We're family farmers, and we've been exclusively growing and marketing certified organic produce since 1998. Founded on our pledge of stewardship to properly care for the land, we believe in returning what the soil abundantly provides. This requires an uncompromising commitment to safe food and a quality expectation that's second-to-none. And it means we only offer to you what we trust to our own families.
The Grower Services Manager provides communication support, technical assistance, and problem-solving ability to a complex assortment of situations that include, but are not limited to, product quality, food safety, short and long-term supply forecasting, grower satisfaction, grower account reconciliation, new grower recruitment and overall organization advocacy.
- Provide organizational management and personnel management for harvesting operations in categories where services are needed
- Assure that direct pay labor contractors are meeting all governmental and HGOF requirements
- Analyze and review crop data, create and manage field quality reports, current season estimate updates, and long term supply forecasts; ensure all updaters are provided to the Sales Team (ST) and packing operations for required categories
- Provide assistance in implementing HGOF’s Food Safety Program and identify and resolve unsafe situations
- Manage and develop relationships with existing growers on behalf of the company. Provide customer service that exceeds their expectations
- Recruit and develop new growers and supply opportunities in conjunction with category manager’s direction
- Collect and provide to Sales Team and Management key industry information on changes to current and future supply and any new updates to the competitive environment
- Analyze issues of need to include in weekly meetings and participate in other company and team meetings
- Involvement in industry organizations to gain insight and understanding of current industry issues facing the company and our growers
- Escort customer field representatives to grower sites and provide consultation or information as appropriate
- Maintain and promote HGOF Vision, Mission and Values among team members, growers, and other entities or individuals that the company works with
- A degree in food science or related major is preferred but not required in lieu of direct experience
- Demonstrated interest in advancing knowledge and understanding of issues related to sustainable agriculture
- Hands-on experience with product quality issues
- Ability to communicate well with others in verbal and written form
- Demonstrated ability with Microsoft Office application software (Outlook, Word, and Excel), digital imaging technology, and relevant components of FAMOUS software
- 5-7 years product industry experience, preferably involving grower and product contact
- Ability to supervise and lead team members
- B. S. in agriculture related field
- Bilingual in Spanish
