles.

Duties and responsibilities

  • Stock, rotate and display fresh produce every day
  • Inspect quality and remove damaged or expired items
  • Keep the produce section, coolers and bins clean
  • Help customers find and choose produce
  • Receive produce deliveries and put away incoming stock

Skills and requirements

  • Attention to detail and pride in how displays look
  • Comfortable working in coolers and refrigerated areas
  • Able to lift up to 50 pounds and stand for a full shift
  • Friendly with customers
  • Experience in produce, deli or fresh foods helps but is not required

Schedule and shifts

  • Early mornings are common: shifts often start between 5 and 6 AM
  • Weekend shifts are usual in grocery
  • Full-time and part-time schedules

What it pays locally

Median hourly pay for stockers and order fillers across the Panhandle:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Florida’s minimum wage is $14 an hour until September 29, 2026 and $15 an hour from September 30, 2026. The federal figures are from May 2025, before those increases.
Pensacola area$16.79
Fort Walton Beach–Destin area$17.20
Panama City area$17.37

Open produce associate jobs

How to get hired

  1. Apply from your phone

    Pick a job above, or send your details. A resume helps but you do not need one.

  2. Talk to a recruiter

    We call or text you about the job, the pay and the schedule.

  3. Start ready

    We prepare you before your first shift, and you get paid weekly.

Produce associate questions

What does a produce associate do?

A produce associate stocks, rotates and displays fruit and vegetables, removes damaged items, keeps the section clean and helps customers.

Do I need experience to be a produce associate?

No. Experience in produce or fresh foods helps, but many produce associates start with none. Alto HR prepares associates before their first shift.

What are the hours for a produce associate?

Produce work usually starts early, often between 5 and 6 AM, so the section is full before the store gets busy.