Robert Solomon, 71, Finds Fulfillment as New York Produce Buyer

1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 24

At 71, Robert Solomon says his job as assistant produce buyer at an independent New York market is the best employment he has had, bringing physical work, focus and a quieter mind.
The shift followed pandemic-era cuts to his nonprofit hours, which led him to a food co-op job; he left the nonprofit in 2022 and deliberately sought grocery work after years of failed career pivots.
Solomon starts as early as 5:30 a.m., stocking produce and tending displays — especially dandelion greens and repeated broccoli restocks — work he values for its precision and lack of fantasy.
A Brooklyn native who finished his degree at 46 and spent much of his life in trades, he says the demanding store job has left him feeling stronger, with less knee pain and more appreciation for ordinary work.