Ripening Support

Why Gambles?

At Gambles, produce is everything. Our business provides the widest assortment of top-quality fruits and vegetables for the wholesale, foodservice, and retail sectors. With a history dating back to the early 1900s, Gambles has grown and evolved into one of the largest produce wholesalers in all of Canada. We operate out of three locations across the country: two in Toronto and one in Calgary. We also have a satellite office in Philadelphia that manages our U.S. sales operations. Our goal is to be the supplier of choice for all our customers’ needs.

Our people are the backbone of our business! We have a “hire-from-within” mentality at Gambles, which means we put extra focus on developing our people and giving them unique career advancement opportunities. Just like our products and our customer base, we love to see our people grow!

We offer a competitive benefits package with employer covered health and dental benefits (you don’t pay the premiums!) and a company matched Pension Plan for our full-time employees.

Job Description

The Ripening Support position will report directly to the General Manager of Operations.

This position will be responsible and accountable for ripening fruits to the proper specifications. This individual will work primarily out of the Dwight Warehouse location but will require the ability to travel to both locations regularly.

Although the primary schedule for this individual is 40 hours per week, the intended schedule for this position is Sunday-Thursday 5am to 1pm or Tuesday-Saturday 6am-2pm. Our ideal candidate is an individual who can work a flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of the business which may include occasional evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of the fruit ripening process - from inbound receiving, staging, and ripening to post-ripening handling
• Conduct quality inspections and develop appropriate ripening cycles based on product requirements
• Manage ongoing ripening cycles to align with demand and forecasts while maintaining product quality and shelf life
• Sort and grade fruit using established colour and ripeness charts
• Collaborate with the Sales and Buying teams to project demand, manage inventory, and communicate supply or demand changes
• Monitor and maintain inventory of ripening supplies, including ethylene and related materials
• Implement and manage preventive maintenance and sanitation programs for ripening rooms and equipment
• Perform inbound inspections to ensure product meets quality standards prior to ripening
• Support the Quality Control department with additional inbound inspections as needed
• Ensure compliance with food safety policies and procedures in the warehouse; take corrective action when necessary
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of ripening rooms
• Drive continuous improvement by developing new processes that enhance operational visibility for Sales, Buying, and Operations teams

Candidate Requirements

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent required; post-secondary education (BA or BS) preferred
• Minimum 2 years of experience in quality control and/or ripening processes
• Previous experience in produce handling is required
• Familiarity with CFIA, USDA, and PACA standards is preferred
• Knowledge of produce inspection tools, including penetrometers and refractometers, is an asset
• Experience with Microsoft Office and ERP systems; comfortable using tablets and digital tools
• Ability to accurately identify condition and grade defects in produce
• Skilled in recognizing ripening stages and managing ripening processes for various fruits
• Experience working in a HACCP-regulated environment is an advantage
• Understanding of OHSA requirements and Occupational Health & Safety protocols
• Knowledge and proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Physically capable of lifting to 50 lbs and working in cold storage conditions
• Willingness to work early mornings, weekends, and flexible shifts as needed

Personal Attributes:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Self-motivated with a proactive approach to tasks
• Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail

Job Information

• Salary Range: $40,000 - $45,000
• Position Status: New Position
• Intended Schedule: Sunday - Thursday 5am to 1pm or Tuesday - Saturday 6am to 2pm

AI may be used as a support tool in our hiring process. All applications are reviewed and validated by our trained recruitment team.

Gambles Group of Companies is an equal opportunity employer situated in a heritage building at 165 The Queensway and encourages applications from individuals with disabilities. Accommodation is available on request for applicants and colleagues with disabilities throughout all stages of the selection process.