Job Summary

Reporting to the VP of Operations, the Wholesale Meat Cutter is responsible for cutting, trimming, portioning, and preparing a wide variety of beef, pork, lamb, veal, and poultry products to meet wholesale customer specifications while maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficiency. Foundational knife skills or experience handling meat products are preferred; training is provided for motivated candidates. Working in a fast-paced production environment, this role accurately cuts, weighs, packages, and prepares products while maintaining USDA, food safety, and sanitation standards. The ideal candidate is dependable, detail-oriented, eager to learn, and committed to producing high-quality products.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Cut, trim, portion, and prepare beef, pork, lamb, veal, and poultry products according to customer specifications and company standards.
  • Fabricate primal and sub-primal cuts into steaks, roasts, chops, stew meat, ground products, and other wholesale items.
  • Safely operate knives, band saws, grinders, slicers, and other meat processing equipment.
  • Accurately weigh, label, and package products for wholesale distribution.
  • Inspect products for quality, freshness, and appearance.
  • Maintain production standards and daily production schedules.
  • Follow USDA regulations, food safety standards, sanitation procedures, and company policies.
  • Maintain clean, organized work areas and equipment.
  • Assist with inventory rotation using FIFO practices.
  • Work collaboratively with production team members.
  • Learn company cutting specifications and production methods through training.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

  • Prolonged standing and working in refrigerated production areas.
  • Ability to lift and carry at least 50 pounds regularly.
  • Continuous bending, lifting, reaching, gripping, and repetitive hand movements.
  • Ability to work weekends and holidays as needed.

Qualifications

  • High school diploma or equivalent.
  • Basic knowledge of meat cuts or experience in food production, grocery, restaurant, butcher shop, or similar environment.
  • Foundational knife skills or willingness to learn.
  • Ability to safely operate or learn meat processing equipment.
  • Basic math skills.
  • Strong attention to detail.
  • Reliable attendance and teamwork.

Preferred Skills & Experience

  • Previous wholesale, retail, grocery, butcher shop, or food manufacturing meat-cutting experience.
  • Experience with commercial grinders, band saws, slicers, or vacuum packaging equipment.
  • Knowledge of USDA regulations, HACCP, and food safety.
  • Ability to identify wholesale and retail meat cuts.
  • Experience in refrigerated production environments.
  • Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.

Training Provided

Farmingdale Meat Market is committed to developing skilled meat cutters. Candidates with foundational knife skills, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to learn are encouraged to apply. Training is provided on company cutting specifications, production processes, food safety procedures, and equipment operation.