Buyer - Fresh Produce

Since 1910, Schoenmann Produce Company, Inc. has grown from humble beginnings into the oldest and largest produce distributor in the Houston and Gulf Coast regions. Operating from a state-of-the-art facility, we deliver top-quality fresh fruits and vegetables from around the world to clients across Texas—within a 250-mile radius of Houston—as well as throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Southeastern Seaboard. Today, as a proud member of the GrubMarket family, we're combining our rich history with innovative technology to shape the future of food distribution.

Now celebrating over a century of continuous service, we proudly supply Houston's finest restaurants, cafes, schools, hospitals, wholesalers, grocery stores, and maritime chandlers. Our success is driven by a highly skilled team committed to our founding principles of Quality, Service, and Integrity across every step of procurement, sales, and delivery.

Position Overview

We are seeking a dedicated Buyer - Fresh Produce in Houston, Texas to procure high-quality conventional, organic, and processed produce. You will lead supplier negotiations, manage inventory, and collaborate across departments to ensure the highest product quality and value for our Retail, Wholesale, and Food Service customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Sourcing & Negotiation: Act as the primary contact for growers and vendors; negotiate pricing, promotions, and assortment to ensure cost-efficiency and quality.
• Inventory & Quality Control: Perform daily warehouse inspections for grading and yield. Manage inventory to minimize shrink and ensure a 1% or better clearance rate.
• Operational Excellence: Maintain a 99% fill rate and 99% purchase order accuracy. Manage availability guides to support efficient store ordering.
• Strategic Growth: Monitor industry trends, weather, and food safety. Support E-commerce initiatives and introduce at least 10 new items to sales every six months.
• Collaboration: Partner with sales, warehousing, and transportation. Train the sales team on product knowledge and market updates; perform regular sales and price analyses.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 3–5+ years in fresh produce procurement (conventional and organic).
• Technical Skills: High proficiency in MS Excel and Outlook.
• Industry Expertise: Strong knowledge of USDA standards, growing/harvesting practices, and supply chain logistics.
• Core Competencies: Excellent negotiation, problem-solving, and communication skills. Ability to work independently and as part of a high-volume, cross-functional team.
  

Salary: $60,000-$75,000

Why Schoenmann Produce?

• Join one of the Gulf Coast's most respected produce companies with over a century of success.
• Be part of an organization that's investing in the future through GrubMarket's industry-leading technology and continued growth.
• Work alongside a collaborative team committed to quality, customer service, and operational excellence.
• Opportunity to grow your career with an organization that values its employees and continues to expand.

If you're ready to bring your buying expertise to a company with a proud history and an exciting future, we'd love to hear from you.