Overview

The purpose of the role as a Quality Control Specialist is to ensure that all fresh produce in fruits and vegetable meets the company’s quality, safety, and regulatory standards before it reaches customers. This role is essential for maintaining brand reputation, minimizing waste, and ensuring customer satisfaction. A QC will inspect incoming and outcoming produce to ensure quality of fresh produce at various stages of receiving, storage, regrading, and shipping, to meet company specifications, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations. The QC Specialist identifies non-conformance issues, enforces food safety standards, and collaborates with operations and regrade teams to reduce spoilage and maintain

Duties

Core Accountabilities

· Inspect produce for size, color, weight, ripeness, Brix, pressure, temperature, and defect tolerance according to company and customer standards.

· Use QC tools such as scales, calipers, penetrometers, pulpers, and Brix testers for accurate assessments.

· Perform visual, tactile, and olfactory inspections.

· Document inspection results, rejections, corrective actions, and follow-up reports accurately.

· Quarantine, segregate, or label defective products and coordinate with regrade or warehouse teams for proper disposition.

· Monitor storage conditions (temperature, humidity) to ensure cold-chain integrity and minimize spoilage.

· Record temperature logs, shelf-life data, and lot codes for traceability and regulatory compliance.

· Conduct random sampling and testing of produce to identify defects or non-conformances.

· Identify root causes of quality issues and recommend corrective or preventative actions.

· Collaborate with buyers, receiving/shipping, warehouse, and regrade teams to maintain quality flow and operational efficiency.

· Report sanitation, pest, or safety concerns promptly.





· Input data into inspection software or digital QC systems for tracking, reporting, and trend analysis.

· Support food-safety programs and internal/external audits (HACCP, GMP, SOP compliance).

· Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to reduce shrink, spoilage, and quality-related losses.

Qualifications

· Knowledge of produce grading standards (USDA, CFIA, or customer-specific) and company QC protocols.

· Understanding of quality attributes: size, color, weight, ripeness, Brix, pressure, temperature, and defect tolerance.

· Competence in using QC tools: scale, caliper, penetrometer, pulper, Brix tester, etc.

· Ability to inspect large volumes efficiently under time constraints.

· Robust documentation and traceability skills for audits and regulatory compliance.

· Experience identifying root causes of quality issues and implementing corrective actions.

· Familiarity with food-safety programs, HACCP, GMP, and sanitation standards.

· Strong visual, tactile, and olfactory inspection abilities.

· High school diploma or GED required; post-secondary in food science, agriculture, or related field preferred.

· 2–3 years of experience in produce handling, quality control, or food inspection; HACCP/food safety certification is an asset.

· Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, work in cold storage, stand, and walk for extended periods.

· Effective verbal and written communication for reporting issues and escalating non-conformance.

· Problem-solving and independent decision-making under tight delivery schedules.

Frequent interaction with QC Supervisor, Regrade staff, Warehouse, Operations, and Buyers

Pay: $52,000.00-$55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Discounted or free food
- Extended health care
- Flexible schedule
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care

Work Location: In person

📌 Quality Control Specialist (Woodbridge)
🏢 Bilingual Squad
📍 Woodbridge