Fruit Inspection Technician

United Staffing Associates; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

United Staffing Associates is recruiting on behalf of an established fruit processing and distribution company for an experienced Fruit Quality Control Technician to support its quality operations. The role inspects fresh fruit throughout the post-harvest process, ensuring products meet quality, food safety, traceability and regulatory standards in a fast-paced warehouse setting.

The successful candidate will have 3+ years in fresh fruit QC, hands-on inspection experience, and familiarity with

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of progressive quality control experience within the fresh fruit or perishable produce industry.
• Hands-on experience throughout the fruit inspection process.
• Knowledge of quality control standards and inspection practices for imported fresh fruit.
• Experience with food safety and sanitation auditing.
• Knowledge of product traceability and recall procedures.
• Familiarity with USDA APHIS requirements and quarantine procedures related to imported agricultural products.
• Previous experience training, supporting, or supervising inspectors or quality control employees.
• Working knowledge of post-harvest fruit handling and quality practices.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and documentation skills.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Office skills.
• Experience working with analytical or quality inspection instrumentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both Spanish and English is required to regularly interact with importers, exporters, inspectors, warehouse personnel, and other internal and external partners.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively across operations, quality, warehouse, and external teams.

Responsibilities

• Perform quality inspections of incoming and stored fruit in accordance with established inspection procedures and quality standards.
• Support inspections of imported fruit received from growers, exporters, and other suppliers.
• Evaluate product condition and identify quality concerns or deviations that could affect product acceptance or customer requirements.
• Apply established standards related to product quality, traceability, packaging, food safety, and operational controls.
• Verify proper product identification, handling, and storage throughout the post-harvest process.
• Complete and review quality inspection reports and other required documentation accurately and on time.
• Support inventory audits and other quality-control activities as assigned.
• Assist with coordination of inspection activities and provide direction to inspection or quality-control personnel when assigned.
• Follow applicable food safety, sanitation, workplace safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Communicate with warehouse personnel, inspectors, importers, exporters, and other internal and external partners regarding inspection and quality matters.
• Identify opportunities to improve inspection practices, quality processes, and operational efficiency.
• Participate in operational planning and coordinate with third-party service providers as needed.
• Assist operations leadership with verification of third-party work records, including hours worked and services performed for billing purposes.
• Perform additional duties within the scope of the quality function as assigned.

Skills

Quality control

Inspection

Analytical skills

Documentation

Bilingual Spanish/English

Tools

Microsoft Office

Inspection instrumentation

Job description

United Staffing Associates is recruiting on behalf of an established fruit processing and distribution company seeking an experienced Fruit Quality Control Technician to support its quality operations.

This hands-on position is responsible for inspecting fresh fruit throughout the post-harvest process, helping ensure products meet established quality, food safety, traceability, packaging, and regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will bring previous quality control experience within the fresh fruit or produce industry and be comfortable working in a fast-paced warehouse environment where accuracy and attention to detail are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform quality inspections of incoming and stored fruit in accordance with established inspection procedures and quality standards.
• Support inspections of imported fruit received from growers, exporters, and other suppliers.
• Evaluate product condition and identify quality concerns or deviations that could affect product acceptance or customer requirements.
• Apply established standards related to product quality, traceability, packaging, food safety, and operational controls.
• Verify proper product identification, handling, and storage throughout the post-harvest process.
• Complete and review quality inspection reports and other required documentation accurately and on time.
• Support inventory audits and other quality-control activities as assigned.
• Assist with coordination of inspection activities and provide direction to inspection or quality-control personnel when assigned.
• Follow applicable food safety, sanitation, workplace safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Communicate with warehouse personnel, inspectors, importers, exporters, and other internal and external partners regarding inspection and quality matters.
• Identify opportunities to improve inspection practices, quality processes, and operational efficiency.
• Participate in operational planning and coordinate with third-party service providers as needed.
• Assist operations leadership with verification of third-party work records, including hours worked and services performed for billing purposes.
• Perform additional duties within the scope of the quality function as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of progressive quality control experience within the fresh fruit or perishable produce industry.
• Hands-on experience throughout the fruit inspection process.
• Knowledge of quality control standards and inspection practices for imported fresh fruit.
• Experience with food safety and sanitation auditing.
• Knowledge of product traceability and recall procedures.
• Familiarity with USDA APHIS requirements and quarantine procedures related to imported agricultural products.
• Previous experience training, supporting, or supervising inspectors or quality control employees.
• Working knowledge of post-harvest fruit handling and quality practices.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and documentation skills.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Office skills.
• Experience working with analytical or quality inspection instrumentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both Spanish and English is required to regularly interact with importers, exporters, inspectors, warehouse personnel, and other internal and external partners.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively across operations, quality, warehouse, and external teams.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be detail-oriented, dependable, and comfortable taking initiative when quality concerns arise. This position requires someone who can evaluate information objectively, communicate findings clearly, remain organized under pressure, and work collaboratively with multiple teams to maintain product quality and food safety standards.

Compensation

$55,000 - $60,000 per year DOE

About United Staffing Associates

United Staffing Associates is a professional search and staffing firm partnering with organizations to identify talented professionals for critical roles. We are conducting this search on behalf of our client and will facilitate the recruitment process from initial consideration through the hiring process. The identity of the hiring company will remain confidential during the initial stages of the recruitment process.