Skills & Competencies for Produce Clerk

JOB SUMMARY for Produce Clerk

Responsible for assisting customers in the produce department of a grocery store.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES for Produce Clerk

Answers questions and helps patrons find requested produce items. Prepares items for display, ensures that display cases are adequately stocked and ensures freshness of produce. Handles produce items in a safe manner and ensures that the department is always clean and neat.

Produce Clerk SALARY RANGE

BASE 50%
$36,404
TOTAL 50%
$37,600
Job Level
A01
Job Code
SM15000376
Education/Degree
High School Diploma or Technical Certificate
Reports To
Supervisor or Manager

Produce Clerk Skills and Competencies List

Proficiency Levels and Behavioural Indicators
Salary.com identifies five increasing levels of proficiency for each skill/competency. Some jobs require only a relatively low level of proficiency in each skill/competency, while other jobs will require a more advanced level of proficiency in the same skill/competency. These levels rate the degree of proficiency (skill level, expertise) we expect the incumbent to perform in the given skill/competency for the given job. Note that we intentionally do not associate timeframes or years of experience in performing the skill/competency because that can be misleading. Proficiency levels identify what the incumbent knows and can do rather than how long they have been doing it. Also, note that the proficiency levels are cumulative, e.g., a level 4 proficiency implies the ability to perform all the behaviors at the lower levels.
Check each Produce Clerk skill and competencie below to view definitions.

10 hard skills or competencies (industry competencies) for Produce Clerk

1 Industry Competency – FDA Food Code Compliance
Proficiency Level -1
Skill definition-Maintaining adherence to FDA guidelines and regulations to reduce the likelihood of foodborne diseases and promote public health.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Describes the significance of following industry codes and the repercussions if ignored.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Identifies risks to food safety and selects necessary preventive actions.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Communicates the importance of accurately labeling nutrition facts, ingredient lists, and allergy declarations to staff.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Directs staff training updates to ensure the inclusion of new food code provisions and guidelines.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Fosters working relationships with FDA agencies, industry stakeholders, and public health organizations.
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2 Industry Competency – Food Handling and Storage
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Properly handling, storing, and maintaining food products in a safe and hygienic manner to prevent contamination, spoilage, and foodborne illnesses.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Discusses the potential consequences of non-compliance with required food safety storage procedures.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Applies accurate labeling and dating procedures, and properly disposes of waste and expired products.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Develops a habit of consistently preventing food contamination and cross-contamination.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Develops protocols and detailed training materials for effectively handling a pest infestation.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Reviews the performance of the food safety management system and ensures the implementation of corrective actions.
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3 Produce Clerk - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Produce Clerk
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Produce Clerk
Proficiency Level - 5

4 general skills or competencies (Job family competencies) for Produce Clerk

1 Job Family Competencies – Customer Engagement
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Building and maintaining meaningful interactions with customers to enhance their overall experience with a product, service, or brand.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Defines the best practices and principles in customer engagement and how they can be applied.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Applies personalization techniques during customer interactions to enhance satisfaction and loyalty.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Collaborates with various teams in implementing new customer engagement campaigns and promotions.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Implements loyalty programs or personalized communication campaigns to improve customer retention and sales.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Designs customer journey maps to optimize touchpoints for an effective and personalized customer experience.
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2 Job Family Competencies – Safety Policies and Procedures
Proficiency Level -1
Skill definition-Establishing and implementing clear safety policies and procedures to effectively manage hazards and risks associated with the business operations.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Compiles a list of the key considerations and limitations of safety policies.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Follows established safety policies and procedures when handling hazardous materials.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Handles the execution, enactment, and tracking of each element of the safety policy and program.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Evaluates employees' performance to ensure they comply with established safety policies and procedures.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Cultivates a compliant working environment by enforcing safety policies and procedures.
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3 Produce Clerk - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Produce Clerk
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Produce Clerk
Proficiency Level - 5

8 soft skills or competencies (core competencies) for Produce Clerk

1 Core Competencies – Products And Services
Proficiency Level -1
Skill definition-Knowledge of the full array of our organization's products and services including those that are created for internal customers; insight into the differentiating factors that distinguish them from those of competitors.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Collects and summarizes information and marketing materials for R&D purposes.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Discusses the potential profitability of a proposed new product.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Evaluates our business’s P/S costs and prices, and market positioning.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Establishes related procedures for product design, development and delivery time limits.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Describes the planned launch of superior products and services to stakeholders to promote enthusiasm and support.
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2 Core Competencies – Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
Proficiency Level -1
Skill definition-A set of written instructions that describes the step-by-step activities to complete tasks in compliance with business standards and industry regulations.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Cites examples of SOP practices in our business operations.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Assists in the preparation of internal standard operating procedures (SOP).
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Ensures internal SOPs are in compliance with industry standards and regulations.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Develops and delivers training programs to ensure our SOPs are fully communicated and adhered to.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Champions the adoption of SOP to foster efficiency and consistency.
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3 Produce Clerk - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Produce Clerk
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Produce Clerk
Proficiency Level - 5

Summary of Produce Clerk skills and competencies

There are 10 hard skills for Produce Clerk, FDA Food Code Compliance, Food Handling and Storage, Cross Merchandising, etc.
4 general skills for Produce Clerk, Customer Engagement, Safety Policies and Procedures, Promotion, etc.
8 soft skills for Produce Clerk, Products And Services, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Attention to Detail, etc.
While the list totals 22 distinct skills, it's important to note that not all are required to be mastered to the same degree. Some skills may only need a basic understanding, whereas others demand a higher level of expertise.
For instance, as a Produce Clerk, he or she needs to be proficient in Products And Services, be proficient in Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and be proficient in Attention to Detail.

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