Work Nights in Produce

Working Nights in Produce in 2006 and 2016 for David Nguyen

Summary:

I somehow worked nights in produce twice in my life. One in 2006 and 10 years later in 2016. What was the difference? First was to learn about grit to never give up and the job is OK. Second was there was more to life in Canada in the First World as a 2nd Gen Vietnamese born in Canada. 

I hope the following information is helpful for anyone thinking of understanding life is tough regardless and you should take advantage of First World supports to do what you like as a 2nd generation.

Location and Time: 1st Ajax and 2nd Oshawa supermarkets.

Length: 1st 7 months and 2nd 5 months.

Almost everyday during nights.

Areas Worked:

Tables, backroom, cooler, truck area, waste area, cardboard compacting area

What the expectations are as a clerk:

1. Cleaning
2. Organizing
3. Time management
4. Care for other coworkers
5. Care for other departments
6. Care for store
7. Care for people
8. Care for religion (food practices)
9. Care about management
10. Care about company
11. Care about companies role in economy and for Canada

What I Learned:

The whole point of working nights part time for 36/36.5 hours a week with no real benefits is to teach you how the real world basically works. You are the middleman providing the necessities to life. Baby formula, diapers, sweet potatoes, milk, bread and butter and clothing. You strive to work harder and harder everyday to increase productivity, efficiency, collaboration and understand consumers. With that information you improve products and services and tighten the belt.

There are cultures and people out there practicing their culture while you are slaving away trying to save that 0.01 cent for your store to provide food for your community, province, country and contenient.

Your country provides the supports, services, infrastructure, education, wide range of this and that.

Are people stupid? No. Some cultures say more and different perspectives are worth tapping into for education, enrichment, study and innovation.

Your country is in a deficit and probably will never pay it back.

What experiment are we in?

Just accept whatever it is. Accept everything. Follow the money trail and eat whatever tastes good to you at the moment?

Think present with what you know now. Don’t overthink???

Processed food is it good or bad? Or having a good time is all that matters? Some edutainment?

I got hurt so bad working nights in the produce department that I went back to school at the age 33. I went YOLO because I am full South Vietnamese born in Canada.

It was horrible living this life in my 30s.

UPDATE 2026:

I learned computer programming since then and went full circle.

I am mature and stable now and can talk to people now with understanding. I talk like an adult with the experiences, work and education I now have in 2026.