It may still be winter, but Jodi and Evan Verbanic, founders of Cherry Valley Organics, are gearing up for this year's harvest season.

"This year, we're looking to fill three assistant grower slots with individuals looking for a long-term commitment that may eventually lead to partnership and co-ownership," said Mr. Verbanic, who grows organic foods on a 36-acre farm in Smith, near Burgettstown. "We're trying to get away from college interns because they're available only during the summer semester and go back to school at the end of August when we're extremely busy. Ideally, we'd like to hear from people with some backyard gardening experience, although we'll consider any level of experience."

Now in its seventh year, Cherry Valley Organics produces more than 400 varieties of vegetables, herbs, berries and flowers, along with all-organic products such as herbal teas, herbal bath and body products, herbal vinegars, dried vegetables and dried culinary herbs.

The Verbanics sell their products to local restaurants, including Casbah, Eleven, Bigelow Grill and Soba. They also sell to specialty food stores --Whole Foods and the Giant Eagle Market District in Bethel Park -- and at farmers markets. In addition, they run a community-supported agriculture subscription service that allows individual households to place orders from a weekly menu sent by e-mail. The orders are delivered to central pickup sites, including one each in Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon and Peters.

"To my knowledge, we're the only [community-supported agriculture service] in the area giving our subscribers a chance to order our products a la carte off a menu of available produce," Mr. Verbanic said. "We also have no minimum order or any obligation to order every week."

In their search for assistant growers for the upcoming season, the Verbanics are looking for individuals willing to work in all aspects of production: planting, weeding, watering, pest control and harvesting.

"Our emphasis is on people interested in a long-term career," Mr. Verbanic said. "They'll start out this year as assistant growers and get promoted to grower in the second year. After they polish their skills as a grower the third year, we'll have a conversation with them about a buy-in, in which they'd become a co-owner."

Normally an assistant grower is asked to put in a 10- to 12-hour day four days a week, although work schedules vary greatly due to the nature of agriculture. In most cases, they get the winter months off.

"Working here gives growers a superb experience in small-scale, intensive organic agriculture," Mr. Verbanic said. He has worked as an environmental consultant, educator and horticulturist.

Justin Donaldson, 31, of South Fayette, is in his fourth year as a grower. Growing up, he worked in his parents' garden, and he took a few horticulture courses at Community College of Allegheny County.

"I always had an interest in growing plants and started working for Evan and Jodi when I switched careers from glass working to horticulture four years ago," he said. "Since then, I learned a lot about everything from growing vegetables and the timing of when things should be planted to insect identification, post-harvest handling of crops and especially how to grow organically."

With a bachelor of science in biology and a master of science in environmental science and management, Ms. Verbanic worked professionally as an environmental consultant, educator and horticulturist before founding Cherry Valley Organics.

"This year is a turning point for us," she said.

For more, call 724-777-0790 or visit cherryvalleyorganics.com.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.