Your Opportunity as a Field Operations & Grower Representative Intern
As an intern within our operations department, you will work closely with the processing manager to ensure coordination of field fruit deliveries. You will ensure proper contact and relationships with the growers in order to get harvested freezer fruit delivered to the processing plant and/or receiving station as quickly as possible.
Location: Oxnard, CA
Work Arrangements: Onsite, 100% of the time
In this role you will:
Determine daily crate volume by obtaining early morning on-site ranch estimates. Adjusts estimates throughout afternoon re-check of harvesting ranches. Immediately reports any significant volume changes.
Obtains, records, and passes information to processing manager and plant manager on probable next day crate volume.
Advises the plant manager and QC manager immediately when poor quality (soft, catfacing, contamination, etc.) is evident on any particular grower's ranch.
Assures that all crates and pallets are distributed to the growers on an as-needed basis to prevent grower stockpiling.
At season's end, assures all crates and pallets are returned to the Oxnard plant yard for storage, inventory, and repair.
Obtain pesticide reports from the growers when requested and deliver to the Plant Manager.
Maintain proper inventories of crate and pallets at receiving stations. Assures crates and pallets are cleaned properly prior to grower distribution.
Works with Oxnard plant supervisor/office personnel on any grower weight tag/ grading sheet discrepancies. Delivers and explains corrected documentation to the growers.
Schedule trucking to pick up fruit from the receiving stations for timely delivery to the Oxnard plant.
Works with our growers to ensure all of their daily deliveries are made early enough to permit same day processing.
Addresses any and all other concerns/problems as directed by the Plant Manager.
Works with Oxnard processing manager to establish daily production schedule.
Coordinates distribution of raw fruit.
Records yield data from experimental varieties and other research plots.
Take fruit samples as needed for lab evaluation.
Conducts special tests, evaluations, and projects as requested by the QC Manager.
Visually observes plant development and records.
Inspects daily and audit grower field Good Agricultural Practices monthly using Field Sanitation Check list. Immediately follows up on deficiencies.
Other duties as required.
What we are looking for:
Be currently enrolled in a 4-year degree program, Food Science, Logistics or Agri-Business major highly desired
Ability to read, write and speak Spanish required
Available in late March through the end of August.
Able to work weekends, overtime, and night shifts.
Excellent communication skills and leadership skills.
Compensation:
Pay range: $23/hr. to $25/hr.
Housing allowance (for applicable students)
Application Period:
Application period closes on December 15, 2026
Why Choose the J.M. Smucker Company’s Internship Program?
Are you seeking an exceptional internship experience at a Fortune 500 company? At Smucker, we are dedicated to providing a world-class, award-winning internship that offers you the opportunity to:
Learn: Unlock your potential in a collaborative and supportive environment where you are treated like a true peer and challenged to be your best.
Grow: Benefit from hands-on training with a dedicated mentor and connect with peers and leaders throughout the company.
Lead: Contribute to high-profile projects that support our Company’s growing categories like snacks, coffee and pet food.
Additional Perks:
Along with engaging work, we offer a variety of benefits to ensure your internship is both rewarding and memorable. These include:
Unique opportunities to network and interact with company leadership
Customized professional development sessions
Networking events and social outings with fellow interns
Access to a fully equipped fitness center, complete with a basketball court, indoor walking track, and recreational league sports
The Orchard, our gourmet cafeteria, offering breakfast and lunch with seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients
A competitive compensation package, including paid corporate holidays
Employee discounts at our Company Store
A housing stipend for interns relocating for the program
Experience an internship where you can learn, grow, and lead — all while being part of something special at Smucker.
Learn more about working at Smucker:
Our Internship Program
Delivering on Our Purpose
Our Continued Commitment to Ensuring a Workplace for All
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The Right Place for You
We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.
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We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.