Fruit World is a fresh and creative produce sales company on a mission to keep family farms thriving into future generations.
We specialize in growing and shipping organic and conventional citrus, and organic stone fruit, grapes and more, focusing on high flavor and unparalleled customer service.
The Grower & Supply Operations Manager is responsible for managing the supply side of the business, developing and implementing annual forecasts, soliciting new growers, and maintaining current relationships with all growers, suppliers and packers. The position will make sure Fruit World is achieving our long-term supply goals and the sales team has up-to-date information.
We are a small and nimble team that values communication and a high level of customer service.
Job Responsibilities:
- Work with the sales team to evaluate current and future supply needs
- Recruit and foster relationships with new growers (primarily organic and conventional citrus, organic stone fruit and organic grapes)
- Manage current grower relationships
- Provide annual/seasonal volume and quality projections for the sales team
- Communicate daily with the sales team on volume and quality of product being harvested/packed, monitoring inventories to ensure adequate supply
- Coordinate packing schedules and requests with our packing house partners
- Work with growers and packing house partners to ensure Fruit World’s quality and other standards are being met
- Monitor quality of packed product in inventory and communicate to sales team
- Meet with growers and packers to discuss performance metrics, provide performance feedback, and to discuss production forecasts or changes
- Manage activities related to packaging and material planning, purchasing, inventory control, and warehousing
- Regular travel within proximity to the Reedley office is required, with occasional trips to our partner packing houses throughout California
Requirements/Skills:
- 5+ years experience working in the agriculture field or packing house operations, with citrus and/or organic experience strongly preferred
- Experience working with organic crops and growers is a plus
- Experience cultivating and managing successful professional relationships
- Self-motivated team player who can create and thrive in a results oriented environment
- Ability to problem solve
- Excellent communication skills and proficiency with computers and related software (Word, Excel, Google Docs, warehouse management systems, etc)
- Bilingual a plus (Spanish/English), but not required
- Ability to travel within California, a valid current drivers license and an ongoing satisfactory driving record
- Strong commitment to Fruit World’s mission and values
