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Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.

Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Assistant Grower

The Apricot Centre @Huxham's Cross Farm
Dartington, Totnes

Posted: 11 Feb 2026

Deadline: 20 Feb 2026

Compensation: £12.71 - 13.45 per hour, depending on experience

Paid Full-time Part-time Permanent

Job description

Role Title:  Assistant Grower

Reports to: Farm Manager

Job Purpose: This is a full time permanent job on our diverse and vibrant regenerative farm. You will be a key part of a dynamic and supportive team in a growing business, covering most aspects of production in a commercial veg growing business.

Hours, Pay and Holiday:

• 3-5 days (24-40 hours) per week in summer, 3-5 days (21-35 hours) per week in winter (depending on candidate availability)

• Assisting the Farm Lead in field scale, market garden and protected cropping operations

• Focus on all aspects of market garden crops, including year-round mixed salad, herbs, courgettes etc. This primarily includes ground preparation, planting, weed and pest control, irrigation and harvest

• Managing the supply of these crops to meet demand for continuity, quality and freshness throughout their respective seasons

• Machine operations including tractor and pedestrian tractor 

• Ensuring all equipment is used in an appropriate manner and any problems reported to the Farm Manager

• Crop evaluation, record keeping and planning for the following season

• Development of the site such as putting up polytunnels, help with construction projects and site maintenance in winter

• Comply with the biodynamic and organic standards of the farm

• Ensure all risk assessment and health and safety practices are adhered to

• Assisting/covering in other areas of the farm, packhouse or retail parts of the business as required. This may include very occasional cover of delivery driving.

• Weekend work across all areas of the farm on a rota (approx 1 weekend in 6)

Essential knowledge, experience and skills

• An understanding of and a commitment to Organic production systems
• Good knowledge of the growing requirements of market garden crops, especially seasonal salad, in the UK climate
• Competency in the use of market garden tools and techniques
• Ability to work at speed in a commercial horticultural setting
• Ability to multitask and manage your time effectively
• Good communication skills to receive and give complex instructions
• Some experience of tractor or other machine usage in a farm setting
• At least 1 years experience in commercial vegetable production
• Full UK driving licence

Desirable

• Knowledge of how to grow year-round field scale vegetables in the UK climate
• Knowledge of Biodynamics
• Competence in a range of machine operations within a horticultural business
• Experience working with livestock or growing fruit, 2+ years desirable
• Level 3 or above in Regenerative Agriculture or relevant subject

Application information

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to dave.wright@apricotcentre.co.uk

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs